[Closed] Do I have to use carbon paste?

You don't *have* to. It helps reduce the clamping force required to stop it slipping on the bars, and thus less likely to damage the carbon. But carbon is tougher than you think. Just don't go over the torque spec and see if they slip in use.

Or get some carbon paste. LBS might have some if desperate.

Talc powder maybe works instead (no idea if it does. Probably not good if it gets wet). Sand even 😀

There's an extra bonus of carbon paste if alloy to carbon, but that's to do with corrosion. Not an issue with carbon on carbon.

Try without, and order some paste if it slips. Do up the ends carefully in the meantime.

Thanks deadkenny for the advice. I actually used some hairspray and bar ends not slipped at all.

most decent shops sell little sachets of TACX carbon paste for about 75p a hit, its enough to do an aero post with some left over.