This may be a repeat, so forgive me if someone has asked this one already.

I have an older Ross Signature, which the original owner had safety levers installed on the brakes. The bike has the original Shimano levers still on it, as I removed the safety levers because they are clumsy on a road bike. Problem now is that the pivot bolt (or whatever the correct term would be) is much too long, and sticks out towards the inside of the bars. I covered it with bar tape, and the bars look like they have tumors. I admit, they are a good place to rest my thumbs, but I would prefer to have them gone. Any ideas? Can I possibly find shorter pivot thingies?