There are adjusters on the brake cables that are designed to solve this problem. The cables for the brakes run inside a flexible housing. When you squeeze the handle, the cable should engage the brake. The problem is that the cables inside the housing stretch over time and do not work as well. There is a threaded adjuster at the handle where the housing of the cable goes into the handle. If you turn this adjuster counterclockwise it will, in effect, make the housing longer and the brake cable tighter (shorter). This should engage the brakes better. It make take some trial and error, turning the threaded adjusters clockwise and counter-clockwise to get the proper setting for your strength and comfort. Hope this helps.