For me, riding with drop bars came natural. I'm told that this isn't always the case. I don't mind riding flat bars, but I do prefer the drops to the flats. Take some time and practice with it, I bet (like others have mentioned) that you'll find that it gets better over time.
Originally Posted by
Dheorl
Also how much difference to speed do the position that drop bars give actually make. Compared to my old clunky mountain bike when I got on the cyclocross I could effortlessly go from standing to spinning frantically in top gear in no time at all, and comfortably carry on doing that. Is that because of my position or just because it was a hugely better bike?
Its likely due to a number of factors, but my own experience is that the drop position is a mental thing for me. I can tool along on the tops or in the hoods all I want, but as soon as I get into the drops I just feel like I want to grind away and never stop (the muscles, on the other hand do want to stop so often I concede defeat in that respect). I do hammer when riding on the hoods sometimes, but rarely do I feel like doing that when I'm riding on the tops. For me, its likely the position and mental game that contribute to it.
But, the skinnier tires (50% skinnier than my MTB, actually) at a higher pressure and a better riding position contribute quite a bit to the speed as well.