Drops/Hoods over rough terrain
01-21-10, 08:50 AM
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Drops/Hoods over rough terrain
I was just wondering how you crossers ride over rough/slippery terrain on a cross bike. Do you find it better to to ride the hoods or the drops in those situations?
I *seem* to find that riding the drops provides more stability. This strikes me as somewhat counter intuitive. When riding the drops I can put more weight on the front tire and I would've thought more traction. (I don't mind the rear wheel slipping).
Background (if you care): I'm a year round commuter and I slapped drop bars on my winter commuter. I ride over some pretty rough, rutted icy sections. They're not too bad but throw some loose snow in the mix and it can get hairy. Fortunately those are the roads with the least traffic.
I *seem* to find that riding the drops provides more stability. This strikes me as somewhat counter intuitive. When riding the drops I can put more weight on the front tire and I would've thought more traction. (I don't mind the rear wheel slipping).
Background (if you care): I'm a year round commuter and I slapped drop bars on my winter commuter. I ride over some pretty rough, rutted icy sections. They're not too bad but throw some loose snow in the mix and it can get hairy. Fortunately those are the roads with the least traffic.
01-22-10, 04:01 PM
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I'm usually in the drops over rough ground, especially on the CX bike. It just feels like my weight is best distributed that way.
01-27-10, 09:53 PM
#7
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For me, hoods for slippery terrain, tops for rough downhill where transferring weight backwards is important, and drops for super steep downhill where maximum braking force is important. I'm going to have to try drops on slipper stuff though, after reading this.
(I'm talking about singletrack or open country mtb on a cross bike, rather than actual cross racing, fwiw)
(I'm talking about singletrack or open country mtb on a cross bike, rather than actual cross racing, fwiw)
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