Hood covers wear out before the shifters do. Sun exposure cracks them, sweat breaks down the rubber compound, and thousands of miles of grip pressure compress the material until they feel slick instead of secure. The SRAM Red 22 Textured Hood Covers replace the original covers on Red 22 brake and shift levers, restoring the grip surface you had when the groupset was new.

The textured pattern across the grip surface isn't decorative. That texture provides purchase when your hands are sweating through a climb or wet from rain, situations where smooth rubber becomes a liability. The compound matches SRAM's original specification for the Red 22 lever hoods, so the flex characteristics and durometer remain consistent with what the levers shipped with.

Installation requires removing the old hoods completely, which means peeling them off from the bar end forward. The new covers stretch over the lever bodies following the same process in reverse. Some riders apply a light spray of rubbing alcohol to the lever body, which lubricates the rubber during installation and evaporates completely afterward without leaving residue. The fit should be snug with no bunching around the lever pivot or gaps at the seams.... Read More