Gravel cockpit confusion.

I’ll try and keep it relatively brief, but I’ve been riding flat bar bikes in gravel guise for years. My current one is a Singular Swift with a reasonably relaxed attack position. It feels spot on, but that’s probably because I’ve adjusted to the bike over the years rather than it being a perfect fit.

I’ve recently put together a ‘proper’ gravel bike (Ragley Trig) with bargain bits from the Wiggle sale and drop bars are new to me. I feel a little stretched on the hoods (slightly further out than the grips on the Swift, but not hugely) with an 80×10 stem and obviously I could go shorter, but when I go down into the hooks of the drops (a completely new experience for me) I feel rather cramped.

I appreciate that cockpit setup is very much a personal thing (I’d be looking for a relatively relaxed, comfy position for non-technical pootling) but what are folks’ thoughts about a shorter stem vs. just riding the thing and getting used to a slightly more stretched out position. The bike’s only had a few very short rides.

For reference, I have a large frame (which I’m sure is correct) and off the peg large Trigs come with 90mm stems.

How many miles have you put on it? If you are a flat bar person it may take a good few miles to get used to drops. Give it a few days and maybe a couple of hundred miles?

Just ride the bloody thing.

Stop obsessing over details.

See how it feels after you’ve put a few hundred miles on it.

PS. I think your (many) threads on it would be an ideal resource for folk new to drop barred bikes if they were consolidated into one place.

As scotroutes said, didn’t you cover this in one of your other threads and got quite a few answers? 🤷

Riding on the hoods should feel natural after a few hours/miles. I only use the drops on longer road rides when either the aero advantage is useful (headwind, up a long slight incline, full gas effort etc) or on a long ride to just move position for a bit.

Whilst not uncomfortable, I don’t find the drops feel ‘natural’ and default to the hoods for 95% of my on and off road riding.

I switch between my upright commuter, MTB and drop bar gravel/road bike without any issue, they’re just different bikes.

I’ve found stretching and core strength helps to flex from your hips rather than just arching your back. Can you touch your toes?

I’ve certainly asked before about how long it would take to get used to a completely different bike and, yes, did get a fair few really helpful answers. I’m not aware that I’ve asked about cockpit setup before, but yes I am hopelessly  unsure about getting things right and prone to obsess.

Certainly the Trig’s done a very few miles and rather more would be useful, so that’s clearly the starting point.

Will try and resist the urge to tinker!

My flexibility isn’t bad and I can touch my toes but I can be prone to a bit of lower back pain when riding if things aren’t quite right.

I’ve ridden a drop bar bike for over 15 years and it took a while for me to get used to them, even so I’d only use the drops when riding into a horrible headwind for aero gains. I’ve had a ‘gravel’ bike for the last 4 years but only got used to riding more technical down hill trails in the drops once I changed the bars to a more flared type. These however have a slightly longer reach for the riding on the hoods. I like them but still took a few rides to fet used to these.

Getting used to a new bike is part of the fun IMO. Otherwise we’d all ride the same bikes with the same geometry and fit etc, etc.

Variety is the spice of life, or so I’m told…..

These look like the bars I use….

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334969263401?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=md8_x244T0y&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=WUD0UrAWSYG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Another personal thing is the shifter/brake lever positions. I have often adjusted these from the position they came fitted.

On my gravel bike, I prefer a one finger braking in the drops (hydraulic brakes), so have the levers set quite far back. This is also very comfy to ride on the hoods as they’re closer to you and give you more to hold. On my road bike, the bars are lower and the hoods and also more forwards.

Don’t be afraid to move your levers about, this may need the tape adjusting but that is only a small job IMO.

Happy experimenting.

Thanks.

I’ll focus on riding on the hoods. As others have suggested I’m probably [certainly] overthinking it. Once I’m comfortable with it and used to riding it I can tweak things a bit if needs be.

Currently I just need to remember where the brakes are.

You should feel comfortable on the drops. It may take you quite a few miles to get used to that position.

I use the drops on my gravel bike for descending and pushing along on the flat. The only time I’m on the hoods is if I’m bimbling along or climbing. I feel more in control and compact on the drops.

I remember an old turbo trainer DVD I used to watch years ago, Spinervals. The coach called for you to be on the drops for all the hard intervals, you could go back to the hoods for recovery spins. His quote was “ I don’t want to see you up on the hoods, that’s like driving a bus slowly with very little control. Think of yourself as driving a sports car. “

Anyway I ride my road bike like that too, maybe it’s just me.

Braking is overrated 😜

I often ride on the flat part of my bars, and there ain’t no brakes there. I think mountain biking can make you ride a little paranoid at times, and be constantly hovering over the brakes. Just relax and try to anticipate the trail/terrain ahead, and brake where you need to.

You’re riding a non-optimal rigid bike off-road with narrow tyres and daft bars, because riding on the edge is more fun and exhilarating. But don’t be surprised when your wrists and shoulders are sore and you have the ‘near-death’ experience on the trail every now and then, that’s just part of the experience IME.

Think smooth, be smooth. Because smooth is fast and fast is smooth.

I’ll focus on riding on the hoods

Hoods are natural, concentrate and practice on the drops. All the control is there.

Get some miles in. You’re in the ballpark. Either you’ll get used to it and keep it as is, or not. Worry about it in five rides time.

When riding in the drops, remember to bend your elbows. I often see people riding with straight arms in the drops which is definitely not ideal.

this is a Cockpit

https://flic.kr/p/2pLp9K7

these are Handle bars

https://flic.kr/p/SKbwjF

😉

I can ride for miles in the drops on my road bike, but I hate riding in the drops off road. Like rocketdog, loads of people say all the control is there but I just couldn’t get on with it and much preferred riding on the hoods. I felt I could grab the brakes easier and have more control.

I’m certain this was because my set up was wrong, but I fiddled and could just never get it feeling right.

I’m back on flat bars and just feel sooo much better.

Keep trying though, you might get it right.

If the hoods feel too far away but drips are okay (or even too near) then you can get shorter reach bars which will bring hood s nearer but leave drops pretty much the same.

To give a rough idea sit up straight on your saddle and put arms out straight horizontally and then fall forward until your hands touch the bars.  Where have your hands landed as ideally they should land on the hoods.

“…a shorter stem vs. just riding the thing and getting used to a slightly more stretched out position. ”

I think more folk should set up drop bar bikes up for good weight distribution and handling, then do some stretching and flexibility work to help fit themselves to the bike if needed. Otherwise you can end up comfortable on a bike that corners poorly and all in all the position defeats the point of drop bars.
It’s fine to use an alt bar like the Jones loop bar shape if you want grip options and range as well as comfort and you don’t get on with the lower position of the drops.