Re: [CR]Seeking hoods for old-style Shimano 600 brake levers

> At 06:35 AM 6/12/01 -0600, you wrote:
> >Hi CR group,
> >
> >I'm restoring a Centurion 'Dave Scott Ironman' with a nice lugged steel
> >frame and a decent ride. It has a full Shimano 600 group in excellent shape
> >except that the brake hoods are shot. The Shimano 600 brake levers are an
> >early version that the guys at the local bike shop are unfamiliar with. Any
> >idea where I might find new hoods for these? I would settle for compatible
> >hoods if I can't find the right vintage Shimano 600 variety (the original
> >hoods were black). Here is a link to three pictures of the left lever:
> >
> >http://members5.clubphoto.com/chuck329663/Shimano_600_brake_lever/
> >
> >I'm having a heck of a time finding these. I've searched all over the web
> >and have contacted a bunch of bike shops. No luck. I know this may be
> >borderline on-topic, but I ran it by Dale and he said "....go for it!"
> >
> >Thanks for any help you can provide.
> >
> >Chuck Clark
>
>
> Chuck
>
> Having whiled away part of a really boring winter day last February,
> playing with various brake levers and hoods, (hey, I just had a snootfull
> of shovelling snow off the roof, and the stuff was too deep to ride in.) I
> think you will find that the generic Euro-Asia Campy NR/SR clone hoods from
> Loose Screws will fit well enough for a non-concours solution. You might
> want to go to a shorter cable stop button. The hoods are available in
> black, but I believe LS is closed until September. Bicycle Classics?
> Rivendell? CdeO? Your LBS may also be able to get them thru Quality Bike
> Parts or another distributor. They fit most of the other better quality
> brake levers from the period; Superbe, Gran Compe, etc. The bodies on these
> were dimensionally "similar" to the NR/SR levers. Or maybe it was all just
> a cabin fever hallucination, or a symptom of SAD. Parts
> compatibility/interchangeability. What a concept! It must have been a delusion.
>
> Otherwise, welcome to the terrors and traumas of ebay. Most of the non-aero
> 600 levers I've seen on ebay or at swaps were missing the hoods. Be
> patient. Bid high. I may be right behind you.
>
> Larry "yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, close enough" Osborn