Another way to help preserve these progressively rarer brake hoods is by trying not to squish them under your hands all the time. If you get into the habit of not resting your hands on them when you ride, they definitely last longer. I wish I could claim the wisdom to this, but a friend whose brake hoods always look baby fresh pointed it out to me. Some people are just born smart, and some of us...well we suffer.
Is it asking too much for Campy to figure a way to supply these old style hoods again?
Dennis Young The rice fields are flooded and talk about frogs! in Hotaka, Japan
> In my opinion the best product for preserving old gum hoods is "303
> Protectant" which you can get at a marine / boating supply store. After you
> ride, does'nt hurt to wipe the dirt and sweat off the hoods. And nothing
> breaks them down faster than sunlight or ozone (from an electic motor, like
> a basement heater blower).