I got a set of these

Amazon.com : Sunlite Road Drop Bar Foam Bicycle Grips, 4 Piece Set : Bike Grips And Accessories : Sports & Outdoors


They are basically foam rubber tubes designed to slide onto handlebars. I wasn't about to remove all the stuff from the handlebar, so I used a pair of long-bladed scissors to make one lengthwise cut through a tube (sort of like gutting a fish) Then place the opened-up tube over the desired part of the handlebar with the cut opposite where your hand will be. Then wrap with sticky electrical tape from Walmart, sorta like handlebar tape. Very cushy, doesn't look bad. cheap, effective.