Road Cycling - Women in the Drops

Sunday it was almost 80 here and I went out for a late day ride. I took the 40 mile bike trail that all the rodies take and it was packed.. not bad but lots of people out enjoying the day. One thing that I started to notice was about 98% of the women that I saw were in the drops??? why is this? I never noticed this before. Do women prefer to ride more in the drops then men?

Just curious

Chaz

Don't women have more lower body flexibility than men? I know if I had a better range of motion I'd be in the drops more.

One thing that I started to notice was about 98% of the women that I saw were in the drops???

Could it be, ah, bicycle smile related?

Jester
*quietly ducks behind that couch over there*

Umm... the hoods are the handle part on the top of the brakes, right?
And the drops are the 'half moons'?
What is it called... the part of the handlebars that go straight across?
I don't even know what is what.

That's because of that good 'ole "bicycle smile" phenomenon....
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=31392&page=1&pp=15

What is it called... the part of the handlebars that go straight across?
I don't even know what is what.

The tops.

Yes, I ride in the drops more often than hoods. I also sprint in the drops and use the hoods for steep climbs or when relaxing.

(Saddle has cut out so there is no 'bicycle smiling' going on. Enjoy riding nonetheless.)

(Saddle has cut out so there is no 'bicycle smiling' going on. Enjoy riding nonetheless.)I thought the cutouts were for men only......

Maybe they like showing off their butt. Kinda like throwing out bait to see what bites.

We had the eighty degree weather on Monday. If Iowa was anything like Wisconsin we had heavy duty winds. That being the case I suspect the ladies were in the drops to cheat the wind. Sorry guy's, the ladies are only being practical. If you thought otherwise, you are sadly mistaken.
On the brighter side, keep your mouth shut and enjoy it while it lasts!

Jim

On the brighter side, keep your mouth shut and enjoy it while it lasts!

Jim

Especially if they are wearing low cut tops :D

it's because they don't have penises and scrotums.... the reason i don't ride in the drops is because of the pressure i feel down there whenever i spend more than a couple minutes in the drops

Hmm, I agree with the wind comment. Been blowing 30-50 mph here for days!
I have spent WAY more time in the drops than I normally would!
Bob

I thought the cutouts were for men only......

I think there are quite a few women's saddles that have cut outs, although the Flite I ride is not women specific. I'm guessing the sit bones can handle the pressure much better than soft tissue no matter the gender. I'd even venture a guess that the women who've got 'bicycle smiles' in the first ten miles would be grimacing in god-awful pain if they rode like that to the end of the century.

Anyhoo, besides being aero, riding in the drops allows my arms to carry some of the weight that my back usually does on the hoods. Maybe this is the case for other women as well.

it's because they don't have penises and scrotums.... the reason i don't ride in the drops is because of the pressure i feel down there whenever i spend more than a couple minutes in the drops

Maybe your saddle needs to be adjusted more nose down?

Hmm...I'm all man and I spend a lot of time in the drops. Could it be because my seat and bars are the same height, or am I a woman trapped in a man's body?:D

Maybe your saddle needs to be adjusted more nose down?

hmm maybe.... i'll try that out

Ever since I got a Koobi AU Enduro saddle, there have been no probs with staying in the drops...