drop handle bars
#8
I don't like them. The braking position is completely uncomfortable and awkward feeling and I just don't feel like I have that much control over the bike. I've tried drop bars at two different times in my riding life and they just don't work for me.
I will say that most people do seem to like them, especially for longer rides, which I don't participate in. I ride more like a kid in that I do a lot of sharp turns riding around things, riding on narrow sidewalks at high speed, etc and almost never more than one hour. MTB bars with about 10 degrees of sweep back and however much rise is needed to get them a couple of centimeters above the saddle are my preference.
I will say that most people do seem to like them, especially for longer rides, which I don't participate in. I ride more like a kid in that I do a lot of sharp turns riding around things, riding on narrow sidewalks at high speed, etc and almost never more than one hour. MTB bars with about 10 degrees of sweep back and however much rise is needed to get them a couple of centimeters above the saddle are my preference.
#10
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Saint-Petersburg(rus)
Bikes: Fuji Classic Track; Dahon MuP8
If i was in the middle of nowhere I'd use them. But in town with bumpy roads, high traffic and low speeds drops dont needed. In fact, upright posture is awesome.
#12
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 8,701
Likes: 2,506
From: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
I have 2 fixed gear bikes with riser bars and then I have a rigid forked mountain bike set up with drop bars. I am just waiting for somebody to try and correct me and say that it's wrong to have drop bars on a MTB.
#14
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 945
From: Looney Tunes, IL
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
But it really doesn't matter one bit what others think about handlebars. Find what works for you and be happy with it.
On the other hand, posting on handlebar threads that anyone who doesn't favor the same bar as you (usually drops
) is wrong, can sometimes be fun.
#15
tgbikes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 147
Likes: 1
From: Omaha Ne.
Bikes: Volpe,Eros, Voyageur, LHT, Ochsner
About 25 yrs. ago, as I thought about geting a real bike I asked a friend (physical therapist) which hand position would be more comfortable. Her instant response was that the MTB ,horizontal pipe in front of you. was not a natural position. It requires many more muscles to maintane than the vertical palm position. Saying that you would never wake up with your hands in the MTB position. I'v wondered at the fortunes made, bar ends ,springey stems. ft. shocks, bar grips. I'm an bike fit anel 67 yr. old, riden ctc & border to border no gluvs brop bar, plane old touring bike. HOWEVER in city comuting I would want to be up using all my abilities to be as responsable for myself as posable.
#17
I commute in heavy city traffic and really like drop bars. But it does require more flexibility and core strength than a more upright position. In return, I get much better aerodynamics and a position that I'm used to from sportbikes, so I feel right at home as far as feel and control. Don't mind where the brake levers are. My only complaint is that if I try to pull up on the bars to wheelie up onto a curb, I either have to be very precise with how I do it and where my elbows are or I have to have my hands out of the drops and up on the top flat part. Otherwise, I get a sudden and unwanted stretch in the fibers of the ligaments that connect ulna and radius (the two forearm bones).
#18
Plays in traffic
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,971
Likes: 15
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
I wouldn't use anything but drop bars. Especially in the springtime winds here along the Great Lakes. (Not to mention the gales of November.)
My definition of "commuter bike" begins with the words, "drop bar road frame".
Still, as AlmostTrick said, it doesn't matter what works or doesn't work for me, or what works or doesn't work for anyone else. All that matters is what works for you.
After using regular bars, I tried a bike with drop bars and found that I like them a lot. If you try them you may find the same, or you may find you don't like them at all, or you may like them some of the time. But you won't know until you try them.
It's important that their height and reach are appropriate to your flexibility and measurements. Too high, and you'll wonder why bother. Too low and you'll wonder if contortionists ride bikes. Too close and you'll feel cramped and become unstable. Too far and you'll tire quickly. When moving down, remember to rotate from the pelvis, don't bend and hunch up your spine. You may need to shift back on the saddle slightly as well, since rotating forward moves you closer to the bars.
What I've found works best for me is having the hoods and the drops positioned so my shoulder and upper arm are at about 90°. I can ride for miles and miles in either position without undue fatigue, despite my arthritic back and hands.
My definition of "commuter bike" begins with the words, "drop bar road frame".
Still, as AlmostTrick said, it doesn't matter what works or doesn't work for me, or what works or doesn't work for anyone else. All that matters is what works for you.
After using regular bars, I tried a bike with drop bars and found that I like them a lot. If you try them you may find the same, or you may find you don't like them at all, or you may like them some of the time. But you won't know until you try them.
It's important that their height and reach are appropriate to your flexibility and measurements. Too high, and you'll wonder why bother. Too low and you'll wonder if contortionists ride bikes. Too close and you'll feel cramped and become unstable. Too far and you'll tire quickly. When moving down, remember to rotate from the pelvis, don't bend and hunch up your spine. You may need to shift back on the saddle slightly as well, since rotating forward moves you closer to the bars.
What I've found works best for me is having the hoods and the drops positioned so my shoulder and upper arm are at about 90°. I can ride for miles and miles in either position without undue fatigue, despite my arthritic back and hands.
Last edited by tsl; 03-24-13 at 08:57 AM.
#21
aka Timi

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,599
Likes: 320
From: Gothenburg, Sweden
Bikes: Bianchi Lupo & Bianchi Volpe Disc: touring. Bianchi Volpe: commuting
drop handle bars
Luv em! Ride mostly on the hooda, but down in the drops in hard winds.
Only the snow beater has straights.
Only the snow beater has straights.
#22
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 365
Likes: 0
From: Bremen, Germany
Bikes: Poison Chinin IGH
I love drop bars for the wrist angle at first place, somehow the position feels most natural (for me). Second choice would be mustache or flipped north road bars, third - flats with 12-20 degrees bend. For mtb rides and snow i prefer off road bars like salsa woodchippers or bend bars. No straight bars for me.
Most people would say drops aren't for slow city riding, but i think it can be perfectly comfortable if bicycle with drop bars is designed and/or adjusted for lazy rides.
Most people would say drops aren't for slow city riding, but i think it can be perfectly comfortable if bicycle with drop bars is designed and/or adjusted for lazy rides.
#23
I love drop bars for the wrist angle at first place, somehow the position feels most natural (for me). Second choice would be mustache or flipped north road bars, third - flats with 12-20 degrees bend. For mtb rides and snow i prefer off road bars like salsa woodchippers or bend bars. No straight bars for me.
Most people would say drops aren't for slow city riding, but i think it can be perfectly comfortable if bicycle with drop bars is designed and/or adjusted for lazy rides.
Most people would say drops aren't for slow city riding, but i think it can be perfectly comfortable if bicycle with drop bars is designed and/or adjusted for lazy rides.
#25
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 365
Likes: 0
From: Bremen, Germany
Bikes: Poison Chinin IGH






