Road Cycling - Riding in the drops vs on hoods

I've been lurking around here for a while and just joined, and have only been riding since July. For 20 or 30 miles, I'm averaging 17mph+, and that's probably 75% into the wind or with a cross wind, 25% with a tail wind.

I'm assuming, as with anything, that riding in the drops takes practice. However, I find it a bit harder to breathe, and my speeds are more likely to decrease than increase. I notice some riders stay in the drops most of the time, but it appears they have their bars raised higher, so i don't see that point in that.

My goals are to get my average to 20mph+, and do a century in about 6 or 7 months. I understand the benefits of riding in the drops, but I'm wondering if I have my bike setup correctly, or just it just take a lot of time in them to get used to them?

Thanks!

Originally posted by Roadlearner
I've been lurking around here for a while and just joined, and have only been riding since July. For 20 or 30 miles, I'm averaging 17mph+, and that's probably 75% into the wind or with a cross wind, 25% with a tail wind.

I'm assuming, as with anything, that riding in the drops takes practice. However, I find it a bit harder to breathe, and my speeds are more likely to decrease than increase. I notice some riders stay in the drops most of the time, but it appears they have their bars raised higher, so i don't see that point in that.

My goals are to get my average to 20mph+, and do a century in about 6 or 7 months. I understand the benefits of riding in the drops, but I'm wondering if I have my bike setup correctly, or just it just take a lot of time in them to get used to them?

Thanks! It takes time and conditioning. In some indivudal cases,due to flexibility or (oh,my) big gut, they may be too low.you are right about the height some riders have theirs,but that is what works for them.On the hoods, I'm more aero than may on the drops,and they are just dead meat.If you have a threadless flippable stem and it is not already flipped,you may want to try a higher position for awhile.

Thanks pokey. . The thing is, my hoods are perfect, and I ride there most of the time. I'm curious for 100 mile rides just how often people are in the drops? Or does it vary significantly from rider to rider?

I find it hard to stay in the drops for any signification length of time. Its one of the things that I plan to spend significant time working on next season. The main difference that I find (beyond the uncomfortableness (for now at least)) is that I have a lot of trouble keeping up a high in the drops. I find it easier to have a high cadence in the hoods.

The reach and drop of your handlebar maybe too long but I think it is simply a comfort factor.
I find that at slower speeds, it is more comfortable to be on the hoods. The drops are great for additional leverage so I like it for sprints, high speed turns, etc. but most people I see spend most of the time on the hoods.

That's not to say the drops are uncomfortable.
You have to get used to it but the more you think about it the more uncomfortable it will be.
If you are good on the hoods, stay there. Try the drops when you feel like it and maybe you will get used to it.

Originally posted by Roadlearner
Thanks pokey. . The thing is, my hoods are perfect, and I ride there most of the time. I'm curious for 100 mile rides just how often people are in the drops? Or does it vary significantly from rider to rider? I ride the hoods most of the time and same the drops for wind,absolute speed or just a change in hand position. No way would I want to be there for 100 miles. Watch the tour ,giro or vuelta this summer and see how much time them guys spend in the drops on long stages,

Thanks all, I appreciate it. I'll just continue to ride the way I've been riding and alternate from time to time. :beer:

If you feel cramped riding in the drops, then your bars are too low. I ride about half the time in the drops, and my bars are just about 1/2" lower than the saddle. I figure that, unless you use the drops, why have drop bars? If you never use your drops, maybe a bullhorn bar would be better.

Like most riders I only use the drops on the downhills and flat roads into headwinds. I ride on the hoods 90% of the time, it's just more comfortable and easier to reach the levers. In traffic I never use the drops, as I like to sit up a bit higher for better visibility, for me and drivers.

CHEERS.

Mark

Originally posted by D*Alex
[B I ride about half the time in the drops, and my bars are just about 1/2" lower than the saddle. [/B]One of the 'dead meat' crowd for sure.

As they say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"!

I am a bicycle tourist, which means I do long distances, but loaded and at a more "reasonable" pace, and I also do lots of utility cycling. Yet, I ride 90% of the time on the drops (which is rare for bike tourists). But the top of my bars is level (one one bike) and slightly higher (on the other) than the saddle.

Why? Riding on the drops gives me a more stable grip in crosswinds and other difficult situations, especially on the old bike with 40-cm wide bars. Besides, I prefer the angle of my wrists when I use the drops, and I find my fingers in much better shape when I ride in the drops.

As I said, comfort is personal...

I used to look at going to the drops with the same enthusiasm as peeling a tongue off of a metal mail box when its minus 40. Don't ask how that came to be! I could not hold that position for longer than 90 seconds at a time. For me though it was pain that was keeping me on the hoods. I changed the saddle, moved it back and lowered it, and the new position and body attuned saddle did the trick. I think it is more aero, it is faster for me, and I find myself instictively going back to that position after being on the hoods after a while. I now spend about 70% of the time downstairs, but this is on rural highway with virtually no traffic. I now feel more confident on long descents. My advice-try various adjustments between the saddle and the bar, and open the wallet for a new saddle.

Interesting replies, thanks all. I think my saddle may be a little far back from the bars, but it seems that moving it forward wouldn't be beneficial to the drops.

I'll just keep messing with it. . I noticed at above 20mph or so, the drops feel more comfortable. At slower speeds, they're almost miserable.

I spend about 40% of my riding time in the drops and the other 60% on the hoods. Like someone said before- why have drops if you aren't going to use them? -so I ride with my handlebar level with the saddle so I can comfortably reach any position on the bar. I have also found that moving my saddle all the way back helps shift some of my body weight OFF of my hands which makes riding in the drops more enjoyable.

Originally posted by pokey
One of the 'dead meat' crowd for sure.




I would not bet on that, remember Anquetil kept his bars well
above those of all other riders and it did not interfere with his
time trialling.

Handlebars can also make a comfort difference, I ride ritchey wcs with a wierd bend in the middle and i love them on the hoods or in the drops. The drop also makes a big difference. I probably ride 40% of the time in the drops.

Most modern drop bars have a very large radius and deep drop. The change from hoods to drops is simply too much for many people. I use a small radius touring bar (similar to the 3TTT Morphe), and find with my bar 1" below the saddle I ride for most of the time on the hoods, but can comfortably ride on the drops into a headwind or downhill.
Quite often I find myself riding around town (usually on hilly corners) with one hand on the hood and the other on the drop.

If the drops are your normal cruising position, you dont have a lower option for when you need it.
If your bars are set too low, then you may be riding on the drops with straight elbows. By raising the bars, you can bend your elbows, and may find that your whole riding position is lower, despite the higher bars.

For drop-riding comfort, nothing beats the Cinelli "noodle" bar on my touring bike. The upsweep on the flats also makes riding with your hands there more comfortable.