Originally Posted by
joesch
Leather is the way to ride, best feel and stays in place well if you pull tight and overlap correctly, just slightly. Trick is using 2-sided tape on bars as bottom layer or even use elect tape with sticky side up as complete under layer. Works great for holding the leather in place.
I've just taken leather off because I didn't like it's feel - to me, it's too hard under your hands. Mind you, it came off because I was replacing the bars to oversize top tubes (I've got big paws and like fat bars) but felt no temptation to put it back on again because, as I said, I didn't like the feel.
On the other hand, I carefully kept it and it's just occurred to me that it'd be a nice touch on a vintage bike (seeing you can't get the cloth tape any more)