Fifty Plus (50+) - Drop Bars/flat Bars/other?

Most of us in this forum seem to be going from drop bars to straight bar, not the other way around.


OK, do you use drops or flats. Have you changed from one to the other? This is to provide further info for a discussion on another thread. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=338375

If you have changed bars on at least one bike, but kept all the others the same, answer for the changed bike, please, and tell us about it in the discussion.

No matter what I did, I didn't like drop bars. Flat bars however did not provide as many alternatives to the rider. Settled on a compromise that behaves like the upper half of the drops but with brakes that fit my hands more like MTB levers.

I use an aero base bar with bar end shifters and cyclocross brake levers on the ends. Pictures of this have been posted in the past.

It probably feels better to me because I ride the MTB more than 75% of the time and I wanted a similarity of control group feel.

So far, no one has changed from drops to flats?? Anyone?

I don't quite understand the poll. I've never changed the bars on a bike.

However, I have changed from a flat bar bike to a drop bar bike.

Now that I've found that drop bars are far and away more comfortable for me to ride--even with my arthritic back--I'm replacing the flat bar bike with another drop bar one for the winter. It was certainly a challenge trying to find road style frame and drop bars in something that has disc brakes and would accommodate my studded snow tires.

So far, no one has changed from drops to flats?? Anyone?

Couldn't vote more than once, went with the one that was latest change.

I don't quite understand the poll. I've never changed the bars on a bike.

However, I have changed from a flat bar bike to a drop bar bike.

Now that I've found that drop bars are far and away more comfortable for me to ride--even with my arthritic back--I'm replacing the flat bar bike with another drop bar one for the winter. It was certainly a challenge trying to find road style frame and drop bars in something that has disc brakes and would accommodate my studded snow tires.

I would think that changing from a flat bar to a drop bar bike would be equivalent to changing the bars on a bike. Sorry, it is impossible to anticipate all contingencies when writing a poll, which is why I put in an "other."

That's OK Dnvr, no one here would ever take offense at someone's attempt to do good.....;)

That's OK Dnvr, no one here would ever take offense at someone's attempt to do good.....;)

Yeah - tell me about it!:D

In my experience, anyone who posts a poll does so at their extreme risk, for everyone else always knows how to do it better, even though they don't ever post a poll themselves!

Both my road bikes came with drops and I've never considered changing them. I really like the choice of positions on the drop bars. I probably ride the hoods 90% of the time but love the drops when I'm pedaling into a strong headwind:)

I've seen some post they like the drops when doing fast descents but I feel I have more control over the bike out on the hoods on downhills. I realize the tuck position would be better for speed but safetly is the first thing in my mind going down those steep hills:o

Both my road bikes came with drops and I've never considered changing them. I really like the choice of positions on the drop bars. I probably ride the hoods 90% of the time but love the drops when I'm pedaling into a strong headwind:)

I've seen some post they like the drops when doing fast descents but I feel I have more control over the bike out on the hoods on downhills. I realize the tuck position would be better for speed but safetly is the first thing in my mind going down those steep hills:o

+1
This is exactly what I was ready to post. You saved me typing.:)

me

All of my road bikes have always had drops, and all of my mountain bikes have always had flat bars, although I did consider putting drops on the Schwinn, but never got around to it. Adding extensions to the Schwinn's flat bars helped immensely, by providing me with a much-needed neutral rotation (palm vertical) position similar to what I can obtain with drop bars. Since I have those great old 4-finger motorcycle style Shimano brake handles, I can grab the brakes from either the grips or the extensions.

On a road bike, traditional drop bars look far better than any other type, and I take full advantage of the multiple hand positions.

