Hey now, I'm 60+ as well, and still ride my old Fuji that I bought in '76! No, I don't spend a lot of time in the drops these days unless I'm going into a strong headwind, and generally ride with my palms on the 'shoulders' as the top of the bars start to bend forward. My shifters are still the same SunTour barcons I added to the bike shortly after I bought it because even back then, I didn't like reaching down for downtube shifters....

All of my road bikes are fitted out the same way. That is, with barcons and I ride on the shoulders of the drop bars. Only a short reach to either the brakes or shifters.




Then again. where I ride is generally flat, so that helps some as well....