> Donald Gillies wrote:
> >
> (cut)
> > why is it that when simplex puts out a piece of junk (prestige
> > derailleurs) people scream and rip them off the bike and throw
> them in
> > the trash bin. when campy puts out a piece of junk (world logo
> hoods)...
to which Chuck responded:
> I'm puzzled: virtually all brands of brake hoods made in the
> seventiesand before were latex rubber and rotted as all rubber
> does. It was
> assumed that you would replace latex rubber brake hoods on a regular
> basis. Why single out Campagnolo?
The earliest brake lever hoods, as made by the patentholders Vittoria were actually made with almost pure parabutylene (natural rubber). These Vittoria lever hoods did indeed last longer than almost all subsequent lever hoods. Apart from the Vittoria ones, Campagnolo hoods were indeed just as durable as any other hood that had the same shock- absorbing capabilities at the same time.
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