Originally Posted by
bryroth
I've switched from a mountain bike to a road bike. Well, it is a cyclocross bike set up like a road bike. It has Avid Shorty 4 cantilever brakes and brand new shimano pads. I bought new pads because I felt like I couldn't stop. Now I can stop, but it certainly takes a bit. I've heard that this is just how it is with road bikes. Is that true?
I could skid to a stop using my back brake with my Trek MTB. Why do my road brakes suck?
Two shops have looked at them and say that it stops fine, but it doesn't. Am I crazy?
You should be able to skid the rear tire very easily. Are you saying you can't lock up the rear wheel? That said, like others have written, your front brake is the best braking. Use both.