Originally Posted by
JusticeZero
Someone grumbled about upright riding position being "hard on the back". I'm just not seeing it. I rode my freaking 36" unicycle all over the place when I was in college, and my back always felt great afterward, better than after a ride on my utility MTB. Let's see, that's a cycle with no suspension, no frame flex possible, with a perfectly upright riding position in which you -cannot- come out of the saddle if you expect to remain above the cycle. Sorry, not buying that people will have back trouble just because their crank is forward.
I actually met a guy who went touring on a unicycle. I think his was outfitted with something he could put his hands on to help support his back.
To me it's just kind of odd that on a bicycle we associate an upright position with comfort. Think about how people sit when they're not on a bike. If somebody has to sit on a stool or bench (something without back support) for any length of time, what to they often do?
If there's a table or bar in front of them, they'll lean forward and rest on their arms!
Even if there's no table many people will lean forward with their elbows in their laps to help hold their back and head up. Even if there is back support, most will shift around unless fairly well reclined. Watch how people sit at a stadium. You won't find many that sit in the same position all the time. Sometimes, they'll lean back. Sometimes they'll sit bolt upright. Sometimes, they'll lean forward.
That's what's nice about a bike with drops. You can rest the various muscles used to hold your torso and head up by changing your position. Sure there are also aerodynamic benefits if you set the bars low and lean more forward, but you don't have to do that.
It's just simple geometry. A triangular shape can support weight more easily than a pole that's straight up and down. On a bike where you're leaning forward, your arms/hands and butt make up the two bottom corners of the triangle and your head is at the top.