Hi Ann ,
Brake hoods , or hand-made tires , or any plastic , or any rubber , but most especially of all , natural "gum" rubber ? ? ? ?
How to save it ? ? ? ?
Forever and ever ? ? ? ?
It's easy .
Water is the enemy .
Oil ( animal , vegetable , or mineral ) is the enemy .
Oxygen is the Big Enemy .
Heat is the BIG Enemy .
Sunlight is the BIGGEST Enemy of all .
When the bicycle is inside , don't let direct light hit any rubber parts , most especially the "gum rubber" parts .
Outdoors , when parked , park it in the darkest shade you can find .
Wear gloves .
Don't lean with full force on the hoods , while riding .
Never allow any oil , nor anything which is any way oily , not even your fingers , to ever touch the hoods .
Oh yeah , and salt is the enemy also . No sweating . Wear gloves .
If you are storing spare hoods , place them in Ziploc bags , with the air squeezed gently out , sealed as air-tight as they can be ( not really air tight , but pretty good ) in a light-proof container , in a cool place .
Oh yeah , and ozone ( O3 ) is even worse than oxygen ( O2 ) . Keep away from ANY electrical sparks , meaning NO electrical motors !! Keep your sensitive rubber parts away from the washer , and the dryer , and any large fans , and the furnace , and not only is the hot water heater hot , but if it's powered by natural gas , it gives off nasty combustion byproducts .
See ?
If you want your natural "gum rubber" parts to last forever , and ever , and ever . . .
It's easy !
As long as you don't live in the real World !!
Cheers ,
Raoul
Kansas
U.S.A.
> Ok, unlike the rest of you, my campy hoods, about 1982, and with the
> shield, are primo, pristine, perfect! How can I keep them that way, since
> they are going on a bicycle pretty quickly?
>
> Ann Phillips, Decatur GA