Mine are fairly lame – even in dry conditions it is more of a very gradual slow than a stop – I did upgrade to kool-stops and have asked two different LBS to adjust the brakes with only marginal gains...
Originally Posted by
Bianchigirll
I disagree. While I do not have any '60s vintage brake calipers most of my bikes have standard single pivot sidepull brakes. I seldom find the need for more stopping power and in fact dislike the 'stop on a dime' power in the single set of DP brakes I am using. Now I do not live in a very hilly area but even on a three day tour around western Maine through Grafton park I only felt the need for more braking once.
How old are the brake blocks on you '60s era brakes? First thing I would try and replacing them with some Kool Stop blocks. Do the cables move freely?