This looks like the bar on my Spec Roubaix, which is quite comfortable. I will look into that. Thanks.

..FWIW, I find myself using Cinelli Giro bars more these days than the Champion of the World models.

that's why they called 64 the dream bars back in the day
Nitto makes their version now, B176

...I've wondered about this, but never saw specific advice like this before.
I ride predominantly in the drops, and am prepared to grab the brakes in an emergency.
But ironically, I do most of my actual braking from the hoods. That is because I plan ahead, and get on the hoods when approaching an intersection or any other situation where the need for looking out trumps staying on the drops. Then, whether for a planned or unplanned deceleration, naturally I'm braking from the hoods.
I understand that higher centre of gravity and hence risk of endo is a downside to braking from the hoods vs the drops; what else?

For one you have about half power if gripping old style brake levers from the top; they simply weren't designed for it like modern levers. Hoods are fine for commuting and around town, but not good for mountain descents. Secondly, if you are flying down a descent at 40+mph and hit a pothole you didn't see, your hands can come off much more easily than if you are in the drops.

I guess this isn't the kind of knowledge that is in books or the interwebs. BITD if someone tried to descend on the hoods, we probably would have laughed at them, then dropped them and left them to ride home themselves.

So this Raliegh bike I got earlier this year is the first bicycle I've ever had in my entire life that has this back & neck bending flat top downward curved euro-racer style handlebar on it and I'm likely about to catch flack for saying this, but I really hate it. One day I hope to upgrade it to a chopper/BMX style handlebar like I had on a Huffy BMX-style bike I got back when I was ten which looked something like this.:

Okay, to be fair there was a time I didn't like the hybrid bike type handlebar either, which I'd never used until receiving another bike around the age of sixteen, but I eventually came to terms with it and can use such without issue. I think my hang up with this euro-racer handlebar is the issue of having to both lean forward and tilt head up to seemingly hang on as the sadist who came up with this concept must have intended. Sure the aerodynamics are likely in favor of this highly unnatural posture, which doubtless keeps chiropractors in business globally, just not confident at present that my body can come to terms with this unnatural positioning.

I'm surprised nobody has brought it up ---- but the bike is too big for you if that's the lever rotation and seat placement you are running

--- Now ,or 30 years ago, or whenever --- the post is in a "French fit" position but the seat is all the way forward and the bars (or hoods) rotated back

Seriously -- try another frame or complete bike the next size down and watch things come into perspective --- the hip angle, reach, handling


Hang that thing on the wall and build up another 2 cm smaller --- and I'm not trying to be a jerk -- the pics just show some fit issues--- and much more so than the "30 years" explanation

I had considered that it might be big. However, I dismissed it since out of all my bikes this is the one where I feel I am squeezed/scrunched up the most. I don't experience any such discomfort with any of my other bikes, all of which have modern handlebars and STI shifters.

The size of all the frames is 54 cm, including the one in question, though it is the only one manufactured in the mid-1980's. I'm 5'9" tall with 32" inseam. So unlikely a fit issue. But thanks.

And the only reason this bike is still in my stable is because I rode it when I was 17. I upgraded it to the components that I really wanted at the time but couldn't afford. So, no, I wouldn't get another one to replace it. There'd be no point.

I get not descending mountains on the hoods.
As for stopping force, any of my bikes will endo from the hoods, if provoked (i.e. by injudicious use of the front brake)... and my centre of gravity isn't that high on the hoods, for that matter:

moustache bars give you really good brake leverage