Originally Posted by
Dean V
Slamming the stem is for looks and vanity. The "more aggressive riding position" reason is a joke. Fast cyclists for have for years been as low as possible and you don't need a big saddle to bar drop to achieve it. Just need to hold the drops and bend your elbows. Look at old videos of someone like Francesco Moser hammering it and see how low he gets with a lot less drop than what is the fashion now.
Despite your incorrect use of English, you are wrong in your assertions. The human body has not changed. The point where the best compromise of power and position has not changed. Frame styles and handlebar design has changed. Even Cancellara's extremely lowslung position on the tops is no lower than a last generation racers drops. Nobody uses traditional round handlebars with a large saddle to bar drop because they were where the low hand position came from on a traditional double diamond frame. The ergonomics have been changed to give two positions near the basement and lower the handlebars reach by using a longer stem. Without a doubt there are people copying the look of slamming even if hampers their ability to ride. It does not discount the practice by racers with a very honed system for achieving exactly measured distances key to their optimum performance.