New Bike! (with some teething issues?)

cheers guys.
as far as I know, the brake cables are brand new. most of the bike is new apart from the frame and brake pads (which bro reckons still have a fair bit of life left in them). I don't think it's the brake pads themselves because if I put my hands into the low-position, it brakes fine, but in the top position it's a bit of a struggle.

yeah, worn brake pads wouldn't make the braking feel stiff, just a bit spongy instead. how far do you have to pull the brake levers before they start biting on the rim? if you need to have them full on to get any proper braking effect, then you could try tightening up the brake cable by pulling it through a bit more at the brake end.

I think I have to pull it a fair bit to be honest, but yeah the brake leavers do feel just a little stiffer than my friend's bike where it felt fairly easy

...or try winding the barrel adjuster wotsit out at the lever end obv a bit, depending on the design of the lever xp

ugh phone typing, mangler of language

so I've now:
-raised seat and handlebars. it's slightly comfier I think
-experimented with the L screw but the chain keeps slipping off. I'll take it to a shop and see if they can help
-tightened the brake cables. it's meant I don't need to press down as far but I still don't feel like I can get the bike to stop fact enough - it slows down but still coasts along a little bit before a complete halt. this puts me off going at speed

I'll take it to a bike project and see what they say