Originally Posted by Bizikleto

Bar ends are the best possible choice for a touring bike. Road levers are compatible with V-brakes. In case of older bikes, neither cantis nor V-brakes do a proper job at the tail side because the cable routing is all the way from the lever to the brake itself within cable casing, and being this very compressible, no matter how strong you press on the levers, the force is lost along the long cable casing. Nowadays the cable routing is encased in the ends, the middle part running 'naked' between casings (your Surly LHT will have this setting for sure). In this case, both cantis and V-brakes are efficient and precise, and provide sure stopping power.

Good trips and all the best to you and everybody else.