JeffOYB

Are there any after-market pads or hoods that are shaped to give a fuller hand-feel for older-model Shimano brifters?

I think that Ergos are famously more preferred. And also the new model Shimanos have wised up. But there are a ton of older Shims out there of various types. The earliest ones were the worst. But the 2004's I'm using are still intolerable. I don't wanna buy new levers I just want more body there.

I've heard of people adding their own putty padding and tape and such. I'm wondering if there's a better way. Or maybe a standard approach for delivering a nicer shape, even if tape/etc is used.

Thanks, JP

Raiden

Well, I'd start by using the bar tape to beef up the area under the hoods where your hands' heel/palm rest. Figure 8 wrap around the back of the brifter or something then cover with the hood. Do you need more thickness up higher, like in the place between your thumb and forefinger?

JeffOYB

Not sure. I was thinking there might be a SOP kludge that thousands have used to improve these things.

So there's known to be room under the hoods for extra padding?

spdracr39

There isn't going to be any room under the hoods and you would risk interfering with the mechanism if you tried.

Raiden

Yeah, peel back the rubber hoods at the back end, where they touch the bar tape. When you're wrapping new bar tape, you can wrap it up on to the brifter in that area (actually an advantage over newer models, where the shift cables insert though the middle of the brifter, and it's more difficult to put stuff in there without blocking the cable insertion area). You could experiment wrapping anything you want in there, but bar tape stays in place nicely. I wouldn't go using anything adhesive or gummy in there though.

Wheever

I stuck a couple of extra straps of cushy bar tape up under the hoods to give me a bit more padding. It's lizard skins 3.2, so I now have 6.4mm of padding under the hood. There was plenty of room, and the hood holds the tape in place perfectly.

to clarify: I ran the tape lengthwise under the hood.

JeffOYB

Thanks!

Here's another tip I was sent: use moldable Sugru, or make your own. I don't know how tough it is, tho.

How To Make Your Own Sugru Substitute

JeffOYB

Here are pics from a guy who made his own fairing...

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...lEZU0yZ3Rnclpn

fietsbob

Carve a gouge in a piece od wood like the shape you want to add *, wax for mold release and pour in plasti-dip or that other stuff advertised on TV

and It ill harden to rubberyness cut out a Piece of leather and make it into a hood.

* Off the Front Grip shapes, of over 20 years ago were essentially that.

further back I got a Spenco made strip of Neoprene with velcro sewn on the ends to just wrap around the brake hood as Is.

Non Brifters cable out the top Modolo brake levers , their 919 anatomic hood was one I Glued thin leather onto ,

so as to make their life span near infinite.