Rawhide 

image via Velo Orange (in other words, no, that's not my bike pictured above)

I ordered these Elkhide Sewn-on Bar Covers ages ago (probably over a year) from Velo Orange but I've never had the courage to sew them on until yesterday. I was worried I'd screw it up royally. I did screw it up, but just a little bit and I can live with the consequences. I'm pretty sure I only paid $24 for the kit but I see on their site it's now sold for $36 (how long ago did I order these things anyway?) It's probably the sweetest customization I've ever added to a bike. For all my hand-wringing it only took about hour per side (or less) and because the leather is so supple it was very easy to work with. Now I just need to find some of the recommended "Neatsfoot Oil" to protect the leather from the elements. I have to say, the handle bars look so good, I'm really tempted to buy one of those highfalutin, fancy pants saddles to go with it. I don't know why? I'm not even sure I'll be keeping this bike much longer. Maybe I just feel like the bike deserves a little TLC as it really is the reason I started riding more in the first place. Bicycle customization seems like some kind of slippery slope/gateway drug to much more expensive habit of buying and fixing up lost dogs of the mechanized type.