Originally Posted by kandnhome

how the hell is it that drop bars keep you from getting your weight back? The bars attach at EXACTLY the SAME place as flat bars/riser bars (that is, they attach to the stem, which wouldn't change, or if it did, it'd get shorter for the drop bars, because of the reach to the drops, meaning your bars would be closer to the headtube, or FURTHER back). With CX type brakes on the tops (what roadies call the flat straight part of the drop bars), regular brakes on the hoods, and the drops, you have at least three advantages over flat bars:
1) you can get FURTHER back while maintaining braking ability for descending
2) you can get FURTHER forward while climbing (hoods/drops)
3) you have a whole crapload more hand positions for long rides

the list could probably be longer, but I don't feel like typing anymore.

Oh, and before you go saying, "but drops are too narrow" you can get drop bars in 50cm widths without having to get them custom, and as much as some of you pay for your CF flat bars, custom wouldn't be much more expensive, if at all.

Drop bars aren't cool, that's it. The facts, logic, and geometry are against the flat bar. But style is with the flat bar, so, hey, why screw with fashion. Anyone ever seen Clueless?