Road Cycling - How Much Riding in Drops - Corrected

How much riding do you do in the drops?

I don't feel comfortable riding in the drops so usually ride them only when riding into a strong headwind.

i used to never do it. then i noticed a dramatic improvement in my avg. mph when i spent some time in them. now i try to get down there whenever i'm on the flats and in the front.

i used to never do it. then i noticed a dramatic improvement in my avg. mph when i spent some time in them. now i try to get down there whenever i'm on the flats and in the front.


The only problem with the drops for me is that, even though improves my speed, put a strain on the back of my neck which can be tiring and uncomfortable...makes me wish I had eyes on the top of my head, hehe...

Corsaire :)

This is a good poll as i think to many new or want to start riders belive riding in the drops are most of the time as i did many years ago. I'm more like 1% as i almost never need to but i do see riders in them alot for some reason. My back also says wrong!

I tend to use the drops when I'm descending at speed as I feel more in control.

Right now up to 50%...I can really focus and get a good cadence in the drops...I should be getting my clip on areo-bars this week...my time in the drops should go down dramatically...



kern

drops 50%
corners of bars (before hood) 30%
flat part of drop (track-style) 20%
flats on top 10%


edit: my seat & pedals are level.. perhaps why i ride in drop more than others

ok DnvrFox this is a good poll. However I believe you started it just to spite me. But anyways maybe I do so much riding in the drops because I'm young and am able to stay there without hurting my back.

The style now of having the bars so much lower than the seat means that unless you are exceptionally flexible and conditioned, the drops are too low for comfort. That limits the positions you can choose.

I ride with my bars higher and spend about a quarter of my time in the drops.

However I believe you started it just to spite me.

?????

Huh!

I spend quite a bit of time in the drops due to the wind in this area. On my June 12 Century I spent roughly 50 miles in the drops due to the head wind!

DnvrFox -

Is this measured by time or distance? I probably don't spend much time in the drops but I certainly can cover a lot of ground! Uphill - takes a while, hands on hoods or tops. Downhill - what a rush! Definitely in the drops.

I don't think is so much back flexibility but the ackward position of the neck, given that you have to keep an eye on the road and what's ahead so you don't crash.

Corsaire

I spend quite a bit of time in the drops due to the wind in this area. On my June 12 Century I spent roughly 50 miles in the drops due to the head wind!


bob, have you considered getting some clip-on areo-bars....last week I rode out to belt and my turn-around was into a stiff 30-35 headwind gusting to 45mph...damn near killed me....i basically ran out of gears on my triple...frustrating to say the least. This what I am gonna try.

To try aerobars you gotta have the right frame (triathlon bike frame) or you overstretch and get injured.

Corsaire

Seems to me that the amount that you CAN use the drops is determined by just how low you have them : it seems stupid to mount them low then never use them .
In the old days they didn´t mount the bars so low and seemed to use them more , I know that as a child I did . So are we once again the victim of fashion overcoming common sense ?

Seems to me that the amount that you CAN use the drops is determined by just how low you have them : it seems stupid to mount them low then never use them .
In the old days they didn´t mount the bars so low and seemed to use them more , I know that as a child I did . So are we once again the victim of fashion overcoming common sense ?

Es verdad Ingles, it has to do more with fashion these days than a real necessity for aerobars.

Corsaire

bob, have you considered getting some clip-on areo-bars....last week I rode out to belt and my turn-around was into a stiff 30-35 headwind gusting to 45mph...damn near killed me....i basically ran out of gears on my triple...frustrating to say the least. This what I am gonna try.

Hey Kern!

Yea, I've been looking at aero-bars for a while now. I plan on purchasing a new road bike over the winter and have been waiting until then.

To try aerobars you gotta have the right frame (triathlon bike frame) or you overstretch and get injured.

Corsaire


Corsaire....yes I realize a good fit may be difficult but I think with a new seatpost and some fine tuning it may work....The wind really blows up here..

http://weathersavvy.com/HeatIsland4.html

I rarely ride in the drops. I think this is mostly because my core isn't really strong enough, but I tend to feel more comfortable on the hoods and corners/tops. Occasionally into a strong headwind I'll get down into them.

I almost always ride in the drops. I prefer the hand position (no wrist torsion) and the fact I also have widely spaced support points, which are greatly appreciated either when I have a strong crosswind... or wiggling stokers. It's also easier to control the brakes from the drops than from the tops. As for riding on the hoods (which many do), I find the position very ackward and not really stable when there are bumps and potholes.

My bars are high, however: tops being level with or slightly higher than the saddle. A set-up à la Rivendell.

Regards,

I just started riding, but I haven't ridden in the drops much yet. I tend to spend most of my time on the flats on top or on the corner (just before the brake hoods as redfooj described). I see lots of folks on the hoods but I find that very uncomfortable on my hands, so I do it for only short periods of time to vary my position. My gf just tried riding in the drops and it helped her speed, so she'll probably use that position a fair amount. I ride in the drops mostly when there's a headwind.

The only problem with the drops for me is that, even though improves my speed, put a strain on the back of my neck which can be tiring and uncomfortable...makes me wish I had eyes on the top of my head, hehe...

Corsaire :)

After having my bike properly fit, I ride in the drops a lot more. What good is another hand position if it never gets used? :rolleyes:

A properly fit bike doesn't cost a penny more, but is worth more than any component!

-murray

I ride in the drops about 50%-60% of the time - otherwise why did I buy it when I could just ride my mtb? This is my first year with the road bike so perhaps I don't know any better, but going uphill (when not standing), going downhill and against the wind, being in the drops feels better.

I ride around a metropark mostly and I am one of the few that don't ride in the drops all the time. I am very surprised by the results of the survey - I would have thought it would have been the exact opposite of the results you received.

Mark

I only use the drops when I'm coasting down hill, very rarely when I'm pedalling. I like the more secure feeling of having a real good grip on the brakes. My gut tends to get in the way of my legs when I try to pedal, but it is (hopefully) getting smaller.

rarely used the drops. I mainly use them in wind and sometimes downhill. It hurts the back and sort of uncomfortable for pedaling

Interesting thread. The more I ride, the more fit i get, the more I ride the drops. I'd say about 25-40% lately. Almost always when decending. and when I want to go fast on the flats - I especially like the very ends of the drops (is this wha they mean by "track style"?). Of course always when sprinting.

Proper bike fitting is key. If your back hurts your set-up may be to agressive.

If you want to be abetter rider, learn to ride the drops.

DnvrFox -

Is this measured by time or distance? I probably don't spend much time in the drops but I certainly can cover a lot of ground! Uphill - takes a while, hands on hoods or tops. Downhill - what a rush! Definitely in the drops.

Well, the question says "time."

Well, the question says "time."Not much then! Guess I just looked at the title of the thread and didn't bother to read the poll!

DnvrFox -

Is this measured by time or distance? I probably don't spend much time in the drops but I certainly can cover a lot of ground! Uphill - takes a while, hands on hoods or tops. Downhill - what a rush! Definitely in the drops.

One thing I've noticed about Kevin is how much time he spends on the hoods even when decending. I never feel comfortable with the braking power I can put forth going down hills in the hoods, but then again he's just too good at decending:)

I just started riding, but I haven't ridden in the drops much yet. I tend to spend most of my time on the flats on top or on the corner (just before the brake hoods as redfooj described). I see lots of folks on the hoods but I find that very uncomfortable on my hands, so I do it for only short periods of time to vary my position.


is it uncomfortable for your hands or your back ? if the latter or both then the stem could be a bit too long , if just the hands try playing with the angle of the bars - and it´s always a compromise .