As the others are saying, you do get used to the drop-bar position with a little time. When I first got my road bike after not having been on a bike in 30 years, it felt weird to me, even though it's a very non-aggressive relaxed geo bike. Now, a year later, I just bought an aggressive race-type bike, and it feels fine, because I've become more flexible over the last year.

The thing about fit, too, is: [And this is my personal observation] I think becomes accustomed with/comfortable with whatever they get used to- within reason, of course. If you started out with a "pro fitting" and every little thing just right to millimeter...that is what you get used to, and what you would always want- and anything else would seem uncomfortable. And likewise, if you get used to riding a frame that is a little too small- after some time with it, you may just come to prefer it as your norm, and think that a normal-fitting bike is uncomfortable.

Personally, I believe that as long as nothing is so bio-mechanically wrong that it will cause injury, that I can get used to just about anything on a bike. I prefer a smallish bike myself- but I'll bet ya that if I had to ride a too-biggish bike, I might hate it the first few times, but I'd bet that before long, I'd get used to it, and end up finding it comfortable. Our bodies are very adaptable. And losing bellies and getting in-shape makes them even more so.

Question for the others:[Since I'm a noob]Could he get a seat post with more of a set-back?