Touring: Brakes? Disk or what?

I've found some interesting articles from Sheldon Brown, including how to set up cantilevers properly. I'll have a go at following his advice on my existing cross bike and the tandem to see what effect it has.

The cross bike's front brake works well. It's currently running a full size V brake (from a hybrid I had) on STI levers so it has to be fairly frequently adjusted. There's a fair amount of mechanical advantage there. It has the tandem's front wheel while its own front wheel awaits new cartridge bearings, an advantage of everything in the family having the same size wheel. The tandem wheel has a much wider rim than the wheel that came with the bike.

The rear brake is an Avid Shorty 6 so narrow profile. I was unsatisfied with the Mini-Vs that came with the bike so tried that as a cantilever based on reviews at the time. Based on Sheldon Brown's articles it seems I'd want to specify a wider profile and therefore a wider cantilever angle. I'll try his recommendations to increase the effective cantilever angle with what I have.

Thanks. This is certainly something to look at and ask at bike shops.

If I put a disk brake on the front do I sacrifice some comfort in the fork?

Although I can't predict the future I'll be most likely visiting places like the Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire Moors - places fairly local to me. They're hilly. My company has a charity ride from Calais to its office in Sliedrecht, though it seems I can't make it this year.

We used to cycle-camp, initially with quite heavy kit (Vango Force 10, Trangia), though now we have something smaller and lighter when packed and larger when pitched. We'll hopefully do more of this as the kids (at least my son) grow old enough and I hope a bike I buy will last long enough for this to be relevant. We already have a Dawes Galaxy Twin tandem which has weak cantilever brakes and, thankfully, a drum brake. I expect future usage will be a mix of this and a personal bike.

At the moment my load carrying use is child seat, child trailer, commute, taking first aid kit and uniform to St John duties in my area, taking radio kit to RAYNET duties in my area. Commuting and short leisure rides make up most of my current mileage. Family take up most of my free time.

I rode a mountain bike yesterday. I liked the disks. It had suspension fork, but I wasn't thinking of this on a bike I want to be fairly lightweight for my unladen rides. I much prefer drop bars. Based on experience of both STI and bar end shifters my current preference is bar end shifters. It's clear to see or feel where they are, and I worry about the cost of repair for STI.

I'm looking at buying for next year, though I'm researching now. Maybe in that time more suppliers will be fitting disks. If I wait for next year's sales I'll be looking at this year's models, assuming I buy off the shelf.

Thanks

- Richard