Where do you ride on the (drop) bars**********
03-16-15 | 04:34 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,477
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From: NE Ohio
Bikes: A few...
Rarely the 'top', never on the hoods, and 50/50 at the forward bend (between traditional 'top' and 'hood' positions) or on the drops.
Even the drops can be further split between forward or at the rear since I use bar-end shifters.
Even the drops can be further split between forward or at the rear since I use bar-end shifters.
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'75 Fuji S-10S bought new, 52k+ miles and still going!
'84 Univega Gran Tourismo
'84 Univega Viva Sport
'86 Miyata 710
'90 Schwinn Woodlands
Unknown brand MTB of questionable lineage aka 'Mutt Trail Bike'
Plus or minus a few others from time-to-time
'75 Fuji S-10S bought new, 52k+ miles and still going!
'84 Univega Gran Tourismo
'84 Univega Viva Sport
'86 Miyata 710
'90 Schwinn Woodlands
Unknown brand MTB of questionable lineage aka 'Mutt Trail Bike'
Plus or minus a few others from time-to-time
03-16-15 | 04:37 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,977
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From: Columbia, SC
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 4 Rival; 2014 Cannondale Trail 7 29; 1972 Schwinn Suburban, 1996 Proflex 756, 1987(?) Peugeot, Dahon Speed P8; 1979 Raleigh Competition GS; 1995 Stumpjumper M2 FS, 1978 Raleigh Sports, Schwinn Prologue
I like the hoods, but some of the old hoods aren't very comfortable
03-16-15 | 04:47 PM
#5
feros ferio
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 22,417
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From: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Peugeot -- mostly hoods, because of the long top tube.
Bianchi and Capo -- about equally distributed among hoods, forward bend under brake handles, and bottom horizontals.
Bianchi and Capo -- about equally distributed among hoods, forward bend under brake handles, and bottom horizontals.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
03-16-15 | 04:54 PM
#6
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 169
Likes: 50
From: Oregon
I've been playing with my bar positioning a bit lately. My latest setup is to have the flats of the drop almost parallel to the ground. For me this makes the drop seem shallower and more comfortable. I tend to stick to the drops, but if I'm not going very fast I move to the tops or hoods. When in the drops I like have my hands positioned so that I can reach with my fingers and brake if needed. When climbing my hands go right to the tops, I usually don't need to brake when climbing. 
03-16-15 | 05:07 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
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From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
90-95% in the drops, the rest spread between tops, just behind the hoods, and on the hoods.
Whoops, forgot to add enough frantic punctuation to match the OP -- !!!!!!
Whoops, forgot to add enough frantic punctuation to match the OP -- !!!!!!
03-16-15 | 05:12 PM
#8
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 875
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Bikes: custom Cyclery North (Chicago), Schwinn Circuit
03-16-15 | 05:25 PM
#10
Bianchi Goddess
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 28,976
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From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Usually on the top somewhere or the hoods. Where ever you ride always make sure your thumbs wrap around the bar that is why they are opposable, well that and holding a fork 
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
03-16-15 | 05:32 PM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,036
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From: Pacific Northwest
Bikes: ‘87 Marinoni SLX Sports Tourer, ‘79 Miyata 912 by Gugificazione
Mostly on the hoods or more likely just behind them in these older stiffer days. Tops when climbing steep hills, drops in a stiff headwind or during the fun of a long fast downhill.
03-16-15 | 07:04 PM
#12
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,643
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From: Portland OR
Bikes: 61 Bianchi Specialissima 71 Peugeot G50 7? P'geot PX10 74 Raleigh GranSport 75 P'geot UO8 78? Raleigh Team Pro 82 P'geot PSV 86 P'geot PX 91 Bridgestone MB0 92 B'stone XO1 97 Rans VRex 92 Cannondale R1000 94 B'stone MB5 97 Vitus 997
About 50% hoods, 25% tops or ramps, 25% drops (hooks actually).
Last edited by jyl; 03-16-15 at 10:22 PM.
03-16-15 | 07:11 PM
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,358
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From: northern michigan
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
Depends on the time of year. Later in the spring conditioning when rides get faster, I'll be in the drops almost all the time except when "coming up for air" to stretch.
03-16-15 | 07:34 PM
#17
I AM AI
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,291
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From: Tucson, AZ
Bikes: 2008 S-Works Roubaix SL, 1979 Raleigh Comp GS, 1978 Schwinn Volare
Yep. That's about it right there, except I'd add Random, Purposeless Sprints in the "drops" section.
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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
Last edited by Fahrenheit531; 03-16-15 at 07:40 PM.
03-16-15 | 08:35 PM
#19
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 191
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From: Philadelphia
Bikes: 1974 Raleigh Super Tourer, 1974 Ralegh Gran Sport, 1985 Schwinn Peloton, 1986 Schwinn World Sport, 1987 Panasonic DX-4000
90% on the hoods, 8% on the corners or ramps, that last 2% is headwinds. I have a bad back so riding in the drops is a last resort.
03-16-15 | 08:40 PM
#20
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,315
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From: Tixkokob, Yucatán, México
Bikes: 79 Trek 930, 80 Trek 414, 84 Schwinn Letour Luxe (coupled), 92 Schwinn Paramount PDG 5
I ride mostly in the hoods, but go to the drops quite often for a change of pace, wind or no wind. I use the tops only if I'm really tired.
03-16-15 | 08:54 PM
#21
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,190
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From: Forksbent, MN
Bikes: Yes
Center of the "tops" when climbing, getting upright to use the glutes to power up a slow paced climb. Outside (round part) of the tops when standing on a climb. In the drops when in a tough or sustained upwind or on a fast long downhill/downwind. On the hoods when in a mild climb where the wind isn't a factor, or in a group where I'm not off the front. Also I get on the hoods when I need control, such as on steep descents or heading into corners. Mix it up whenever the mood strikes me.
03-16-15 | 08:55 PM
#22
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,955
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From: Port Angeles, WA
Bikes: A green one, "Ragleigh," or something.
75% Drops
20% tops
5% hoods
Until last week when I accidentally bought my first brifterized bike, since then its 80% hoods. But the bike is so small the drops are just too low for me. I'll probably parting it out tomorrow and sticking the brifters in the parts bin for a future project.
20% tops
5% hoods
Until last week when I accidentally bought my first brifterized bike, since then its 80% hoods. But the bike is so small the drops are just too low for me. I'll probably parting it out tomorrow and sticking the brifters in the parts bin for a future project.
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
03-16-15 | 09:05 PM
#23
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 6,119
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From: D'uh... I am a Cutter
Bikes: '17 Access Old Turnpike Gravel bike, '14 Trek 1.1, '13 Cannondale CAAD 10, '98 CAD 2, R300
Although any sketchy wind will cause me to go to the drops. And... last season I got another new bike and [when riding it] am kind of comfortable in the drops. And have went to the drops on occasion just to get speed.
03-16-15 | 09:12 PM
#25
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,835
Likes: 1,816
From: Northern California
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
I was surprised so many are climbing on the tops, which I do myself much of the time.
I divide my time between all four positions, maybe less on the hoods though.
I divide my time between all four positions, maybe less on the hoods though.