Current Projects chat and miscellany

I think I'm going to replace my brake hoods tonight (SRAM Rival, the new hoods are Hüdz) but I've never done this before and can't seem to find any instructions online. The levers are already installed on the bars so is it just a case of peeling the old hoods forwards over the levers? I've fiddled with this when positioning the levers and it seems like a mighty tight fit so I'm wondering if I just need to be more brutal or if I'm missing something. The existing levers came (2nd hand) with a big rip in the hoods, presumably from the previous owner being a bit overzealous.

I very well may be wrong (you might want to check first) but if they are plastic or rubber then leaving them in pretty warm water for a while first might help their flexibility and help get them onto the levers? As for getting the old ones off, can these be cut off?