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Getting a grip

Old 10-28-09, 07:06 AM
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CityCycle
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Getting a grip

I've been riding my hybrid for 2 years now and like it an awful lot but one thing I've noticed is the grip (handlebars) on my road bike with the drop style handlebars felt more secure. I do time trails on back roads which although are in pretty decent shape there is the occasional bump and waviness in the roads.I've had situations where my hands almost came off the handlebar grips during these bumpy parts.
This never really happened when I rode a bike with the drop style handlebars. I could use my bar extensions but I like to keep my hand on the grip and brake lever at the same time on these fast descents and it was considerably easier to do with my road bike then with my hybrid.It has me a little concerned.
I guess this has to do with more weight being exerted downward into the handle bars on the drop style road bike since the riders weight is more forward plus simply the design of the drop handlebars are more user friendly or at least in this one aspect of going down hill at speed ?
Has anyone else been in a similar situation stitching from drop style of handlebars to the flat ones ?
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Old 10-28-09, 07:56 PM
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I can't say that I have...I definately feel more comfortable at speed on my road bike and can't say I'd be doing much descending on my hybrid. Still, I've never had hand slippage...have you tried gloves? I can't bike w/out them now that I've gotten used to them.
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Old 10-28-09, 08:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Fast Cloud
I can't say that I have...I definately feel more comfortable at speed on my road bike and can't say I'd be doing much descending on my hybrid. Still, I've never had hand slippage...have you tried gloves? I can't bike w/out them now that I've gotten used to them.
hi fast,yes I definitely had to start using gloves,those rubber grips are as slippery as a wet bar of soap when my hands are sweaty which is practically all the time.The flatness of the Ergonomic grips is a double edge sword also,it helps with hand fatigue but the added width makes it a little harder to grip the it and keep some fingers on the brake lever.
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Old 10-29-09, 07:49 AM
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Adjusting your body angle more to the front, will lower your center of gravity, and make high speed cornering more secure, like in the drops.

I , also, have bar ends, which gives me a few more hand positions. Just grabbing them gives me a position similar to riding on the fronts of the drops, and hooking my thumbs on them, near their base, is akin to riding on the hoods. (Yes, I know it is higher) You can do this sitting semi upright, upright, or leaned down frontwards.

I actually find my semi flat bars more secure, and comfortable, and they definitely help my bad back and arthritis.
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Old 10-29-09, 07:29 PM
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thanks for your input Phil,I always like to keep a finger or 2 on the brakes for that split second reaction to the occasional deer or obstacle laying on the road while going downhill at speed so I don't like to use the bar extensions unless it's a long open section where I can see the road well ahead and anything on either side.It was sweet using the lower part of the drop style bar for that but not quite the secure feeling doing it on my hybrid bike.
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