Originally Posted by
Heatherbikes
Yes, women's core is in the hips and legs, so I see women having trouble with drop bars ALL THE TIME. I wonder why the women specific road bikes still push drop bars? Parts are getting better, more options, but still not stock on small women's bikes.
Coming into cycling, I've had back problems- and that anxiety of hurting myself had me hunting for ways to not bend over.
I LOVED having the upright bars. It was nice and comfy, I had great control, using thumbshifters- I never had to move my hands off the bars. But somewhere into... say ... mile 7- you find yourself looking for another way to hold the bars. Northroad type bars, as comfy as they are in that first couple of miles- offer no other hand positions.
Drop bars do offer tons of hand positions. I didn't want to like or use drop bars. I thought of every other bar combo- I'd still like to try out some butterfly/trekking bars. But drop bars are not just for riding the drops. Without being in the drops you've got the hoods, the ramps, the corner of the ramps and the tops.
Best thing you can do is try every option available to you- and decide what you and your body likes.