Now that I think about it, I have changed two bikes from flat handlebars to drops. The first was an old Hercules 3-speed which I converted into a 12-speed with a 14-16-18-20 Cyclo cogset adaptor for the Sturmey Archer hub. The second was my current UO-8, which I originally built up for my wife, starting with the bare frame and UO-18 style flat bars. Since my wife now prefers riding a mountain bike on trails over street cycling, I built her a mountain bike and converted the UO-8 into my commuter, with drop bars and barcons.

i like the drops. i usually ride in the drops, then change to the hoods or tops for a position change. i personally wouldn't change from drops to flats on my roadie, but i would consider changing from one type of drops to another if were a comfort issue. i like the variability of hand positions offered by drops.

(and i would never harass somebody that put together a poll... or claim to be able to do it better or know more.... i pretty much don't know much of nothin'.... i appreciate the efforts and work of those who create the polls and those who respond.... thank you, dnvrfox.)

Drop bars for me for all the reasons stated, and they just look right.

I once took a no-suspension MTB and converted it to a drop bar road/dirt road/trail bike. It worked like a charm. I later deconstructed that bike and sold it in its original form. I got a better rigid steel MTB frame which I keep reinventing in different forms. It currently is configured as a town bike with an upright bar which I can't seem to get really comfortable with. Next I'll try a trekking bar. My long term plan for this bike is to set it up with a moustache bar as a true on and off road bike.

My true road bikes have drop bars. I have tried almost every kind of bar available. For road riding of any significant distance, nothing else comes close to being as comfortable for me. The best road bar I have found is the Nitto Noodle.

I had a fuji absolute that had flat bars and I changed over to drops. I had to buy new shifters and a better derailleur and I also changed the cassette 11-32 to get away from MTN bike gearing to road gearing 12-25 . I just got tired of riding in the wind in the straight up position. Before I switch bars I purchased a T-2 areo bar and mounted it . This helped on the flats but I still had problems on winding roads and with the club who would not allow me to used them while I was with them. I rode for a month or so on the coverted
hybrid. The next month it was for sale on "Craigs list" and I then went and purchased a Roubaix. Best move I ever made was to add those drops to that bike and see the diffrence drops had over flat bars even though it cost me a bit of money after I realized it.

My Trek 7200FX is of course flat bar. In stock condition I still wanted it higher so added a stem riser. I bought from ebay the Trek 1000 to try a road bike. I also added a stem rider to that bike to raise the drop bars. No doubt years of no exercise and large gut were preventing my body from bending down to a bar. I also didn't care for any weight on my hands. The Trek 1000 was eventually converted to a flat bar. Bar ends were added for a couple more hand positions. The two road bikes I built since the Trek were built with a flat bar. I'll be converting the Trek 1000 back to a drop bar for sale. Will no doubt give the drop bar another try so see if my bit of weight loss has changed anything.

So, is this poll limited to those who own a "road" bike?

If so, then how is a "road" bike defined?

So, is this poll limited to those who own a "road" bike?

If so, then how is a "road" bike defined?

Man, there's one in every crowd!:)

So, is this poll limited to those who own a "road" bike?

If so, then how is a "road" bike defined?

That depends on what the definition of "is" is.

So, is this poll limited to those who own a "road" bike?

If so, then how is a "road" bike defined?

I might point out the the original post did not specify ownership. In fact it did not even specify bicycle. Now if anyone out there would like to convert a "roadie" this is you chance

Man, there's one in every crowd!:)

Well, I am a statistician.

I was once told that if you laid every statistician end to end around the world ... it would be a good thing.

One of my reasons for buying a new road bike was to switch from flat bars to drop bars. It just seems that drop bars only add to your positioning options while taking nothing away from a flat bar bike - unless you like grip shifters. My wrists and arms would get sore fairly quickly on my old hybrid.

I read long ago that the positioning on a drop bar bike is better for your back that being more upright - stretched out rather than compressed. I'm sure this is not as simple as that, but I tend to remember statements that agree with what I would like to be true. Doesn't everybody?

