Road Cycling - Drop / Flat Bar

Hi,

I'm a mountain biker who's looking to get a road bike. I recently had hand problems with swept bars on my mtb, and found that returning to flat bars alleviated them. I've never used drop bars before, and I'm wondering whether anyone who's changed recently can give me an idea on how easy it is to get used to them. I'm also interested to know roughly how much more drag I'll get if I go with a flat bar road bike instead of a traditional one.

Thanks in Advance

Mike

Originally posted by MikeS
Hi,

I'm a mountain biker who's looking to get a road bike. I recently had hand problems with swept bars on my mtb, and found that returning to flat bars alleviated them. I've never used drop bars before, and I'm wondering whether anyone who's changed recently can give me an idea on how easy it is to get used to them. I'm also interested to know roughly how much more drag I'll get if I go with a flat bar road bike instead of a traditional one.

Thanks in Advance

Mike

After spending most of my cycling life (about 20 years) with mountain bikes, I picked up road cycling 2 years ago. I had ridden road bikes off and on previously but not for any extended period of time and not regularly. I found that it took me about a week of regular riding to get used to the new hand positions. I started out with a traditionally shaped dropped bar but then decided that I liked the straighter sections offered by the Easton EC90 road bar better. It just felt more comfortable to my grip style I guess. Many people feel the opposite though.

As far as drag goes, I think I read somewhere that you'll be exhibiting about 30% more frontal area in a half-tuck position with flat bars than you would in a full tuck in the drops.

Well, I don't have the benefit of years of riding, but I recently switched after 700 miles of riding a hybrid, so maybe it will be helpful.

I personally loved the switch. The drop bars give you at least three major positions to move around in (Tops, Drops, Hoods) plus many variations of those three, so you have lots of options if the hands start going numb or hurting.

I personally am getting some pain from too much weight being on my hands when I am in the Hoods, but I think that is more related to my size and bike position.

I feel real comfortable with the drop bars after only 40 miles, but of course that may differ. I feel much more a part of the bike, more tucked in to the center of gravity, even with my hands on the tops of the bars. The bike feels more stable, and I have a much easier time maintaining high cadence than I did on the hybrid.

The unexpected bonus that I did not expect is that standing while in the hoods position is so much more efficient. I used to get wiped out by all the extra energy expended by trying to stand and jam with a flatter bar, but in the hoods on a drop bar, much more of the energy seems to go into the pedals and I dont get as tired.

Anyway, your mileage may vary, but thats my report :)

Your drag (ie the frontal area) doesnt depend so much on the style of bar, but on its location. A very low flat bar will be more aerodynamic than a higher drop bar. Cross-country MTB bikes are often set up with the flat bars 6" below the saddle, which can give a very aerodynamic position.
You can set up drop bars to any position that you prefer. Many experienced non-athletic riders prefer to have drops roughly level with the saddle, and use them for the alternate positions which flat bars dont give you.
The standard cruising position should be on the brake hoods. If you are cruising on the drops, then you could usefully lower the bars, and use those drops for headwinds or descents.
I like touring style drops with a smaller radius drop, and good contouring of the tops position. The 3TTT Morphe is a good example of this style.
If you ride really fast, then aerodynamic becomes much more important than for riders who just like to cruise along at 14mph.