General Cycling Discussion - Upright handlebars and wind

Hi all.

I've currently got mountain bike-style riser bars on my commuter, and was thinking of switching to something like north road bars. However, it gets pretty windy around here, and I was worried that the more upright posture would slow me down to a crawl in windy conditions. On my riser bars I'm leaning slightly forward, and can get slightly more aerodynamic by holding the bar on the lower middle section. Is this possible/how do you deal with wind on north road bars? I suppose I can always sit on the rear rack...;)

Cheers

Pete

Hi all.

I've currently got mountain bike-style riser bars on my commuter, and was thinking of switching to something like north road bars. However, it gets pretty windy around here, and I was worried that the more upright posture would slow me down to a crawl in windy conditions. On my riser bars I'm leaning slightly forward, and can get slightly more aerodynamic by holding the bar on the lower middle section. Is this possible/how do you deal with wind on north road bars? I suppose I can always sit on the rear rack...;)

Cheers

Pete

Unless you can lay flat you will always have wind to fight on a bike. That said, I sit bolt upright due to health concerns and just shift down one of two and keep on trucking. Buy the bars you want that make you comfortable while riding and don't worry about it since nobody is going to fast enough to leave the planet anyway! :D:D

I once averaged 8mph on upright bars into a headwind going to the next city. That sucked. I would probably have gone up to 9 or 10 with lower bars, but of speed isn't worth sacrificing comfort. Whatever suits you best.

When it's windy you can always lean forward and down to reduce wind resistance. Just bend your elbows.

Seen the folks in Holland do that a lot , elbows on the handlebars, leaning into some stiff breezes
off the north sea , even in summer ..

I went from MTB risers bars to north roads, and the upright position definitely sucks in the wind (although it rocks the rest of time). I find that it helps to ride in the bends of the bars when it's windy, which will put your hands slightly forward of where they would be with riser bars and make your body positioning lower and more aggressive. I also ride up there when I feel like pouring on a little speed.