Hi Dennis I'd like to place an order for one pair of the leather brake hoods, of the style shown on the website that are similar in size and shape to the Campagnolo hoods. Honey in color. Also, one of the small under saddle tool bags, also in honey. Thanks for taking on this project again. Jay
Dennis Young <mail@woodworkingboy.com> wrote:I have been in contact with Mr. Hishikawa, the leather worker in Japan who makes the saddle bags and leather brake hoods. He has made up a leather hood that he thinks would fit most Americans better, in that it is larger to grip. The inside dimensions are the same as the earlier one, in terms of fitting around the lever and block, but the outside is beefier. He thinks that the larger size would be more comfortable, the smaller one appropriate for most Japanese, and people built similar. Can I get some feedback from folks who have installed his hoods from the earlier order. Would you prefer a slightly larger area to grip? I hope to put together another order fairly soon, as a number of people who ordered previously want to do it again, plus a few new people have contacted me about it. I don't want to get into giving out prices, etc. yet, but if anyone is interested and didn't contact me earler about wanting to order the next time, you can drop me a note and when I post to the list, I will also email the announcement to you directly. I have kept all the earlier enquiries. Probably I will put up the item photos at a host service with the prices, that way you won't have to hassle with the Japanese at Mr. Hishikawas site, and not having to translate a zillion times will make it a lot easier for me as well. In the mean time, here is his website and if you click around you can get an idea of what he makes. Please don't enquire about additional information at this point. If you contact Mr. Hishikawa directly, he can't respond to emails in English. Please don't bother him with enquiries unless you can do it in Japanese. I am not making anything on this, but I like for people to use his goods, plus he is a great guy and does beautiful work, so I am pleased to help him out.
http://www12.ocn.ne.jp/
Thanks.
Dennis Young
Hotaka, Japan