Get some cheat bar wrap on Ebay. By cheap, I mean two or three dollars (shipping included) for stuff that looks like this...


Armed with a set of that wrap, follow the ideas suggested in an article I published years ago - Taping Handlebars.

Since then, I have learned to position my brakes exactly where I want them. Once in place, I sticky tape the clamps into position and then remove the brake levers, leaving only the clamps in place. Then wrap away. You get an easily achieved clean look around the brake levers. This is an example of that method and works really well when half hoods (thanks Mafac) are used...


But start with the cheap rubber stuff suggested. It is easy to work with and, should you go a bit off, just unwrap a bit and do it over and over until it looks good to you. Then do the other side to match the first one. Big tip...

Always, always keep considerable tension on the wrap. Look at the completion of each wrap to ensure uniformity of wraps (appearance) and check to ensure that there are no gaps or loose edges. I really like the little clamps to facilitate the entire task - get a couple.

All that said, this is an easy skill to learn and perfect. Learning to do it will set you back less than ten bucks and prepare you for other wraps in days to come. And, when ending the wrap on each side, you might even want to pretty up the end (actually middles) by using this idea, called Rand's Wrap, which I put on the internet a long time ago.