About 25 yrs. ago, as I thought about geting a real bike I asked a friend (physical therapist) which hand position would be more comfortable. Her instant response was that the MTB ,horizontal pipe in front of you. was not a natural position. It requires many more muscles to maintane than the vertical palm position. Saying that you would never wake up with your hands in the MTB position. I'v wondered at the fortunes made, bar ends ,springey stems. ft. shocks, bar grips. I'm an bike fit anel 67 yr. old, riden ctc & border to border no gluvs brop bar, plane old touring bike. HOWEVER in city comuting I would want to be up using all my abilities to be as responsable for myself as posable.