Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Climbing Hills with Track Drops

I see a lot of fixed gears with track style drops. I can see how these will give you an advantage on flat ground, but they sem useless when it comes to climbing steep hills. I am currently running bullhorns on my fix, but I want some pista handlebars. How the heck do you climb on them? The flats don't give me enough leverage and the drops hurt my lower back. Brake hoods defeat the purpose of having track bars. What do you do on the hills?

i grab the curves and pedal harder

I grab those drops for the precious leverage they provide. Sometimes the roadies laugh at me and ride past with arrogant expressions on their faces. When that happens I ride home, curl up into the corner, and weep.

So you'd rather be fashionable than practical?
If the terrain you live and ride in doesn't lend itself to a track style setup then you shouldn't use a track style setup right?

Shhh...

i wouldn't know anything about that

wait a second...no one asked for logic in here.

You just have to become accoustomed to climbing in the drops. Odd at first....even second, but you will develop a way of doing it. The lack of leverage is your body telling you that you need to be stronger in other areas and rely less on the arms. As I type this I'm thinking that -I- need to maybe put down the bag of chips and doing something. :(

Ahhh yes, the joys of climbing with track bars...

Look at it one way, and the bars will make you a better climber. Just think: no arm leverage to aid your pansy ass up the hill, just you, your lungs, and your grindin' legs. That, and your pedaling becomes smoother uphill, as any side-to-side lurches brought on by uneven pedaling could make you wipe.

Or, they're just a pain for all the reasons listed above. And, because you have to grip the bars that much tighter just to maintain control, your palms and wrists hurt like the dickens at the top.

I spent a summer and a winter grinding a 45x16 up Ravine St. in Cincinnati (not terribly long, but about 12% consistent grade) on both bullhorns and drop bars. Much preferred the 'horns, thankyouverymuch.

']wait a second...no one asked for logic in here.

I used to want to by Spock when I grew up...

i dont think spock would have apporved of a track set up on the street....it is illogical

maybe we need somebody to do a mind meld with one of us to figure out what is wrong with our judgement

45x16 up Ravine Street? You are a beast! I used to live across the street from the Ravine Street Deli...good sandwiches.

I, too, was skeptical about using track drops. I tried 'em and like them, and maybe you will too. I borrowed some before buying. Climbing while in the drops feels good to me. Not "illogical" for everybody, just for those who find them uncomfortable.

I have only ever used drops (track drops - no hoods) and I live in a pretty hilly area. I guess I just really like the aero tuck for blastin' along the flats. When I'm climbing I just grab the bottom of the drops and get my body weight over the front wheel.
I have thought about changing to bullhorns lately but not because of hill climbing - it's not a problem. 93 inch gear btw.

Bullhorns

i do what weird beard does - grab the bottoms and move my weight forward. roadies do not pass me when i do this.

whatever your set up is, try to find the position that allows you to breath as deeply as possible. avoid having your arms cross your chest so that it restricts chestal movement and be as upright as you can. i'm okay at grabbing the area where a brake hood would be and hanging on but it gets a little difficult out of the saddle. i usually feel like i'm relying on my forearms too much, so i just move into the lower area of the drops. but then again, i'm not out of the saddle too much on the track bike.

but then again, i'm not out of the saddle too much on the track bike.

hate to say it but thats me as well, but when its time to get billy goat i wrap my forefingers on the top of the drops to take pressure off the forearms or at least so it feels, then just go for it...its kind of weird at first, but i have to say i perfer climbing w/ drops over hoods, hoods always hurt my hand, where with drops theres new pains to deal with
:D

So you'd rather be fashionable than practical?
If the terrain you live and ride in doesn't lend itself to a track style setup then you shouldn't use a track style setup right?
Word.

I've never had a problem climbing with drops. I've found they actually give me more leverage than regular bull horns. I just think you need to ride more and stop worrying about what looks cool or not.

So which is it? horns or drops. I ride with drops now, dont have any problems, but if horns give more leverage then to hell with style.

I've got a set of Moustache bars on my bike that makes climbing easy. I have found them to be comfortable as well.

What do you do on the hills?

I kick my feet out, lay down nearly flat and do the superman down hills.

It's dangerous and may get me killed.

I scream like a little girl too.

But I get to work faster.

Is that a high pitched little girl scream or a dude sounding like a little girl type scream?

Probably depends on the hill.

bullhorns. my arms get crushed with drops. its all in the legs. 49*16

I spent a summer and a winter grinding a 45x16 up Ravine St. in Cincinnati (not terribly long, but about 12% consistent grade) on both bullhorns and drop bars. Much preferred the 'horns, thankyouverymuch.

I live on Warner, by Stratford, and I dare say that going up Ravine on a fixed-gear is like taking a glimpse into the far reaches of lactic Hell.