Mountain Bikes with Drop bars......
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=304609

I might point out the the original post did not specify ownership. In fact it did not even specify bicycle. Now if anyone out there would like to convert a "roadie" this is you chance

:D

Mountain Bikes with Drop bars......
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=304609

On this thread, there's a link to a link that has this article, which deals with some issues we haven't discussed, like how it opens your rib cage and helps build upper body strength needed in other areas of riding. Says drop bars are especially important for women.

http://www.bicyclesource.com/bike/choosing/dropped-bars-advantages.shtml

Well done post Dnvr. Hasn't this been a lot more fun then "discussing" the color of one's text.


This next item will change the rate of voting on the OP. I have noticed that among those who have changed (I think that this may have been the basis of the post) more have gone from drop to flat than from flat to drop.

Ballot box stuffers, you may begin now.

On this thread, there's a link to a link that has this article




Some of us 65+'rs are having a problem with links within links containing articles within threads. Help!

Just to even things out ;)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/Uncle%20Duke/th_Sasquatchfrtqtr2.jpg (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/Uncle%20Duke/Sasquatchfrtqtr2.jpg)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/Uncle%20Duke/th_Sasquatchbehind.jpg (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/Uncle%20Duke/Sasquatchbehind.jpg)

On this thread, there's a link to a link that has this article

Some of us 65+'rs are having a problem with links within links containing articles within threads. Help!

That's ok, I gave you the link you should click on.. g'head... :D

Hmmm. So far 38 drop bars to 8 flat bars. Where is this majority of 50+ riders using flat bars we keep heaing about? Must be that "silent majority" Nixon used to talk about.

Hmmm. So far 38 drop bars to 8 flat bars. Where is this majority of 50+ riders using flat bars we keep heaing about? Must be that "silent majority" Nixon used to talk about.

Now on the road bike it is Drop bars because that is the way road bike is set up. Tandem and MTB both have flat bars but in this poll we are taliking about road bikes. So I am 50/50 in fact. 2 Road bikes and the MTB and Tandem.
Now I would never put a drop bar onto an MTB. They are meant for Offroad and I have enough trouble controlling the things with 27" bars- Let alone doing it with my head between my Knees at the same time

Tandem and MTB both have flat bars but in this poll we are taliking about road bikes. So I am 50/50 in fact. 2 Road bikes and the MTB and Tandem.
Now I would never put a drop bar onto an MTB. They are meant for Offroad and I have enough trouble controlling the things with 27" bars- Let alone doing it with my head between my Knees at the same time

No, you are 100% drop bar on your road bikes.

Drop bars even make good sense in some offroad situations. Maybe not for your circumstances or for most circumstances, but in some rare circumstances they can be a good choice. I've seen single speed rigid 29ers set up for non-competition use with Midge bars that look cool as all hell. and of course there was the classic '87 Bridgestone MB-1 with the Nitto Dirt Drop bar. And there was Jacquie Phelan who won multiple US national and world MTB championships in the 80s on one of the first aluminum mountain bikes - with drop bars.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/phelan.jpg

A better way of putting it might be how many people have raised their bars, of any kind? Most people go to flat bars when they can't ride bent over as much any more. I was never comfortable leaning voer that far, even when I was young and skinny. Although I still have the drop bars on my DF road bike, they are more than 3" higher and 3" closer to me than originally. You will never see me in the drops, but I won't change the bars because of the cost of converting the shifters.


When I bought my other road bike, it had a totally different kind of bar.

I prefer drops to flat bars because I can change hand and arm positions as necessary. The only time I rode a bike with flat bars we rode over 60 miles and I was stiff for days. That was my motivation to go to a road bike.

How about "have you ever changed from flat bars to drop bars? If so, when? Have you ever changed from a main ride with drop bars to a main ride with flat bars? Do any of your bikes have flat bars?

et cetera.

This poll makes it hard to capture what is really out there by the choices of question.

Road Fan

How about "have you ever changed from flat bars to drop bars? If so, when? Have you ever changed from a main ride with drop bars to a main ride with flat bars? Do any of your bikes have flat bars?

et cetera.

This poll makes it hard to capture what is really out there by the choices of question.

