Originally Posted by
mconlonx
The longer the ride, the better they work; the shorter the ride, the less useful they are.
This.
I've ridden in urban traffic, through low-traffic suburban neighborhoods, over varying terrain, on and off-road, and I've found that the type of handlebar I favor is dependent on what sort of riding I do. I can't choose "one handlebar to rule them all." I find drops way more comfy on long distance rides over varying terrain, and strongly prefer Nitto Albatross bars for urban city riding so that I have a "heads-up" position all the time and be aware of traffic. I absolutely detest flat bars and riser bars, though, because they make my wrists hurt no matter how they're set-up.
However, seeing as how most of my current rides are 20+ miles and hilly, it doesn't make sense to use anything but drop bars for now.