[Closed] If you don’t ride in the drops .......

it's something you have to practice (I try and get on the drops for about at least 10-15 minutes min on a ride also find touching your toes style stretching helps a lot) , 2 benefits more control (and less wind buffeting) on high speed descents and saving a few watts on exposed block head winds.

See if you can try some flared drops. They give a very different feel from regular ones.

With your hands on the hoods and the drops your wrists are at a natural angle (drop your arms by your side and your hands will be at same angle) whereas with flat bars they are not. For me this brings a lot more comfort with drop bars (I actually use bullhorns but same theory)

This is worth sacrificing is riding single track or proper off road but for road and gravel riding I prefer the comfort of the doors plus the faster speed for same effort.

Although you don't use the drop presumably you use the hoods?

Don't fixate on the drops, think about the two useful positions you get on top of a set of drops, i.e. the hoods and the tops.

I do all my 'gravel' and CX on a converted MTB, i.e. basically a glorified flat bar hybrid and I really miss the position offered by the hoods on a set of drop bars.

So far my experiments trying to replicate that position haven't gone well. I'll try some longer more ergonomic bar ends on my flat bars, but they still won't offer the difference in reach that you can get between the tops and the hoods.

As it is, I just have my flat bars in a position somewhere between the tops and the hoods of my road bikes.

edit: what Kerley said basically

I never use the bottom bit, but the curve round to the hoods is almost a natural position for hands. Standing up out of the saddle on a hill is difficult with hands on top of the bars. Ergonomically the 90 degree angle is very useful.

In 50 plus years of riding I've ridden and raced drop bar bikes. Nowadays I hardly ever spend any time in the drops and I rarely see any other riders doing so. In the old days, with down tube or bar end shifters and flimsy brake levers you had to be in them in or you couldn't stop or change gear. Except at the velodrome (when it feels natural) there's hardly a reason to be there.

But woe betide the rider at the Sunday cafe stop who dares to break the orthodoxy and ventures out with flat bars on his Pinarello. We'll have none of this safety and comfort here!

Useful on days like today!

I think for longer distances the benefit of drop bars is that you can change hand position/ alter the weight on the saddle. I think it is worth persevering with if you want to do any distance.

I barely used my drops, eventually I found some really wide ones- nitto maybe? which I almost liked but even then I was mostly in the hoods or flats. And then I thought, this is mental, I'm riding around with compromised braking and with mad expensive parts that I don't need. So I sold it and build a really nice, really fast hybrid and I far prefer it. (and parts are so much cheaper, since it can use mtb bits- in fact it became Where Stuff Goes To Die, right now I'm wearing out the last of my 9 speed and a set of ancient formula oros, and some slightly dodgy brake discs)

YMMV, a big contributor for me is that I'm about as flexible as a brick.

Use drops all the time. Your bike fit can make it easy. A good ratio between stack and reach makes it comfortable. It's definitely faster, your more aero dynamic. If it's difficult probably means you have the stem too 'slammed'

If you want to be in actual control of the bike when descending then you need to be in the drops to brake. It's only in the drops when braking that you actually have your fingers wrapped around the handlebar. On the hoods, they are not and you also don't have the leverage quite right for braking and steering etc.

I only use the drops on my roadbike when descending. My gravel bike is shorter and I use the drops more. Was on a quickish (for me) group road ride yesterday on the gravel bike and used the drops a fair bit when sitting on wheels and when sprinting. Offroad the drops offer more security for the hands as you can have a loose relaxed grip whilst the hands cant slip off which you cant really do on the hoods. No doubt they'll feel odd for a while but then its not a mtb its a gravel bike.

^ that reminds me of a mate of mine only rides a drop bar road bike (rim brakes) and who won't even go into the drops on alpine descents. Makes me wince just thinking about it.

The drips were handy today due to the wind, far easier and less fatiguing when you’re hunkered down into a head wind on the drops. I also feel a bit more secure on fast decent on the drops.

Thanks all.

Lots of chin stroking going on at the moment.

Possibly ironically I’ve never felt comfortable in the drops despite the different hand placement offered. ...... perhaps it’s my big hands 🤨 😁

Will continue to muse.

+1 for flared drops. The Drop Tune bars on my Grade are perfect. Failing that try bars with a shallow drop and raising the stem by a couple of spacers if flexibility is an issue. It's worth persevering with them as they do offer benefits, especially when descending (more powerful braking, more control, more speed!). On the flat or descents I aim to be in the drops but it does take a bit of practice.

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anagallis_arvensis

I only use the drops on my roadbike when descending. My gravel bike is shorter and I use the drops more. Was on a quickish (for me) group road ride yesterday on the gravel bike and used the drops a fair bit when sitting on wheels and when sprinting. Offroad the drops offer more security for the hands as you can have a loose relaxed grip whilst the hands cant slip off which you cant really do on the hoods. No doubt they’ll feel odd for a while but then its not a mtb its a gravel bike.

