Originally Posted by
twocicle
Giving up drop bars in favor of bullhorns is not everyone's cup of tea. It's a trade-off between ergonomics & performance vs. the 1/2lb difference in dead weight.
For long and/or windy days, and for twisty high speed roads, drop bars rule. Even with my sub-100lb stoker, there is a big performance hit when we strap on the bullhorns for a spin.
i'd say it's more of a question of ergonomics than performance. My stoker uses bullhorns. I am certain we're as fast or faster with her hands on the tops, elbows flexed, which puts her in as low a position as if she were using drops, and narrower than if she was using drops.
And we're faster with her hands on the captain's stem, and forearms on the top of the stoker bars, which puts her as low as is essentially possible, and very narrow.
It may be easier or more comfortable to hold a fairly aero position with drop bars, and they offer additional hand positions. But the bullhorns can be as or more aero, simply with some elbow flex.