Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - The world is really different down low...

Tonight I decided to do my 10km commute totally in the track drops. I regularly use them but only for sprints and flats. It really is painful on the back of the legs but I assume this is due to me not being used to holding that position for a long time. Surprising how much torque you can lay down in that position though. Do any of you drop people ride in the drops often? If so, i'm wondering how much seat to drop bar "drop" is usual or acceptable on a track setup bike?

http://www.tokyofixedgear.com/img/pds2/thumbs/_MG_20682.jpg

Track cyclists are always in the drops, except maybe when warming up or goofing around. A GIS will give you a good idea of what properly set up track bars look like; a lot of street riders put theirs at a level that trackies might consider ridiculously low.

http://www.velodrome.org.uk/images/lizziearmisteadprecursa.jpg

I can stay in the drops all day on my road bike but they are pretty high; the tops are just a couple cm below saddle height.

[Edit] Ninja edit fail

Track cyclists are always in the drops, except maybe when warming up or goofing around. They generally have their bars set higher than typical semi-clueless street riders.

Indeed. Drop stems come from an older fistful-of-seatpost fitting standard.

How much drop, drued? That depends on a person - on how long their various body parts are, their flexibility, and whatnot. Pro teams do a bunch of aerodynamic testing - the test various aerodynamic positions of a rider, and then they go out, set up a bike, and run a bunch of power tests to determine maximum aerodynamic advantage and maximum power output.

Some rules of thumb are, your elbows should be bent, you should consider riding longer, not lower, if you're trying to get into a decent race position, aim for a flat back, and don't be in a stiff-armed position.

I ride drops always. I find myslef crouching over when holding the flat part of the bar, so why not just grab the drops

I love drops, and I hang out in them all the time. I use the B125's.

I recently moved to RB-021's and I really like how I can put more weight over the front wheel and still have some drop.

what the heck is GIS?

what the heck is GIS?

Google Image Search!

Google Image Search!

Or Geographic Information Systems/Science

...or the abbreviation for General Mills' stock

thinking about switching out my bullhorns for drops, but don't wanna dish out more money for a new brake lever...

at brisk speed i love the drops but when theres heavy traffic i ride the tops bc the brake lever is way too far to reach when i need to oh-****-brake.

its about 11" from the center of the drop bar to the top of my seat. it seems like a deep drop but i just have long arms (5'6" height, 70" arm span) and i still have some room to bend my elbows.

some like the look of the the drop angle matching the angle of their quill stems. some like it higher. its all just fit preference. but track bikes usually have an aggressive position anyway for more aeroness

I love drops, and I hang out in them all the time. I use the B125's.

I recently moved to RB-021's and I really like how I can put more weight over the front wheel and still have some drop.

how are the 21s anyways? they look uncomfortable on the tops.

how are the 21s anyways? they look uncomfortable on the tops.

rb021s are pretty much specifically bullhorns so 1 hand position. riding the top is impractical with that bend. i've tried but its never comfortable.

rb018 and rb009 have a wider top section though.

I have a set of the 021's on my old fixie. Great bars but the drops look so sexy on the panasonic. i guess im in a pretty aggressive position while in the drops but still have a bit of arm bend. it really is amazing how fast you can go while in the drops :-)

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