Hi Everyone

I am new here and soooo happy to read this thread! I have only ridden my new road bike 4 times and the hills are terrifying me! It doesn't help that I don't feel like I can stop the bike when I am riding on the hoods. I can't seem to reach far enough down the brake levers to get any of the "lever" action happening. I seem to be pulling on the lever near the top at the join. If I go to the drops (which I haven't been game enuf to do downhill yet!) I get good leverage and it brakes well. Do I need to change something on my setup? (please say yes!)