anyone use anything other than drops?

[geoGraphicFTD]

I'm VERY new to CX and have risers on my ss cross-check.
I know it's "allowed" in the sport, but is it totally weird? drops are def the standard, but so are gears, so I'm just wondering if anyone, ss or otherwise, uses anything else.

[flargle]

If you don't conform, people will pull your pants down and laugh at you.

[geoGraphicFTD]

they already do that.

also, I'm not asking cus I'm worried about conforming. I'm just wondering.

[ken cummings]

On my tandem the captain uses old-fashioned curved flat bars and the stoker has no handlebars at all in the recumbent position.

[geoGraphicFTD]

recumbent tandem cyclocross??

[flargle]

Recumbent tandem means you have absolutely no unresolved issues with your sexuality.

[dirtyphotons]

yes, lots of people run flat bars, even at very high levels. check out the movie "pure sweet hell," there are several good shots of flat bars mixing it up.

i love my drops but mostly for commuting and such. some racers never even put their hands down there. since races are only an hour and you're moving your hands a lot anyway i'm sure you'll be fine.

[El Duke]

There's lot's of different bars in use in CX. Many fellers like those On One Midge bars, that are between mustache bars and shallow drops. They're very cool looking.

[bosshawg]

Recumbent tandem means you have absolutely no unresolved issues with your sexuality.


Awesome.

[i_r_beej]

There's lot's of different bars in use in CX. Many fellers like those On One Midge bars, that are between mustache bars and shallow drops. They're very cool looking.

Yes, the ARE cool looking. Very practical too. And superior.

Sorry-- I'll stop with the smarminess.

But yeah, the Midge bars-- AKA "dirt drops"-- are excellent for off-road or rough-terrain. Another poster mentioned that most cyclocrossers don't ride in the drops and that's true! Conventional drops stink off-road. That's where the Midge bar comes in. Properly set up, the rider spends most of the time IN the drops (Midge bars have very shallow drops) where control is the greatest.

Flat bars are okay, too. But you lose out on the multiple hand positions offered by drops, which are generally superior to flat bars in all respects.

[vanwaCX]

Another poster mentioned that most cyclocrossers don't ride in the drops and that's true! Conventional drops stink off-road.

Uh, I race in the drops. Well, actually, I raced in the drops my first season. I'm going back to them this season. Better control, more power out of the saddle, better weight distribution for the steeps, easier braking, easier shifting - what more could you want. Oh, and since I'm slightly shorter than average, holding the left side in the drop for barriers makes it that much easier to get the bike higher.

I've been doing 100% of race simulations in the drops. I've been doing all my barrier work in the drops. I'm liking it.

Oh yeah, I dropped like 20 or so pounds and it's way easier to ride in the drops now.

[flargle]

Retrogrouch alignment puts the drops around the same position as the brake hoods on what most "serious" cyclists ride these days. So no wonder most "serious" CX racers spend almost all their time on the hoods, and practically no time in the drops.

In retrogrouch alignment, drop bars give you great versatility. With interrupter levers, you have three unique positions in which your hands are on brake levers. Dirt drops give you, like, one? Maybe two?

[comradehoser]

In retrogrouch alignment, drop bars give you great versatility. With interrupter levers, you have three unique positions in which your hands are on brake levers. Dirt drops give you, like, one? Maybe two?

and with interruptor levers, hey, look, it's three.

[flargle]

and with interruptor levers, hey, look, it's three.Can you actually brake from the hoods on dirt drops? What I've read about them implies you spend the majority of time in the hooks, at least through technical terrain.

I would like to try them some time, as well as moustache bars. Right now I have Nitto randonneur bars on my fixed/SS all-rounder. They are flared and shallow, so in the same direction as midge/dirtdrop.

[justinb]

I've got some randonneurs too, and love them, but I don't think they're like the midge. The biggest difference, IMO, is how wide the midge is. Lots of leverage in tech situations. The randonneurs are also very comfortable in the drops (especially in sketchy spots, though I do occasionally bang my wrist against the shoulders), and more comfortable on the hoods than midge, and the tops are comfortable with the upsweep, but just too narrow for good control in a sketchy spot.

[comradehoser]

Can you actually brake from the hoods on dirt drops?

Well, no because it's well known that doing so blows the release bolts and initiates stage two separation.

What I've read about them implies you spend the majority of time in the hooks, at least through technical terrain.

See, this is why actually trying something gives you an edge when making unqualified dismissive comments. But I won't take anything away from your keen observation that road drops give you three excellent positions with interruptor levers, whereas dirt drops at best can only give you three positions with interruptor levers.

I feel like a total idiot now that I commuted for two years on some midges and spent all that time on the hoods. Thank the Mies that I wiped out and broke those stupid things.

[flargle]

Well, no because it's well known that doing so blows the release bolts and initiates stage two separation.

See, this is why actually trying something gives you an edge when making unqualified dismissive comments. But I won't take anything away from your keen observation that road drops give you three excellent positions with interruptor levers, whereas dirt drops at best can only give you three positions with interruptor levers.

I feel like a total idiot now that I commuted for two years on some midges and spent all that time on the hoods. Thank the Mies that I wiped out and broke those stupid things.Sorry I blew up.