Care of hoods

[budgetweenie]

I'm doing a bit of spring cleaning around the budgetweenie garage this weekend, and I've come across a number of older Campagnolo brake hoods. Old as in the pointy hooded Aero and 1st generation ErgoPower era.

One pair had melted to goop (lactic acid sweat+years of storage), but two other pairs were quite supple and flexible. I also have a number of newer 10 speed Record hoods, and the odd Shimano bits as well.

What would be the best way to preserve and store these soft parts? Sealed in vacuum? Slathered in Armor All? Dry air, moist air, etc.....

I suppose a cool, dry environment out of sunlight (bottom dresser drawer)?

Any ideas?

[mjduct]

I would use a sparing amount of a light oil and then seal and put them out of the sun...

Can I ask why are you keeping them in the first place?

[budgetweenie]

I have brake levers which match them all and the replacement cost is fairly high, if they are available at all (White early Campag Aero, 1st generation ErgoPower, etc. I have a whole 8 speed group sitting around).

Sometimes in the off season I swap out Ergos for downtube shifters, etc. for those long solo rides.

That and I'm a packrat who likes esoteric things....