On the Brake type debate. I raced extensively on all the major types of brakes, and contrary to popular opinon(seemingly) the center pull, old style is the best performing. That is the type with the arms that extend out and a cable straddles the arms and is pulled. They are harder to adjust, but they are far more adjustible. You can make them lock the wheel with a touch or make the wheels really hard to lock just by tweaking them.
Nowadays, disc brakes have my favor. Set and forget, especially in bad conditions.