Road Fan


That's OK Dnvr, no one here would ever take offense at someone's attempt to do good.....;)



Yeah - tell me about it!:D

In my experience, anyone who posts a poll does so at their extreme risk, for everyone else always knows how to do it better, even though they don't ever post a poll themselves!

Then write your own poll, and I will have an opportunity to criticize it.

How about "have you ever changed from flat bars to drop bars? If so, when? Have you ever changed from a main ride with drop bars to a main ride with flat bars? Do any of your bikes have flat bars?

et cetera.

This poll makes it hard to capture what is really out there by the choices of question.

Road Fan

Those options are in the poll.

I took a fixed suspension MTB and put drop bars on it to use as a commuter.

For me; Flat bars = numb hands, drops = comfort.

YMMV!

Oh, and DnvrFox,

You are the greatest!

Oh, and DnvrFox,

You are the greatest!


:o ................ :o .................. :beer: ............... :o ................:o

I started out with a comfort bike, (which I still use to commute to work sometimes). 8 months later I got my Bianchi Vople I have never wanted to ride the comfort bike on a ride over 10 miles.

Drop handlebars are much better.

I'm with tsl and richjac... just added a road bike (but kept the hybrid bike) because I was tired of the flat bar and thumb shifters. Now I mostly ride the hoods.

I bought the hybrid/flat bars when I got back into biking a couple of years ago because at 54, I thought I was too old to ride the drops. Guess I had to get that bike so I could learn what I needed to know for the 2nd bike. Wonder what bike #3 will be? :D

I would think that changing from a flat bar to a drop bar bike would be equivalent to changing the bars on a bike.

I disagree. Changing bars is swapping parts on an existing bike. Changing bikes is buying a whole 'nother bike. Do the former, and you end up with some spare parts. Do the latter, and you have a spare bike.

I might point out the the original post did not specify ownership. In fact it did not even specify bicycle. Now if anyone out there would like to convert a "roadie" this is you chance

Oh. I suppose there *is* another definition for "ride a roadie". :rolleyes:

One of my 6 road bikes now has a integrated TT bar with integrated stem and aerobars. So far, I like it. The others are drop bars varying in width, type of bend, and drop depth. I have clip on aerobars that I'll put on one of these later (they hold my lighting system). I estimate I ride 65% on the hoods, 5% on the tops, and 30% in the drops. With the aerobars on, I'll ride them about 15%. I'm riding the TT/aerobars about 50/50.
My MTB has riser bars and an adjustable stem. I have ergo grips and bar ends. I find the fewer choices in hand positions leads to more numbness and pain in my hands.

OK - here are the results so far - after 66 votes.

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/dropbarpoll.jpg

The hypothesis to be tested was:

"Most of us in this forum seem to be going from drop bars to straight bar, not the other way around."

Have the results supported the hypothesis? Your opinion:

No, the bulk of the answers aren't going from anything to anything!!! :p

I have had drops on all my road bikes and flats on mountain bikes. The old guys I ride with all ride road bikes with drops and I do not see many flat bars on road bikes while on the road or lined up at bike hang outs. Most of the flatbars on road bikes or hybrids that I see are on bicycle Sunday on a closed section of road ridden by the under 10 years old gang and accompanying parents. They do not use clipless either.

The hypothesis to be tested was:

"Most of us in this forum seem to be going from drop bars to straight bar, not the other way around."

Have the results supported the hypothesis? Your opinion:

Please consider this as constructive criticism, not a whine or attack. :)

The poll hasn't really tested that hypothesis, imho. I would think that most of the movement from one type of handlebar to another happens at the point of purchase, by buying a bike with the new setup, rather than by changing an existing bike. I think that someone who replaced a flat bar hybrid bike with a drop bar road bike would probably vote "On at least one roadie, I have always used a drop bar". As a rider, he went from flat bar to drop bar. But the poll puts him in a "no change" category since he didn't modify a bike.