Where are your hands on the bar when you ride?
#1
Retro Grouch member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Oshkosh, WI
Posts: 233
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Where are your hands on the bar when you ride?
In the drops, on the hoods or on top? There is a reason I'm asking this question so bear with me
#2
Banned.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Long Island
Posts: 883
Bikes: Lemond Reno
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Mostly on the hoods. If I need to catch my breathe I will go on the tops and if I am really really tired I go all the way on the bottom of the bar below the drops and it supports all myweight.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Cape Coral, FL
Posts: 389
Bikes: '79 Schwinn Varsity
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
All of the above, I constantly shift hand positions.....prevents numbness, even with good riding gloves.
#4
Pants are for suckaz
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Mt. Airy, MD
Posts: 2,578
Bikes: Hardtail MTB, Fixed gear, and Commuter bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
i'm not sure what "hoods" are but i usually ride with my hands on the bars just below the brakes. if i get tired my hands go to the top of the bars, and if i'm really tired and trying to hoof it up a hill i put my hands on the bottom of the bars. like the above poster i try to switch it up so my hands don't start hurting.
#5
Senior Mumbler
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: England
Posts: 452
Bikes: Ridgeback Voyage (for touring and commuting), unknown beach cruiser (for smiling)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Usually on the corner of my bar-ends, unless I need to be near the brakes.
When my trekking bars arrive, my hands will be all over the place.
When my trekking bars arrive, my hands will be all over the place.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,269
Bikes: Mostly schwinn... few classics
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
On my road bike....mostly on the hoods........mtn bike 2 fingers on the brakes and hand flat on the bar!
#7
Out fishing with Annie on his lap, a cigar in one hand and a ginger ale in the other, watching the sunset.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 16,056
Bikes: Techna Wheelchair and a Sun EZ 3 Recumbent Trike
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 22 Times
in
17 Posts
Hoods, center, drops, it varies according to how I'm riding.
__________________
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: San Francisco!
Posts: 909
Bikes: 2010 Surly LHT (main rider and do-everything bike), 2011 Bike Friday NWT (back-up bike and multi-modal)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The hoods always felt weird to me, so I usually end up riding the top curves (not the flats). I guess that's sort of like the "bar-ends" position on a "flatbar" bike, but it's pretty comfortable over a long distance. I end up switching to the drops for aerodynamic purposes/downhills/avoiding headwinds, and use the top flats whenever my hands get tired of riding the top curves.
Maybe I need to get re-sized. In any case, I'm still able to reach the brakes in a moment's notice, even during Panic Stops.
Maybe I need to get re-sized. In any case, I'm still able to reach the brakes in a moment's notice, even during Panic Stops.
#9
Evil Genius
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Tallahassee, Florida USA
Posts: 632
Bikes: Pedal Force ZX3, Gary V Titanio, 1985 Cinelli Supercorsa, 1981 Pogliaghi, 1995 Casati Ellisse, Cinelli Softmachine hardtail, Surly Pugsley
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
fat_bike_nut--
I do that, too. Generally, I ride with my hands lying across those curves though, not in the "bar ends" position that most ride. Otherwise, I'm on the hoods with my palm in the crook of the hood or with a pinky on the lever.
I do that, too. Generally, I ride with my hands lying across those curves though, not in the "bar ends" position that most ride. Otherwise, I'm on the hoods with my palm in the crook of the hood or with a pinky on the lever.
__________________
-- Michael
-- Michael
#10
Solo Rider, always DFL
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Beacon, NY
Posts: 2,004
Bikes: Cannondale T800, Schwinn Voyageur
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hoods, sometimes the drops if it's windy or I'm going downhill, top of the bar if I'm cracking a bit uphill, and when it's just relaxed I put them on the curves at the sides of the top (just above the hoods, if that helps explain it.)
#11
Retro Grouch member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Oshkosh, WI
Posts: 233
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for thre replies, now here's the reason I was asking: last night when I was getting fitted on the bike, everything was based off where I was while on the hoods. Now, on my old bike, I typically ride on the tops or the curves of the tops going down to the hoods. While I'm very comfortable riding on the hoods now, I am more upright & my bar/stem seems rather high. I'll post some pics tonite and you all can critique my bar & stem placement in relation to the seat and the rest of the bike.
#12
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley
Posts: 5,671
Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1033 Post(s)
Liked 2,549 Times
in
1,066 Posts
Setting you up based on the hoods makes sense - it's as far out in front of you as your hands will get. If you make that position comfortable, odds are all of the bar positions will be reasonably comfortable, which will allow you to make better use of the multiple positions, which in turn promotes hand comfort.
Sounds to me like your shop got it right, or at least pretty close to it.
Sounds to me like your shop got it right, or at least pretty close to it.
__________________
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
#13
Retro Grouch member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Oshkosh, WI
Posts: 233
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by bikingshearer
Setting you up based on the hoods makes sense - it's as far out in front of you as your hands will get. If you make that position comfortable, odds are all of the bar positions will be reasonably comfortable, which will allow you to make better use of the multiple positions, which in turn promotes hand comfort.
