History Question, who invented hoods?
01-25-12, 06:50 AM
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History Question, who invented hoods?
Just curious
Who was it that invented hoods on brake levers to get an additional hand position?
Nowadays the hoods are the primary position, but that wasn't always the case, how did that evolve?
Who was it that invented hoods on brake levers to get an additional hand position?
Nowadays the hoods are the primary position, but that wasn't always the case, how did that evolve?
01-25-12, 07:37 AM
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01-25-12, 09:29 AM
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You gonna eat that?
I don't know who, but you can look at the evolution of brake levers and see that they started out as just brake levers. In sprints when racers were out of their seats and their weight shifted forward, they shifted forward and grabbed a hold of the furthest forward protrusion on the handlebars: the brake levers.
The lever designers recognized that riders were using the levers as handles, so they changed their designs to accommodate that, adding a rubber covering (hood) to make it more ergonomic. Then they redesigned the levers themselves to make it easier to brake from that hand position. The form of the lever evolved to make it more comfortable.
Nowadays it's the primary hand position for a lot of riders. The physical position is very close to that of the ends of bullhorns which are used in pursuit races (which are essentially sprints). Whether on bullhorns or on the hoods, that hand position is a good one for sprinting. So few people ride in the drops anymore, I think the next evolution of road bike handlebars may be to simply eliminate the end of the drop bars and use something more closely resembling bullhorns.
The lever designers recognized that riders were using the levers as handles, so they changed their designs to accommodate that, adding a rubber covering (hood) to make it more ergonomic. Then they redesigned the levers themselves to make it easier to brake from that hand position. The form of the lever evolved to make it more comfortable.
Nowadays it's the primary hand position for a lot of riders. The physical position is very close to that of the ends of bullhorns which are used in pursuit races (which are essentially sprints). Whether on bullhorns or on the hoods, that hand position is a good one for sprinting. So few people ride in the drops anymore, I think the next evolution of road bike handlebars may be to simply eliminate the end of the drop bars and use something more closely resembling bullhorns.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
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01-25-12, 09:32 AM
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Who were the first 10 presidents of America? That's a history question.
And which one of them invented the quick release skewer?
And which one of them invented the quick release skewer?
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coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
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01-25-12, 10:55 AM
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01-25-12, 11:26 AM
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You gonna eat that?
True. They'll keep the drops just to look like the real racers. Around here, though, I would say I see people riding on the hoods, oh, about 99.9% of the time. On group rides where people complain about the wind and I suggest riding in the drops, the answer is almost always, "I don't like the drops." But they wouldn't get a bike with just bullhorns because road racers use drop bars.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
01-25-12, 11:26 AM
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01-25-12, 11:33 AM
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I spend most of my time on the hoods, but I wouldn't give up my drops for anything. That 20% or so when I use them, I'm really glad they are there.
01-25-12, 01:06 PM
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Hoods developed in the late 40's, designed and produced by MAFAC. They were initially a half length and then went to what is now full length for comfort.
01-25-12, 01:12 PM
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Had this question been asked in the Classic and Vintage forum, it would've have been correctly answered in the first reply. There would have been pictures of hoods from all the manufacturers as well as stories of riders making their own hoods soon after drop bar brake levers were invented.
01-25-12, 01:22 PM
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Had this question been asked in the Classic and Vintage forum, it would've have been correctly answered in the first reply. There would have been pictures of hoods from all the manufacturers as well as stories of riders making their own hoods soon after drop bar brake levers were invented.
01-25-12, 01:31 PM
#19
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Had this question been asked in the Classic and Vintage forum, it would've have been correctly answered in the first reply. There would have been pictures of hoods from all the manufacturers as well as stories of riders making their own hoods soon after drop bar brake levers were invented.
01-26-12, 07:01 AM
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Ha ha ha ha ha
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I saw this set-up in my local shop tonight. Of course one "hood" is new, but the other is original. Couldn't find a brand, but the brakes are Mafac.
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