Originally Posted by
Andy_K
What do you perceive as the cause of the discomfort of the drop bar?
As has been pointed out, you can manipulate flat bars to give you all the aerodynamic benefits of drop bars, but you end up with your hands in the same place they would be with drop bars and your body in the same position. So, if the crouched position is what you're objecting to, then a "fast" flat bar road bike will have the same drawbacks as a fast road bike.
snip.
I agree and I can see why most prefer drop bars. Perhaps I'll change my mind one day, but I prefer the flat bar bike. I like the arms a bit wider. I love the Ergon grips on the flat bar and feel that position combined with bar ends and the bars at the height of my seat gives me decent speed and comfort. I like having the brakes and the shifters right there. It's simple.
I can't come on too strongly here, though, as I've never gone on longer than a 40 mile ride.
I used to own a drop bar bike and never really enjoyed it. But it was a cheap bike and I bought the wrong bike at the wrong time--this was in college and the road bike was stupid as it offered no function. I sold it about 5 years after college and bought a flat bar hybrid Raleigh, in about 1990 and rode it a lot--especially when I added the rack and fenders. That Raleigh is with my son at college today. Bought the Breezer in 2005 or so and ride that a lot.
It's all about how much you ride.