Originally Posted by
nfmisso
There is no "better geometry" - the straddle cable and brake pad adjustment control it all. You can duplicate the geometry of the Avids with your current brakes.
See Sheldon's treatise on cantilever brakes.
I might be misunderstanding things, and my wallet would be glad if I were, but reading that seems to confirm brake geometry differences. It says mechanical advantage is determined by:
1. Brake lever
2. PC/PS length ratio
3. Yoke angle
1 is a different matter and PS is determined by the frame and wheel.
PC and yoke angle seem to be at least partially dependent upon Attachment Point to Pivot Point length and the angle between PA and PS which are determined by the geometry of the brakes.
First time reading all this though, so I might be very wrong.