‘Cheater’ strips are used to cover the clamp inside the STI lever, and are usually supplied with the handlebar tape. In Jon’s experience, the strips are typically too long for the task and require trimming by about 10mm.

Roll back the lever hood to expose the clamp, and apply the ‘cheater’ strip. Be sure not to cover the indentations in the lever that correspond with the tabs on the inside of the rubber hoods. Doing so will create a lumpy and uncomfortable lever hood.

It’s useful to have a ‘third hand’ when applying ‘cheater strips’ to hold in place the section of tape already applied. Jon uses a ‘pin spanner’ (what looks like a large pair of tweezers) but a large clothes peg, or a helping hand from a willing assistant will work just as well.

Continue to wrap the bar, covering the ‘cheater’ strip, and winding the tape above the clamp towards the ‘tops’ of the bars. Use a pin spanner, clothes peg or assistant to hold the tape above the clamp in place, and roll the lever hood back into position.