How about baby powder as a lubricant for applying hoods? It seems like it would help.
Dennis Young Slowly returning to infancy in Hotaka, Japan
> For years, I've found Lemon pledge to be a great asset for intalling gum
> hoods. Spraying the inside of the hood and the outside surface of the brake
> lever
> makes installation quick and easy. Warming up the hood in warm water helps
> make it more pliable also. I've installed hundreds of pairs with this method
> through the years and never had one tear.
>
> Paul Brown
> Cycle Dynamics
> Santa Rosa, CA