General Cycling Discussion - drop bars and angle

How do you properly setup drop bars? Should they be completely flat in the drops or angled down a small bit to get better pull? I find with mine angled down it gives more of a natural hand position. I guess im just looking for advice. I want to setup my brakes in a spot where i can can ride on the hoods but then also make use of my drops in a reasonable position as well.

I aim the bottom of the drop at the rear axle. Works for me...

Just my opinion, but generally-speaking, you want them at whatever angle your wrist isn't going to be bent when your hands are in the hooks, and then your levers should be positioned so they are reachable from there as well as from the hoods.

Your wrist position when in the hooks matters more than when on the flat part of the drop because that's where you would expect to hold the handlebar most of the time when riding in the drops (so you can have quick access to the brakes).

What works for you works for you. Aiming the open end at the rear brake is a customary starting point, but it's not mandatory. I rarely ride in the drops, so I rotate my bars back until the curve between the flat tops and the brake levers is nearly flat.
Grant Petersen at Rivendell has a good essay on this here: http://www.rivbike.com/article/bike_fit/setup_mistakes

I aim the bottom of the drop at the rear axle. Works for me...
This is exactly how its stated in things I've read. You have to imagine a line that the drops is part of extending should intersect the rear wheel axle.

IMHO, anything that feels comfortable would be fine. If you don't like it, change it, its why they make it that way. :)

How do you properly setup drop bars? Should they be completely flat in the drops or angled down a small bit to get better pull? I find with mine angled down it gives more of a natural hand position. I guess im just looking for advice. I want to setup my brakes in a spot where i can can ride on the hoods but then also make use of my drops in a reasonable position as well.

I think you've answered your own question. It's a very personal set up and the rotation of a few degrees or moving the levers a few mm can make a big difference.

One bit of advice I can give is to set up your bars and levers but don't wrap them until you've settled on where you want the levers.

I always set the bars up so that I am comfortable in the drop position. I then set the brifters up for riding on the hoods. Then I can tape them up.

Had one bike and I did it the other way round. Just put the bars on and then set the brifters up. Then found I was not comfortable in the drops so adjusted so That I was. within 10 miles I had to adjust the bars for the hoods and could not use the drops.

http://ruedatropical.wordpress.com/2009/03/02/road-drop-bar-geometry/