For those with road bikes/cross bikes or just drop handlebars.
how much time do you spend below the hoods on the drops?
I must have used that bit of the bars a handful of times, maybe because there are no steep hills for me to cruside down in the tucked position?
most of my time i just sit on the hoods, and probably never use the flat of the bars either.
Not much.
more as time goes by...
descending: drops - but towards the front where the loop is sort of vertical so i can reach the brakes.
sprinting: drops - but on the bottom, where the loop goes sort of horizontal.
most of my time i just sit on the hoods
Don't you find it a bit difficult to reach the pedals from there?
baddum tsssh 😀
Pretty much none. Spend more or less all my time on the hoods, but like you there are no hills I spin out on and I'm not brave enough to sprint on the drops!
I didn't to begin with, but I actually find them quite comfortable now. I'm running Nitto Randonneur bars with specialized bar phat on an LHT...very comfy
no wind round your way? or don't you go out when the leaves are rustling? or you always sucking someone's wheel? 😉
Use it most of the time (only been riding drops for a few weeks) is that weird?
Not much at all really. Riding in to a strong headwind, battering it because I'm late or trying to catch up with somebody or going down hill or quickly round bends is pretty much it for me.
A fair bit - IMO if you don't then the set-up is wrong.
Will take time to get used to tho...
I only use the drops when sprinting or cornering hard (ie crits). I'll often do a cross or road race without using the drops once
Quite a bit. It's more aero to rest ones forearms on the tops, but it's a bit scary in London because you're a fair old way from the brakes, so the drops are a nice alternative.
Fast cornering just feels better from the drops too.
never.
More and more for me too, now helped by the fact I've compact drops which fit me loads better.
On the few cx rides I've done, I use the hoods for fire roads, drops for climbing and descending.
On the road, use drops for intervals, speedwork and descending. Use the hoods and flat section for climbing/flat stretches although if I'm going fast on the flat, I'll use the drops.
rarely - I get neck ache if I have to tilt my head up too much relative to the line of my spine.
out of interest, why is sprinting better on the lowest part of the drops? I don't think I've ever used the flat bits at the bottom (used to use the main bits of the drops but the bikes too small and I'm now too old to ride all hunched up)
As with wwaswas - being down below the hoods hurts my neck. And having the bars at an angle where the top half is comfy puts my lower bar section at too much of a vertical. And being down that low hurts my lower back.
1% of the time at the most.
I find it uncomfortable and difficult to brake in that position. My commute is also 90% flat so don't feel the need much.
Blimey, you ladies ought to have been more honest and bought hybrids.
About 25-30% of the time at a guess, since I started using compact drop bars a couple of years ago. Std 140-150mm deep-drops are harder to balance, one position always feels wrong to me. 125mm drop bars are easy to set up so the hoods and drops positions feel natural.
😆 @ cynic-al!
I've been working on my tuck this year - now have the confidence to almost have my chin on the bar. Its still a little scary how fast you can go like this!
Out of interest, how many use the drops for cx climbing? I was surprised to find i climbed better on the drops than hoods.
I only use them when its windy. Majority of the time I'm on the hoods.
This is interesting, 'cos I'm weighing up whether to get flats or drops on my next bike (probably something cross-y)
[i]Blimey, you ladies ought to have been more honest and bought hybrids. [/i]
I sold my road bike and now fit slicks to this for road riding;
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it's not much more than 20lbs and I don't seem to run out of gears so it's fine.
It's not a hybrid, though, you understand - no 700c wheels on it 😉
I use em 25% of the time, never used to, but compact bars make it much comfier.
That's a frikkin' carbuncle wwaswas, that's what that is 😉
If that's [i]your[/i] view then it must be fine 🙂
Blimey, you ladies ought to have been more honest and bought hybrids.
😆
I actually find I get lower power down on the drops and after 5 minutes of it I end up with neck and headache that doesn't go away for days. Being up on the top is still light years different from a hybrid though so I'm happy 🙂
most of the time, but they are set up fairly high and it's not a road bike (salsa fargo)
a lot.
mainly because:
i'm relatively flexible.
bike is set up properly so tops/hoods/drops are all comfortable.
you go a lot faster in the drops.
don't use the tops much though only for slowing down and having a chat at the back of a group
probably 40% drops 44% hoods 15%tops 1% no hands
Depends on the nature of the ride. amblign around, looking over hedgrows - hardly at all. Pressing on (into wind or not), or on a training ride/chaingang - much more of the time.
I have deep drops on winter bike and road bike and compact on the cross bike. They'd all be compact if I could find a set that had the right shape up top (fairly square) and down below (neat curve with slight flare). Suggestions?
so a follow on question - is there a nice way to raise the front of a road bike without it looking silly? I'm 6'3 so anything is going to look rather gate-like
Rarely - on really fast DHs is pretty much the only time. Or back in the day when I was on a break and really going for it.
I note that a lot of people now put their bars really high so that they can ride on the drops - that's a far worse faux-pas, al 😉
On my commuter hoods 90% of the time, flats occasionally, drops only when it's windy - like this morning.
