Originally Posted by
23skidoo
I've installed at least half a dozen sets of Cane Creek hoods and it is precisely that more substantial rubber that lowers the quality IMHO; if you look at the photos of the Cane Creek hoods I posted you will see a split where the hood meets the bar and this has happened to some extent on every single hood when attempting to roll the hood back on itself enough to properly seat the small piece of bar wrap under the hood which covers the bar clamp. It's a cheaper, lower-grade of rubber with very limited suppleness and flexibility. We certainly agree on the punch-out for suicide levers though.
They definitely are more rigid when compared to the older DC hoods, but I find them to be about the same as any modern hood, probably because Tektro manufactures practically everything. The truth is that any hood, regardless of the quality is delicate in this sense. I've never had one split on me, even when I've had to roll them quite far. There are a few things that I find help:
Warm the hoods by soaking in hot (not too hot) water to soften them up.
Go SLOWLY
Flip a minimal amount of the hood over and then pull it back on itself, rather than trying to flip a lot of it over at once. In other words try to roll the edge and peel it straight back on itself as opposed to sticking your finger under it and inverting it. I'm not sure if you'll understand what I mean exactly, but if you can visualize it you'll see that doing it this way minimizes the amount the very outside edge must stretch through.
I'm sure it shortens the life of the rubber somewhat but you can use rubbing alcohol to help slide the hood around on the lever body.
Most importantly: Be Lucky
Replacing hoods is always a stressful job for me
Good luck
