I have never found a cross lever that ACTUALLY clamps to a 26 mm section of the bar. Since bars have a 26 mm clamp section but the majority of the bar is another diameter, the bar clamps to this smaller diameter. Why do they make the clamp area so large? Does anyone actually sell a cross lever that really goes right next to the stem?

Anyways I just picked up a pair of 21s for $40. They came with corks in the bar openings... how do I remove them? Or should I just jam them in with a TT lever or a bar end?