On my "proper" road bike similar but use drops a little more when sprinting and for fast downhills when I want every bit of braking power possible for pre corner braking - or I'm expecting some tool in a car to pull out on me.
even if you only ever use hoods this is more aero than a flat bar hybrid shirley?Blimey, you ladies ought to have been more honest and bought hybrids.
6'3" - shortarse 🙂
is there a nice way to raise the front of a road bike without it looking silly
Not really. You run the dilema of choosing either a stupid tall head tube, a stack of spacers or shock horror a +ve rise stem.
FWIW, do what fits you 🙂
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you could get something with 'Audax' in the name - they tend to have a taller head tube to start with?
I use the drops always on downhills, and on flat into a headwind or the front of a line, and when sprinting. I use the flat section when sitting and spinning up a hill.
The majority of time for me is spent on the hoods or just behind them on the curve of the bar, I wouldn't be without the other positions though.
Into a headwind or taking a pull, otherwise I'll take the comfort of the hoods.
Not really. You run the dilema of choosing either a stupid tall head tube, a stack of spacers or shock horror a +ve rise stem.
hmm.. I've got myself space on a frame building course next year, so have the opportunity to get whatever I want. it'll be skinny steel tubing so I'm currently trying to figure out if theres a way of having a bike that
1) fits
2) doesn't loook like a gate
I'm fine with a +ve stem, and a few spacers, but unless I figure out a way of lowering my BB (guessing most road bikes already run pretty minimal clearance down there) I'm probably going to end up with a gate :S
yours doesn't look too bad as its got big thick tubes.
Blimey, you ladies ought to have been more honest and bought hybrids.
How was I to know I wouldn't like drop bars before trying them? 😉
wwaswas - Member
If that's your view then it must be fine
I am a big hitter round here and therefore it is FATC.
[i]it is FATC.[/i]
A Fat C, earlier;
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I ride a langster to work and have a good bike for the weekends.
I'd say unless I'm in a bunch then 90-95% of the time I'm on the drops. Only get on the hoods at traffic lights or when having some food really. Even when taking it easy I can still go faster if I get out of the wind as much as possible
New to road riding, having not ridden a bike with drop bars for more than 20 years.
Generally spend more than half the time on the drops so as to be more stretched out and cover brakes. But previous threads on here have made me think I'm doing it wrong and should ride with my hands on the hoods more.
Now I'm just confused.
do what suits you. hoods / drops. there is no right or wrong.
pretty much only use the drops for descending and steep climbs
that might well be because the bike is several sizes too small for me, i can only fit it with a long seat post and big stem.
I used to never use the drops even on decents. I recently refitted the road bike with compact wing bars. Its made a huge difference. I can get down to the drops easily when I have to and it feels comfortabe enough to do a fair distace in the 'race position'. I will always be happier riding on the hoods or the top bar though.
Some drops are far to deep. I found the Fsa Omega, or Itm Alutech and similar Deda bars good. I can spend a fair time on the drops when riding on my own, or up front. I'm not particularly supple and over 60 .Climbing mostly on hoods....keeping the chest open.
Paul Hewitt did the set up for me after suffering a 'Serrota' set up. Now perfect!
30% of the time when i'm 'road riding'
probably only 5% whilst commuting.
definitely more time in the drops on my geared roadie than my pompino (but the fit is a bit better).
Ride flat sections on the hoods.
If it's windy or descending I use the drops.
Climbing - the top flat part for grinding uphill (is there any other way???) and the hoods for out of the saddle climbing.
So the drops get used for maybe 10% of any ride.
how much time do you spend below the hoods on the drops?I must have used that bit of the bars a handful of times, maybe because there are no steep hills for me to cruside down in the tucked position?
That's probably why.
I use the drops on pretty much any downhill, as the lack of control and brakes on the hoods feels rather lethal, but there are plenty of 10-20% hills around here.
can you not use the brakes whilst on the hoods? I thought that was the point of riding on them..
out of interest, why is sprinting better on the lowest part of the drops?
sprinting is best done on a low forward position with hands wide apart to work the bike.
Not sufficiently well to not crash and burn down a potholed 15% hill. At least I can't, but no doubt someone will be along in a moment to tell me I must be a 12 year old girl and shouldn't be allowed to ride a bike.
can you not use the brakes whilst on the hoods? I thought that was the point of riding on them..
Some brakes are better than others. Dura-ace are unbelievably good. Far better than my SRAM Rival and Shimano 105s. I'd be more than happy to blast down a mountain side with Dura-ace on the hoods but not the others.
It maybe also down to the brake pads - and I'll investigate when the time comes.
I usually descend on the drops - for both road and cross - I like the added stability and the secure hand position against being on the hoods. Climbing and on the flat are either on the hoods or the tops (unless there's a big headwind)
you could get something with 'Audax' in the name - they tend to have a taller head tube to start with?
most manufactures do a range of 'sportive' bikes with taller head tubes to accommodate mamil-gut inflexibility.
how much time do you spend below the hoods on the drops?I must have used that bit of the bars a handful of times, maybe because there are no steep hills for me to cruside down in the tucked position?
nothing to do with hills you just don't cycle as fast as you can, using the drops will make a big difference to your speed on the flat (or downhill)
Spend most of my time on the flats and the downs in the drops, I always thought one of the plus sides of drops was the range of useable hand positions. If I didn't use them, I would think my setup was wrong.
