Originally Posted by
MRT2
Bar ends are a work around but not really a solution. Ergon grips with integrated bar ends are better still, though still not as versatile as drop bars which, if properly fitted, provide 5 basic hand positions to 2 with flat bars with bar ends.
Sure, but how long does a ride need to be in order to fully utilize those 5 positions? Like I said, people do 200-mile rides on a flat-bar bike.
To [MENTION=375974]Devingirl[/MENTION], my own advice is to try and test-ride both flat-bar and drop-bar bikes to see how they feel. If you get the feeling that you will like a drop-bar bike, by all means, go for one. OTOH, if you do feel as though a drop-bar bike may be uncomfortable for you, don't be pressured into thinking drop-bars are the only way to go. Like I said, people can and do ride long distance on flat-bar bikes. Try to evaluate both options objectively.