Lucille if you are not used to drop bars they may take some getting used to, but they are quite nice once you have them dialed. I run my drops so the flat part behind the brake hoods is flat, but I mount the hoods fairly high on the bend.

There are quite a few adjustments you can make to your hand position:

- rotation of drops up and down
- length of stem
- placement of brake hoods
- bar tape + extra padding

It's worth spending some time playing with the options to find out what works for you. I've met happy riders that had their drops setup in every possible variation. There really is no right answer. Don't be afraid to strip the bar tape off your bars and move the bar and the levers around a bit until you find out what makes you happy. Swapping in a different length/rise of stem is cheap and can also make a big difference depending on how you feel about the height and reach to the bars.

Lastly many riders will use a double layer of cork bar tape or a single layer of tape with some gel padding underneath. If your hands get sore or numb that's something to consider.

Your bikes look great...take the time to adjust them to your body and they'll make you very happy.