Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,242
Likes: 1,659
From: PacNW
Bikes: Dinucci Allez 2.0, Richard Sachs, Alex Singer, Serotta, Masi GC, Raleigh Pro Mk.1, Hetchins, etc
+1 on the above. if the pads you installed "had been sitting around for a couple years" there's a pretty good chance they are hard as a rock and won't provide good braking action.
There's not a lot we can do here to make old rock hard pads "brake better".
Please buy some new Kool Stop or Jagwire pads.
install them and see if they work better. Report back
/markp