Sounds to me like your shop got it right, or at least pretty close to it.
Sounds to me like your shop got it right, or at least pretty close to it.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,269
Bikes: Mostly schwinn... few classics
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by funrover
On my road bike....mostly on the hoods........mtn bike 2 fingers on the brakes and hand flat on the bar!
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Beaufort, South Carolina, USA and surrounding islands.
Posts: 8,521
Bikes: Cannondale R500, Motobecane Messenger
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Most of time I'm on the hoods, but sometimes I find myself using the corners of the tops with my hands under the bar, kind of an old school comfort position.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: San Francisco!
Posts: 909
Bikes: 2010 Surly LHT (main rider and do-everything bike), 2011 Bike Friday NWT (back-up bike and multi-modal)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by DieselDan
Most of time I'm on the hoods, but sometimes I find myself using the corners of the tops with my hands under the bar, kind of an old school comfort position.
It really is a comfortable position, all curvy like that.
oopfoo, I guess I didn't describe it right. I tend to hold onto the curvy part too. It's really comfortable on my hands.
#18
Evil Genius
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Tallahassee, Florida USA
Posts: 632
Bikes: Pedal Force ZX3, Gary V Titanio, 1985 Cinelli Supercorsa, 1981 Pogliaghi, 1995 Casati Ellisse, Cinelli Softmachine hardtail, Surly Pugsley
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I know what you mean about the comfort position, but I'm generally just kinda flopping across the top of the bars and the hoods. Its a leftover from my racing days, as it was a good way to loosely steady the bars without really grabbing them on shake-n-bake roads. I do that comfort position, too, however. I also have the heel of the palm in the top of the hoods, light holds toward the stem, and lots of no-hands riding.
Wow. I guess I'm saying I switch up a lot.
Wow. I guess I'm saying I switch up a lot.
__________________
-- Michael
-- Michael
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Beaufort, South Carolina, USA and surrounding islands.
Posts: 8,521
Bikes: Cannondale R500, Motobecane Messenger
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by fat_bike_nut
DieselDan, I think oopfoo and I were sort of describing the "comfort position" as well in our posts
It really is a comfortable position, all curvy like that.
oopfoo, I guess I didn't describe it right. I tend to hold onto the curvy part too. It's really comfortable on my hands.
It really is a comfortable position, all curvy like that.
oopfoo, I guess I didn't describe it right. I tend to hold onto the curvy part too. It's really comfortable on my hands.
#20
Healthy and active
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Caldwell, Idaho USA
Posts: 887
Bikes: mid-60's Dunelt 10-speed, Specialized Allez Sport Tripple, Trek 7.2 FX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I have been experimenting with bike fit. On one road bike it is very comfortable to be on the drops for most of a ride. On the other one the hoods are a bit more comfortable. I am experimenting to determine exactly why the difference when measurements I take are nearly identical on both bikes.
#21
hobby-ist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Chicago, Suburbs
Posts: 357
Bikes: Schwinn WorldSport, Schwinn LeTour, Jamis Crosscountry, Litespeed Saber,
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
in the drops mostly, my WorldSport hoods don't lend themselves to comfort.
#22
Enthusiast
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 170
Bikes: Bianchi Volpe, Giant OCR-1, and a 1996 Raleigh M60 MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I am mostly on the hoods. As a mountian bike crossover I am have two things I am trying to get used to on the griping. The first is learning that I don't need absolute instant access to the breaks at all times. The second is when do you use the drops/lower positions? I am working getting used to the drop position and it is starting to feel more normal.
So when do you use the lower position?
So when do you use the lower position?
#23
Out fishing with Annie on his lap, a cigar in one hand and a ginger ale in the other, watching the sunset.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 16,056
Bikes: Techna Wheelchair and a Sun EZ 3 Recumbent Trike
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 22 Times
in
17 Posts
Originally Posted by Archinutt
I am mostly on the hoods. As a mountian bike crossover I am have two things I am trying to get used to on the griping. The first is learning that I don't need absolute instant access to the breaks at all times. The second is when do you use the drops/lower positions? I am working getting used to the drop position and it is starting to feel more normal.
So when do you use the lower position?
So when do you use the lower position?
__________________
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: San Francisco!
Posts: 909
Bikes: 2010 Surly LHT (main rider and do-everything bike), 2011 Bike Friday NWT (back-up bike and multi-modal)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Archinutt
The second is when do you use the drops/lower positions? I am working getting used to the drop position and it is starting to feel more normal.
So when do you use the lower position?
So when do you use the lower position?
Yep, yep, I can do panic stops from the tops quite easily. It doesn't take much effort or time to slip down and grab the brakes.
On the other hand, on some of the wackier dropped handlebars, like the On-One Midge, you will end up using the drops the majority of the time if you set them up correctly.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: northern California
Posts: 5,603
Bikes: Bruce Gordon BLT, Cannondale parts bike, Ecodyne recumbent trike, Counterpoint Opus 2, miyata 1000
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
On the hoods with some moves.