as rhys said..the way to go is new cables all round...period...plus take the brakes off, give em a clean and grease the lugs on the frame....lube new cables, fit, adjust and your away, or stopped?
gregg the thing with new school bikes braking is you must remember the front cable is routed with a lot of bends in it so the need to be kept well lubed, and the rear you are pulling six cables, 3 in the upper gyro cable, and 3 in the lower, so again, lubrication is the key....once you get them set up proper u brakes work the nuts....
good luck geezer, and dont bother trying to lube the old gyro cables as they are prob shot by now, i think upper and lowers should only be about 10 quid, plus new front, 3 quid say, so 13 quid and fannys your auntie.
hope to see you doing endos at bristol fella...
Dave