A couple years ago, I bought some inexpensive floating key chains, which I cut apart so that I could put the neoprene covers on the brake levers of my mountain bike. I don’t ride it that often in the summer, but I do use it more often in the winter. I have Bar Mitts, which help to keep my hands a little warmer. But the metal brake levers would continue to get ice cold. That’s why I put the neoprene on them.
I don’t know if this would look better or worse than using bar tape. I had to put several small sections of neoprene on each lever. Plus I used red keychains, which don’t really match the black color of the levers or handlebar. Or the rest of my bike. But in the winter, everything is hidden by the Bar Mitts anyway.
(While the neoprene helps, my fingers still get frozen on the colder winter days. I’ll have to try different solutions next winter. Or I might do more indoor spin workouts along with more non-bike workouts.)
The neoprene should help with the grip on the brake levers. But it might look odd, even if you match the color with the levers, handlebar and frame.
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