Originally Posted by
bluetomgold
I've set them up as recommended and they certainly work. However, they are a little "hard" and only require a very short pull
So you're using cantis and you have the lever adjusted to H. That should be OK unless I'm mistaken about the levers. Try measuring the effective lever length. Canti should be abt 28 mm and v-brake should be abt 35 mm.
If you've gone too radical with your straddle brake that can also contribute.
Originally Posted by
bluetomgold
..The extra effort required to lock up a wheel is higher than I would expect ...
What's the condition of your rims and pads?
Originally Posted by
bluetomgold
...The cable is unaffected by the l-h control as it doesn't come near enough to the guide. (the l-h lever just moves a guide in the cable's path nearer to the lever's pivot)..
Either I'm not understanding you, or you're not understanding leverage. Assuming the cable doesn't slide over the guide, then moving the guide in the lever to a point further from the pivot will increase pull and decrease power. Moving closer will improve power and reduce travel.
Originally Posted by
bluetomgold
Would I get better mechanical advantage by slacking off the cable and setting the stops on the brake lever so that the cable comes closer to the pivot at rest?
I'm not sure what you're suggesting. Setting the levers closer to the bar will make it possible for you to pinch stronger, but it won't affect the ratio of the lever much. If the levers aren't set in "H", then moving there will increase power.
Originally Posted by
bluetomgold
... or would I be better off using different levers. .
Measure them first. Shimano and STX-RC should be decent stuff, if it's right for the application.