^^^ This

There is a significant difference between road bikes and drop-bars on off-road bikes. IMO you won't feel confident or comfortable in the drops off-road unless the reach/stem has been set up for off-road riding. I see too many d.i.y. conversions with the bars too stretched or too low; may be OK on-road but not so good off-road.

I've got a Giant Revolt, never got down on the drops. Last year converted to flat bars and I love it! Also gave me a chance to ditch the Avid cable discs and replace them with a pair of Clarks M2s. One thing I found out there are such things as flat bar shifters??? £120 a pair!!!!!
It was cheaper to swap the rear mech for a Deore and raid the parts bin 😁

Wasted on me. I had an Allez & I could only get away with using the hoods, & even then after a few miles my elbows were aching. Flogged it & bought a flat barred hybrid with lower gearing at the back & hydraulic discs. It's not much slower & miles more fun/versatile for me, (plus much more comfy)

I probably spend 90% of the time on the hoods, a much more comfortable position for me, but it's a load better than a flat bar for me in terms of getting going and general riding

It can take a lot of tweaking and adjusting to get the drops right. When I got my bike I couldn't use the drops because I couldn't reach the brakes, so I tried lots of stem and bar combos, lots of angles of rotation and lever positions, and now it's spot on. It's worth it if you want to go fast.

My point of view is that no-one would design a system that was genuinely rubbish, so I should be able to get out of it what the designers intended me to. And I was right, in the end. It was a little difficult in my case cos I think the frame is a bit too short for me.

I try to be on the drops 40-50% of the time depending on the ride.

If you are a racer, fast rider, or merely fashionable, then your drops will be down low.

For everyone else, having the bar top level with the saddle puts the drop portion in a more comfortable position. But if you have converted a flat bar bike to drops, you should also have changed the stem because the reach will now be wrong*.

If you look at pics of bikes in the 1950s & 60s when the bikes were the main means of transport, you'll see most ordinary riders have their drops set up like that.
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*unless you have had your arms surgically altered (you never know, this is STW after all)

In purely road terms, I spend roughly 30% of my distance in the drops - all descending and most of the time when fighting a head wind on the flat. I live on the edge of the Peak, so plenty of descending to be had. More planted, more control, more aero, better braking. Flexibility and core strength does play a biggish part - if I've not been out on the roadies in a while, I do need a ride or 2 to get back used to them again.

In gravel terms, I've not spent a lot of time on drop bars, but what I have says that you NEED to be comfortable riding in the drops to descend safely. There's simply no way I can descend over rough terrain AND brake from the hoods - my hands just bounce off. So you have to set the bike up with that in mind.

Just because that's the way it worked out, my gravel bike got created out of my old Soda which was sitting there being a bit underused, so I ended up doing the flat bar hybrid thing. Certainly on technical terrain, I seem to be able to kick drop bar ass most of the time, but pay for it a bit on tarmac (not helped by being a bit undergeared). I've fitted a pair of bar ends inside my controls to give an "on the hoods" type position which helps loads. Can just about see them here.

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I think its fair to say if you go from mtb to gravel drops will be a challenge if you go from road to gravel it wont. Drop bars make no real sense off road but I enjoy the challenge and like the bike to be quick on road and on flat easy off road.
If you dont like road bikes or road biking I cant really see why you would ride a gravel bike. IMO of course.

I love climbing on the drops but...
https://advntr.cc/do-you-need-a-gravel-bike/

I rarely use them but I find a drop bar much better for long distance rides.
I have chicken levers on my cx so I can brake on the tops if I need too.

I use the drops when:
Tanking it along during a race situation on the road bike when I’m on the very edge of what’s possible power wise and also when belting into corners so fast that I need to get low and strong in order to make it round. It was only when I started race training that I realised a bike could be ridden in this way, and needed to be ridden in this way in order to survive. Always in the drops for a sprint finish. You can’t sprint properly from the hoods.

Off road on the cx I get in the drops when I’m on a descent that’s just going mental and I fear my hands will get shaken off the hoods or if I’m racing into a cruel headwind. I’ll also use the drops if I need to dominate a corner in a high speed, dry cx race.

The common theme here is if you’re just cruising then the drops are uncomfortable and the hoods, tops or flat bars are much nicer, but if you are racing and need to force the bike down into a turn or sprint so hard the frame is visibly flexing then drops are essential at times.

For me the hand position when on the hoods is way more comfy than a straight bar. (That is why mountain bikes used to have bar ends.) My commuter has cow horn bars (and old school slack seat tube angle geometry). It remains the comfiest riding position bike I have. My road bike is a bit more racy and fun for a quick blast.

