JBHoren

In a word, do we like 'em or do we hate 'em?

OK, it's not necessarily those extremes. I'm just wondering if, other than aesthetics, putting hoods on Dia-Compe non-aero brake levers is important due to mechanical, protective, or other reasons.

I'm nearing the end of a five-year WIP (a Canadian Raleigh-made clone of their Gran Prix), in which I've replaced the original brake levers w/"suicide extensions" with a more normal pair of Dia-Compe levers and, even though the frame is Pearl Silver and bar tape/cabling/saddle/pedals will be black, I don't want a Darth Vader or "ninja" look... so I'm thinking that the shiny silver of the brake-lever bodies will help break-up the darkness.

Mauriceloridans

My hands are on the hoods 70% of the time I'm riding. Soft hoods are a blessing.

TiHabanero

The hoods on the non-aero Dura Ace levers that sit on my 79 Raleigh Pro have long disintegrated. The only thing on them now is handlebar tape. Since I ride on the tops almost all of the time, it does not bother me not to have hoods on them. I do have hoods on all the other vintage machines only because they have not fallen off yet! Once they go they stay gone.

CliffordK

I never got used to riding on the hoods until I started riding Ergo/Compact bars and Aero levers. It was always riding on either the tops or drops, then dropping to the drops for braking.

I now really like the hoods.

I don't want to go back to basic round bars and non-aero levers, even as I'm developing more interest in retro-builds.

I have a couple of builds in process. We'll see how well accepted they will be.

Ex Pres 

I like hoods for comfort. I do set my vintage rides up sort of like my modern ones, so riding the hoods is part of that. I also prefer wider hoods - think Modolo, for example - and like to use their hoods with other (like old Campy) levers.

HTupolev

Rubber hoods on non-aero levers are primarily used for aesthetics and ergonomics. If you don't like them, don't use them.

If you do want to use hoods, and your objection is simply that you don't want them to be black, you could look for other colors. There are brown/gum replacement hoods available for a lot of non-aero brakes, and even some white ones.

Vintage_Cyclist

Old style Dia Compe brake hoods. Cane Creek, black or gum. Older NOS hoods by AME on eBay in various colors, perhaps something that coordinates with the decals on the frame.

abshipp 

I've got three bikes with non-aero levers. One has hoods, and two don't.

When I'm on the bike with the hoods, especially if it's been a while since I've ridden it, sometimes I think to myself "These are really nice!"

When I'm on the bikes without them, I don't really notice them not being there. Only if I'm pushing hard out of the saddle and my fingers kind of dig into the bottom of the body when I'm wrenching myself up a hill.

Aesthetically, I generally prefer naked lever bodies. What I really hate though is when the bar tape gets wrapped up around the lever body in order to try and add some padding. Totally breaks the flow of the cockpit to me.

Chombi1 

I like the looks of aero levers but I don't really like the hassle of installing them because of having to route the cable under the hood and bar tape. Non aero levers are so much easier to install and adjust and have much better response and feel at the lever as the cable does not have to make and sharp bends, before it gets to the calipers..... Campy mid 80's convertible aero levers are one of the worst to set up as they had fiddly little parts (cable saddle plate). I guess Campy never heard of the term K.I.S.S.....
Thing is. After model year 86ish, you are forced to used aero levers with the brakesets thst game with most of the bikes,back then.

SJX426 

Only one of my bikes have "ergo" levers. I like them a lot, the others are liked or not based on ease of braking then on comfort.

The Universal levers are not great for braking from the hoods but have a thick gum area for resting between your thumb and index lever. I would not ride them without the hoods as the body is nearly square under the hood.

Campagnolo C&V levers are a good compromise but don't have the support of aero levers.

John E

I have three bikes with 1960s Weinmann non-aero levers, all with reproduction hoods. The Weinmann levers fit my hands extremely well and enable me to grab the brakes firmly and very quickly in a panic stop, something I can't accomplish as securely with longer-reach Modolo or Mafac levers.

Since I always wear padded gloves, I may not need the hoods, but I like them.

malcala622

I just bought some DA non aero off eBay...hopefully they don't disintegrate after a while.

rccardr 

The Golden Boy 

To me- any levers look unfinished without hoods.

RobbieTunes

I live in the hood.
I ride on the hoods.
I never wear hoods.

Non-aero looks fine to me, especially on older bikes.
Aero looks fine to me, especially when I'm running 9sp or 10sp with DT shifters.

As long as they work.


Now, if it's non-aero and the cables are waving in the wind because they're a foot too long.... no problem. It's not my bike.

malcala622

rccardr 

Wow, those look great.
Keep them out of the sun unless being ridden, and they'll last a while.

JBHoren

This ^^^^.

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I think I'll wrap the bars in black, and leave the brake levers bare and polished. I always wear full-fingered gloves when I ride, so the padding aspect of brake hoods is of little importance to me.

JohnDThompson 

Non-aero Modolo "Anatomic" lever hoods are the most comfortable hoods I've used. Just my opinion.

RobbieTunes

Not so off-topic, but I'll bet I'm not the only one who's wrapped the brake lever bodies, for lack of hoods, on older bikes, when I was young, a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. comma, comma.

Slightspeed

Legnano with Campy Aeros.

Original Universal levers and exposed cables.

Even on vintage bikes, I much prefer the aero hoods. 20 years ago I converted my '64 Legnano from from top exit Universal levers to Campy Aeros. I got a deal on the Campys, cheaper than the new replacement Universal hoods cost. I loved them. I had to put the old Universals back for Eroica requirements in 2016. That rule has been relaxed, but it was too much trouble to go back. With a bar mounted bottle cage, the exposed cables do get in the way. I found a home for the Campy aeros when I bought a '78 PR10 that needed brake levers. I still prefer the aeros.

Fahrenheit531 

I use 'em, but since I'm in the drops 90% of the time these days it's almost purely aesthetic. And I agree with others saying things just don't look complete without them.