Originally Posted by
Loose Chain
Saddle to bar drop is not a fashion statement, it is in fact the result of fitting for performance vs fitting for comfort.
It does seem like a lot of people suddenly think they need to jack the handlebars up higher than the saddle but the fact is that 3 to 4 inches of drop are entirely normal and common on a bike set up for and designed for road racing and for many people, including me, is more comfortable. I could not imagine riding a bike with the bars even with the saddle or higher, that must be awfully uncomfortable with all that seat pressure not to mention horribly inefficient not only from aerodynamics but also from the point of human physiology.
Recently I felt I was putting too much pressure on my hands and wrists. I raised the stem on my bike just a touch lower than the saddle and I can say with confidence that I feel more balanced. It may not be right for everyone but I have been enjoying that particular bike a lot more.
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