I used to love bar ends. Pity wide bars and fashion killed them. I’m sure they’ll make a comeback soon.

I've ridden a road bike for years and very rarely ride in the drops. Mainly ride on the hoods or top.

I’ve just changed my so called gravel bike from drops to flat after 15 months of not really liking the set up and am finding it so much better.
Wide bars and grips with stubby little bar ends built in give me all the hand positions I need.

If you’re used to mtb I’d recommend it.

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Never used to use them. Was uncomfortable and scary when I first got the bike. After intentionally using them for a little bit every ride I now see their use.

If I’m on an A road and need constant speed while fighting for my life against passing cars, I’ll go on the drops. If I’m fighting a hellish headwind I’ll go onto the drops. If I’m descending on tarmac I’ll ocasionally hit the drops. If I’m going for a PB I’ll go on the drops. There are times when it just feels right to drop onto them.

Off road, never. I’m always on the hoods for my off road riding - I’m just comfortable with that, though I do hear some say the drops can be better for the extra control...But I can’t see putting my weight forward any more than it already is on the hoods being a good thing on some of the descents I do.

I my gravel bike spent more time off-road than on, I'd probably have some Velo Crazy bars:

And this site is brilliant for checking out bar shapes -- you can visualise almost every weird bar available by laying them against each other on a grid:

whatbars.com

My two gravel/road bikes (Camino Ti and Fairlight Secan) are both set up so the drops are the primary position. I am old, and pretty unflexible so that means the bars are really high, with quite a few spacers and stems with a nice bit of rise. Im very leggy which doesnt help. I also use bars with a low drop and reach (cowchippers). That means I can happily tuck into the drops and ride all day on them with a nice straight back to reduce fatigue. I can also happily descend on the gnar on the drops. Did some quite tech descending in the alps and scotland last year and felt really comfy.

I think everyones physiologies vary a lot and people and bike manufacturees get hung up on low bars as thats what the pros use.

Quite often drive over to Swinley at the weekend and see 30 - 40 riders out on their spin. That includes the Wokingham CC uber peletons with the line of red faced frustrated car drivers behind them 😁. I do keep a tally of how many are riding on the hoods as I pass and its about 70 - 80%. To me thats bad bike fit.

Anyone wondering how to set up dropbars for offroad may benefit from a

visit to the RSF photo archive

and take a look at the bikes there.

Can highly recommend a bike fit. The guy setting up my bike was like "Do you use the drops?" I was ginegerly saying Yeah mate a bit, he's like no you don't, show me.

Some tweaks to the bars and I've now gone from being permanently on the hoods to super comfortable on the drops and fanging it down road and gravel descents.

Then your bars are too low and too far away. Everyone can ride on the drops when a bike fits properly. Most people have their hoods at a level that is too low and then they can’t get down further.

I do keep a tally of how many are riding on the hoods as I pass and its about 70 – 80%.

You sound like a really fun person

To me thats bad bike fit.

No it just means that for 80% of twiddling along on a club run the hoods are the best place to be.

I used to love bar ends. Pity wide bars and fashion killed them.

Fashion killed them first but as you say now bars are so much wider I don't think bar ends would be that comfortable as arms would be splayed out too much.

I find flats or drops a compromise and it is just a case of having to pick one and deal with it really. Drops are great on road and gravel but they are not as good for singletrack, hopping over things and generally I find them less fun to ride but they are marginally quicker with more hand positions.

Getting rid of my beer gut enabled me to use the drops more...i'm comfy using them and use them on descents and when riding into a head wind...Saves a lot of arm fatigue when wanting to hunker down into a head wing if using the hoods.

The drips were handy today due to the wind, far easier and less fatiguing when you’re hunkered down into a head wind on the drops. I also feel a bit more secure on fast decent on the drops.

Apart from the fact that on the drops you are less aero than on the hoods with relatively flat / horizontal forearms, so you're actually doing more work into that headwind.

Drops set up right for off road use are ace, especially descending when it's rough or sketchy as it's more secure.

I use my Cross bike for CX racing and pratting about off-road when I don't want to ride my MTB, suppose thats gravel riding. The set up isn't too dramatic, but there is certainly drop between the saddle and the bars.

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Apart from the fact that on the drops you are less aero than on the hoods with relatively flat / horizontal forearms, so you’re actually doing more work into that headwind

well that's me confused i reckon i can put out about 3km/hr more for same effort if switch from hoods to drops into a headwind which is mainly when i use them other than for fun on fast singletrack and on downhills that I know well....much prefer flared and for traffic the oh so unfashionable CX levers. Like variety of hand positions - rode a flat bar road bike for a week on a credit card craft brewery tour in California last easter and didn't think "wow I want to buy one" - the opposite in fact