Pads needs replacing and need assistance
 

I have the Tektro Onyx canti's on the nashbar steel cx and noticed today that the pads have worn pretty quickly.

I went on a search for pads to replace these and notice something peculiar with the stock pads, they're curved whereas the pads i was looking at were all straight. Does it matter? I dont want to buy the exact replacement pads that came on the bike because they just werent up to snuff, thought i'd try something different but the curve of the pad has thrown me for a loop.

For you visual folks here's the brakes in question.
http://images54.fotki.com/v104/photo...h_steel-vi.jpg

Just get Kool Stop salmon mountain pads and you'll be good to go.

+1 on the KS Salmons.

In response to your question about the curve, no it doesn't matter. Try to get a cartridge pad that all you have to swap is the actual pad itself. It makes swapping things out much simpler.

I found the Tektro ONYX the worst brakes ever for cross. Had an original set on my first cross bike, tried some Kool Stop salmon pads and they didn't help much. Switched over to CR720's for around $35, front and rear with new pads and had a noticable difference in braking ability. Currently run TRPs on my race cross bike - no issues. Upgrade from the Onyx brakes and you'll get new pads to boot.