Brakes ( or lack of therein...)

when I built my Surly up I bought a set of Planet X Frog Bollox canti brakes. stopping was crap, but I persevered. new KoolStop pads helped, but braking was still way beneath par. The rear brake on the Hiver was even worse..new pads (Again) and they were still crap. I overtightened a pinch bolt on the straddlle cable barrel clamp and sheared the bolt. PX were useless , Paul Milnes and most local shops, even ebay couldnt find me a replacement. so it was time for a new brakes. I looked into a set of TRP cx9s, but apparently they have to run really close to the rim.. not ideal for some of the crap i ride in .. so in the end I got a set of CR720s ( rear only) Easier to set up ( though I dont like the straddle pinch bolt arrangement) and a massive difference riding , I can now actually stop and did a few test drifts on the fast berm in the woods..I did notice my heel clipping the right arm occasionally though. I will leave the front as it is until it is time to replace pads, and maybe keep my eye out for a set of CX9s for summer riding.