Road Cycling - How to hold your handlebar?

I am newbie to road bike. I would like to have your ideas on this topic.

What are the effective & efficient way (you think) of holding your handlebar in the following situations?

(1) Riding on flat roads
(2) About to make turns
(3) Before traffic lights
(4) Climbing up a slope
(5) Downhilling on a slope

Waiting for your comments.

I am newbie to road bike. I would like to have your ideas on this topic.

What are the effective & efficient way (you think) of holding your handlebar in the following situations?

(1) Riding on flat roads
(2) About to make turns
(3) Before traffic lights
(4) Climbing up a slope
(5) Downhilling on a slope

Waiting for your comments.

I find that my riding stlye has been adapted to my Sora shifters (meaning very little time in the drops).
1) Either with the thumb and index finger gripping the back of the hoods or with my arms streched out over the hoods and my entire hand grabbing the hoods like one would grap a rod.
2) Hoods so I can signal and brake
3) Hoods so I can signal if I need to, and brake
4) I'm usually 50/50 in the hoods and drops if the hill is steep enough for me to get out of the saddle. Otherwise, I'm in the hoods.
5) Drops or the position I described in the first post.

The position I'm talking about (http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2003/aug03/morristown/dsc07111.jpg) Only bent over a bit more (essentially the same posture you're in while in the drops)

I only get into the drops riding downhill, or into a headwind. Sometimes Ill take a corner with one hand on the drops and one on the hoods. The hoods are my normal riding position, but Ill use the tops when I drink or look behind.
On a climb Ill be on the hoods or tops.

on flats, i alternate on drops and hoods... but at anything over 18mph, i'm almost always on the drops... i also use the drops when i want to rest my back since i can pretty much straighten (but not lock) my elbows...

i just take turns where ever my hands happen to be when entering the turn... but if i have to signal, i'm more comfortable on the hoods...

before traffic lights i try to get on the hoods... it allows me to shift to a bigger cog faster...

climbing up a slope i use both... actually i use 3... i use the hoods the least... the other one i use is the hands on the bar behind the hoods... the index finger is the only finger going under the hood... the position allows me to be much more upright so i can put more of my weight on the pedals... i also use the drops... i just remember to get my back parallel to the ground when i use the drops off the saddle... if not, i end up putting too much weigh on my hands and not enough to the pedals... it burns out my legs faster...

on descents i'm almost always on the drops... but sometimes i will be on the hoods... but even though i'm on the hoods, i still try to get low enough that the body position looks exactly like i would be if i had my hands on the drops...

(1) Riding on flat roads
Hoods -- when under 30-35kmh, Drops -- over 35kmh, tops -- less than 15-20kmh(joy-riding)



(2) About to make turns

Hoods -- intersections, so i can signal; turns under 30-35kmh, Drops -- when faster



(3) Before traffic lights, and intersections.
Hoods -- so i can shift faster, also easier to track stand ;)



(4) Climbing up a slope
Hoods -- easier to climb, easier to stand on. Tops-- if i'm really tired and moving at a slow speed, less than 10kmh



(5) Downhilling on a slopeHoods -- easier to grab the brake, scared :(

(1) Riding on flat roads
(4) Climbing up a slope
Hoods or the top of the bar.


(2) About to make turns
(3) Before traffic lights
Hoods, so you can shift or brake as needed.


(5) Downhilling on a slope
Hoods or drops.

Whatever you do, grip the bars, lightly. Too many people have a death grip on the bike, lock their arms and then complain about back pain. Look at a professional...very light grip, bent at the waist with knees coming up above the top tube.

Folks who cannot ride in the drops very often, may have a bike fit problem. Personally, I find the drops to be the most comfortable riding position for "normal" riding and the hoods to be for climbing. Switching around, frequently, relieves neck and back stress.

How do I hold the handlebars? With my hands!

Seriously, I might be strange in that I use the drops 90-95% of the time. The other times, I hold the tops. Riding on the hoods never seemed to me as secure (hands might "escape" on a serious bump) or comfortable.

I have the bars placed level or even slightly higher than the saddle, so riding on the drops is at about the same height as others would have when they ride on the hoods. Still, I have better control of the bars, especially in crosswinds or when I pull the kids, and my wrists prefer that position.

BTW, I also prefer bar-end shifters to STI. Easier to shift from one end to the other, easier to shift from the drops and they also shift in friction, which I find essential in snow.

BTW, I ride from the tops when my 7 year old daughter rides her own bike with me. Then, top speed is about 12 km/h

Not your typical post, I presume.

Regards,

Traffic lights & turns - hoods. Ascending hills - hoods or flats. Descending hills - drops. On the flats - I vary between all three positions to give variety to hand grips.

I'm on the hoods, or just behind them, most of the time. When climbing, it's typically a good idea to get on the hoods or the tops of your bars as you open your chest up a bit more and can get a wee bit more oxygen into the ol' lungs. Unless there's a wind comin' down the mountain (insert Jane's Addiction reference here), then I'll get into the drops. I'm also in the drops on slight grades, either up or down, or in the flats depending on wind and intensity of the ride. On top of relaxing, remember that you've got all of these positions with roadie bars, so use them. It'll help you stay relaxed if you move from the hoods to the tops of the bars to the drops and back every once in a while. You won't be sore where you shouldn't be and you'll have more energy for the ride since you didn't waste it white nuckling your bars.

on flats, i alternate on drops and hoods... but at anything over 18mph, i'm almost always on the drops... i also use the drops when i want to rest my back since i can pretty much straighten (but not lock) my elbows...

Not to hijack this thread, but I have a question about being in the drops. I often see riders in the position above - in the drops with nearly straight arms. I thought the proper position in the drops is to hold the bar where your hands are vertical and your elbows near 90*. Can someone please clarify?

Don't know that there's a right position in the drops any more than there is a right saddle for everyone. I'll bend my 'bows if I'm hammering, but won't if I'm not. As usual, it all depends.

Not to hijack this thread, but I have a question about being in the drops. I often see riders in the position above - in the drops with nearly straight arms. I thought the proper position in the drops is to hold the bar where your hands are vertical and your elbows near 90*. Can someone please clarify?

I think the proper position is whatever position makes you feel most comfortable and relaxed. If you have these 2, you can prolly go faster and farther than worrying about where to put hands at what speed and road condition.

I ride with my brother a lot, and he rides mostly in the drops, but I ride mostly on the hood. We do it 'cuz it's most comfortable to us.

yes, going down low on the drops is the idea... but i use the more straight elbows when i want to relax my back some...