Originally Posted by kandnhome
No, I think top XC racers are huge weight weenies, and the 1/2lb or so from the extra bar material + extra set of brake levers means they'll do without the drop bar, even though it has more positions just for that weight advantage. Life is about trade-offs, and racing is a particularly intense form of life. If flat bars are so much better for off road, why don't 99% of cyclocrossers ride them? Because that's not what a cyclocross bike is "supposed" to look like. Same with XC mountain bikes.
I mean, seriously: the bars are in the same place; one is a different shape. How can there be that much difference? I'm seriously interested, because I might be wrong (it happens). I think the people in favor of the equality or superiority of drop bars have presented some well-reasoned thoughts and advantages. The flat-bar types have just said "come on, don't be dumb" in more or less those words. Prove me wrong. Use some logic, some evidence, or something besides inference and "common sense".
Actually, I would be in favor of drop bars for a more "mild" and fast off-road course, as most cyclocross courses are. But the XC trails I ride are not that forgiving. The control advantage of a straight bar should be obvious where handling becomes critical (wider bars allow better control, it is that simple). The aerodynamic advantage of a drop bar is a non-issue in mtb courses. And generally, if suspension is a must (i.e. terrain is very rough), a wider, straight bar puts you in a much better position to absorb the shock (3-4 inches of travel can only go so far), than a narrow drop bar ever could. Handling a bike for several hours in rough terrain can be a real workout for your arms and shoulders and a drop bar would be a disadvantage.
I am not sure what else to say. To me the "evidence" is in what people ride out there. If drop bars were so appropriate, they would be widely accepted. Most of us would care less about what is cool.