A lot less than I used to due to aching wrists and elbows. I need bars at seat height for comfort. Flats are even worse though as the angle is all wrong so riding on the hoods is the best. Having said that I do use the drops on the Midge bars more, maybe as the hoods are less comfy?
I become so aerodynamic in the drops that the dramatic increase in speed scares me, so i ride there rarely
I'm sure they said in this years tour coverage it's actually more aerodynamic to ride on the hoods than on the drops.
99% of the time on the hoods, with shoulders dropped and arms bent. On the drops for very fast descents, purely to get some more brake power. would be interested to see some evidence from the riding gods why being on the drops is good?
these chaps seem to be riding quite fast, [i]maybe[/i] even faster than cynic-al?
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I find my thighs hit the base of my chest when I'm in the drops. I don't know if this is because my thighs are so big, my chest is so big, or my bars are too low 😉
More than i used to. Usually while descending, sprinting and when sitting on the wheel of little blokes 😀
3T Ergonovas on the road at the moment, Raceface cadence on the cx.
More than i used to. Usually while descending, sprinting and when sitting on the wheel of little blokes 😀
3T Ergonovas on the road at the moment, Raceface cadence on the cx.
Riding with your hands under the hoods... Freaks...
i had some drop bars on my fixie... never used them so turned the bars around and lopped off the drops. i've now got mini bull horn bars and ride 80% of the time on the horns....
95% of the time on the hoods. 5% of the time on the drops but mostly just for descending but I don't feel comfortable like that so much.
idave,those chaps are going uphill.
I'd say about 70% in the drops.loads of shallow drops out there.
negative rise stem is just a quill stem thing that's passed over.
a short headtube and a positive rise stem will be lighter,stiffer too.
having said that,I've got a -17degree stem,140mm and slammed.
about 12cm of drop.I get all wet thinking about it..other stem is a 150mm on a commuting bike.I've got 16cm of drop on that.
bit of stretching in the morning,that's all it takes.
and a positive rise 6deg on the audax bike.so it all evens out.
but seriously.get what fits.raise your bars.rivendell style.
the drops are also much more compliant,on rough roads.not to mention your back is less jarred by being flatter.
I am on the drops maybe 50% of the time overall if I am going for it. Otherwise on the hoods mostly. However, my bike's fairly small so it's difficult to get the bars in the right place for hoods and drops, it's a bit of a compromise which I feel I would not have to make if I had the larger frame size.
I'm quite flexible so I am comfortable on the drops on the flat, but the hoods are still great on climbs. I think I have a fairly reasonable tuck on the drops.
EDIT I should also add that it was always murder on the drops until after a year or two's constant fettling, costing me two stems, two bars and a lot of bar tape.
I'm on the drops whenever I'm pushing hard really - except uphill though if I'm sprinting often do then too. I notice the lower position does benefit when cycling into wind so assume there's always an aerodynamic benefit from doing so, less so when riding in a group. Have those who don't like riding on the drops got their bars too low - for them that is? I think I'm quite flexible but don't have mine very low; I sometimes bend my elbows quite a lot to get a very low position - probably only when sprinting.
Bars too low, bike too short, bars not rotated enough, hoods in wrong place.. the list of possibilities is long and the list of combinations much longer.
the drops are also much more compliant,on rough roads.not to mention your back is less jarred by being flatter.
this^ when riding roubaix/flanders cobbles i use drops all the time, you are getting the benefit of any flex/dampening in the bar by holding it near the end instead of by the stem (tops)
On the drops pretty much all the time while road racing, might sit up to stretch my back out for a while, but then straight back down. On the cross bike, whenever riding techy stuff; the braking is better, the control is better.
Sprinting is always done on the drops, it just is.
Climbing up long gentle gradients out of the saddle, the option to climb in the drops is handy.
Most folk seem to set their bikes up so that the hoods are the optimal position, and therefore the drops are too low. My opinion is that the drops are the place for all serious riding, and the hoods are for pootling along.
Compact bars with a short drop are the biz.
all this wouldn't have happened before..old brake levers are much more uncomfortable,plus the distance from the drops to downtube shifters is not much at all,so your weight distribution doesn't change.not so from the hoods.
ah,progress!
besides,it's free speed,gain of about 2km/h with no wind.3 if you're already pushing it.adds up over 3-4h.
and weight you're carrying around.
weight and speed,need I say more?
I just can't get on with drop bars, so I use those TT low-pro bars instead. Just one haynd position but that suits me fine tbh. Same as riding on the hoods, but the brakes are in a better position. I'm very aerodynamic anyway so don't need to tuck in much.
Works for me and it's all about comfort, sod what's 'correct'. I'll probbly have aP tutting sternly at me but I don't care.
Drop bars are for stupids.
set them higher elfie,that way you can be stupid too.