Originally Posted by
Andy_K
Have you considered something like the Salsa Woodchipper?
Salsa Woodchippers are awesome for some things, but I wouldn't want them on my primary commuter bike. In my mind, there is nothing better than a set of flared drop bars on a mountain bike, they don't offer the hand positions of a normal drop bar, but they offer great control for technical terrain.
However, my touring bike is (currently) set up with them, left over from a dirt tour, and I don't like them on the road. Because the drops are meant to be the primary position, when the bars are set up at the proper height, the hoods are really ridiculously tall. If you try to set them up like normal drop bars, the hoods get an awkward tilt to them that makes them less comfortable for long periods, the tops aren't nearly as nice as normal drop bars (they are kinda short and slopped) and the drops just end up at the wrong angle.
Off-Road Drops are great when set up for off-road riding, but they offer too many compromises for me to really endorse them as an all around good bar.