So in your setup STATO, do you have those extra brake levers for when you want to use the flat part of the bar? I found that position fine when bimbling along quiet roads, but would want to be on the hoods or drops when amongst traffic.
I have used them, they can be good for cruising along like you say. For most of the time tho im on the hoods (or just behind them). What most people seem to miss is that riding on hoods dosnt have to be a stretch, at least not on a casual bike. For a perfect example look at a cotic road rat, they come in long for flat bars and short for drop bars (3cm difference in length, with the same length stem this will mean the top of the drop bar will be 3cm closer to you than the flat bar version, so the hoods will be in an almost identical position to normal flat bars.
I also found the quicker steering of the drops a bit unusual, but I suppose I will get used to that.
Thats becasue all your weight is transfered forward, try raising the bar a little, you should be able to switch between the tops and the drops without any discomfort.
FWIW, my right wrist is plated after a bad break. Weirdly, it wasn’t that which hurt, but my left shoulder muscles and upper arm. I think it’s because I favour that side.
I get this feeling in the arms from too long in the drops on my road-race bike (bars are at least 3cm lower than my other drop barred bikes), somthing that can be cured with a good set-up, ie. in this case probably higher bars.
Also, the stem was too long so I was too stretched out probably exacerbating the problem. What do you think?
I think your doing well for still trying, but probably fell into the same trap i did when i first started riding road bikes a few years ago. Basically your prob looking at the bikes in the mags/shops/under club-riders and just not finding what is right for you. My first bike was 3cm too long and it nearly put me off, in the end i swapped to a shorter frame with a higher bar setup and i love it. Ok so now ive got used to it and my race-y bike has a lower longer set-up but its still not as extreme as that first one i used.
Keep at it, dont be affraid to try some other bars too, there are loads of different styles and sizes, WAY more to chose from than MTB bars and they dont all suit.