Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Who rides on the drops?

I never ride in the drops of my handlebars. Is there an advantage to riding that way? I see lots of people with tape only on the drops, so I'm assuming this is the more normal way to ride. I don't come from any kind of road riding or track background, so this may seem like a studip question.

i don't ride on my drops either, unless i'm bored, or there's a ton of wind.

you ride in the drops on the track. i never do on the street, because i would be seriously bent over. the people with tape in their drops either take those bars to the velodrome or tape them just for the looks. the reason i ride track drops on the street is because it would be a great injustice to put bullhorns or road bars (god forbid) on a classic track frame.

mine are totally naked like they should be. i just wish my coworkers would stop banging them against the wall when they feel compelled to randomly pick up the bike and spin the pedals backwards.

I don't use drop bars simply because I can't bend that low and pedal efficiently. Maybe I need to start taking yoga...

Originally posted by Grunk
I never ride in the drops of my handlebars. Is there an advantage to riding that way? I see lots of people with tape only on the drops, so I'm assuming this is the more normal way to ride. I don't come from any kind of road riding or track background, so this may seem like a studip question.

Absolutely!! I use the drops all the time. It's similar to using aero bars. You can feel the wind pressure reduce when you go to the drops 'cause you are bent over and blocking less wind than sitting upright. ....an alternative to using the drops is to place your palms on the brake horns, and lower your forearms so they are level to the ground. THis position is actually more aero than using the drops. ...another position is to simply rest your forearms on the bar as if you are using an aerobar....

This stuff makes a huge difference in wind resistance when you are motoring along at good speed.

bikesick... track drops are MUCH deeper than road drops, and cannot be ridden as leisurely. this is so you can get the super-bent over pursuit position in track racing.
i ride in my road drops all the time.

I am normally in the drops 85% of the time. For me it is so much more aerodynamic. It used to be uncomfortable, but after I lost about 45# is made a lot of difference for me.

I do take advantage of the bar tops when wind is at my back. It gives my legs and lower back some change and relief.

As stated, riding in the drops is a more aero way to go. Unfortunately, the only way to get comfortable in the drops is to ride in the drops! If you want this aero advantage, start by riding 10-20% of your ride in the drops and progress from there.

I am very comfortable in the drops

When you're cranking really hard, you pull up on the bars. I find it's necessary to have my hands low enough to really extend my arms for that pull. If I move my back too far vertical, then the butt comes forward and the hamstrings don't engage. Thus the drops.

OTOH, for city riding I need my head up, so my city bike has hack & flip bullhorns. I'm still working out the compromise between neck comfort and pulling power.

As bikesick said, for aero purposes, you can always bend your elbows.

hmm i ride in my drops a lot. and it doesnt feel uncomfortable.

mc

I never use the drops so I flipped my bars and hacked them. One day I'll get real bull horn bars.

1. windy = drops
2. drafting = drops
3. need to barf = drops (standing in pedals) - beer can do that to you. The angles this position produces are very condusive to the combination of both actions without loss of too much forward momentum. Just be aware of who is next to you and DO NOT vomit to your front...

Everything, I am in the tops.

also:

what are everyone's thoughts on drop bars vs. bullhorns?

mc

NYC riding I find bullhorns to suit me just fine.

I find bullhorns more practical for city riding as you can get that leverage when you wanna take off or whatever but they keep you in a little more comfortable of a position as opposed to drops. Plus you can lean further out in case of an impromptu skid contest. :)

-Jason

I almost always ride in my drops (hilly city riding, traffic), but I also raised my stem a little bit so that it's not quite so uncomfortable. I prefer this to riding along the top of the bars because I'm in reach of my brake (fixed gear w/ front brake), and my shoulders are too wide to get a comfortable position near the stem.

You may want to adjust the height of your stem a little to see if it makes the drops more comfortable.

I ride drops about 98% of the time. I like it better, unless I am doing a liesure ride. Always gotta be on my guard in this city 'o' mine...

vegan, it makes sense for you--the drop between your saddle and drops is not big at all... and your bars aren't that deep. try riding in these drops 98% of the time.:)
http://www.cs.pdx.edu/~marius/pics/track/track1.jpg

and i won't raise that stem because high stems are not PUNK ROCK.

"try riding in these drops 98% of the time."

damn i love that bike...