as the title suggests want to know everyones opinion on commuting using drop bars.....comuting i do is through down town montreal (horrible street, dangerous drivers and snow come november 1st)

thanks

i commute with drop down bars. don't notice a different if safety is your concern

My commuter and road bike are equipped with drops, no snow down here.

I love drop bars for commuting. One caution: Many bikes are equipped with drop bars and cantilever brakes which often has a negative effect on braking distance, so be certain that your brake levers work with whatever calipers you have on the bike.

At the first ripping headwind you have to fight, you will REALLY appreciate those drops! Also drop bars are generally narrower than straight bars making it much easier to split traffic lanes during gridlock.

I commute with drop bars daily, through summer, rain, and snow. I think whatever you are used to will work. I like the variety of hand positions and the ability to tuck in during headwinds.

I've used drop bars for about 2 years on one of my bikes and I finally took them off because I didn't like them.
I feel that I have a much better control of my bike when using MTB risers or flat bars with bar ends. On windy days I just go slower and allow all the drop bar jocks to pass me ... If you're commuting through downtown areas then wind is not too much of an issue because all the buildings block most of the wind. If you're out in an open area a lot then drops may be more useful... I also like bull horns with inline brake leavers, my fixie has them and I think that they are much better then drops for riding in traffic.

The bikes I have for commuting have exclusively drop handlebars, which I ride the vast majority of the time "on the drops". However, in the traffic conditions described in the OP (which I experience rarely), I ride on the hoods so I can brake instantly, if necessary.

I've only used drops for years. My LHT is my main commuter bike, and I have some wide woodchipper-type handlebars on them. The wider bars allow for a little more stability, while I still have multiple hand positions for longer rides. I've found that narrower drops make me a little less stable on the bike, especially if I am carrying groceries or other loads.

I think most of the members of AGF that commute use drop bars. Me? Flat bars with bullhorns, because I like to sit up and take in the scenery a little more. If wind was an issue, I thinks I would go to drops though.

Each style of bars has their positives and negatives. I think your decision is a matter of personal taste.

But flat bars with bullhorns that point out are cooler.

I live in the city and work in the city. I've been completely car-free for 15 years. All I own are drop bar bikes. Even my winter bike, drop bars and studded snow tires.

Part of it is that I'm unaturally fond of my STI levers and close-ratio cassettes. Part of it is that, while Chicago has the reputation, all cities on the shores of Great Lakes are windy--especially downtown where it whips around the skyscrapers. And part of it is the aesthetic.

It's all personal preference. If you love drop bars (or just plain like them) then there's no reason you can't use them on a commuter. If you prefer something else, then that's what you should use.

I like the drop bars. As others mentioned, multiple hand positions and bucking the wind are the main reasons why I like them. If you have the right stretch with little traffic, "in the drops" is actually a pretty comfortable riding position.

I mimicked that with bar ends on my old bike, I did like it.

Prefer drop bars though. For fighting headwinds.

I rode a flat bar hybrid for a few years at 24 miles a day. My current set up has drop bars and I am very thankful for the different hand positions.

Somebody said to me when I bought the hybrid that dropbars are not as safe for commuting, but that seems like nonsense now.

If you're riding through downtown and spend all your time staring at your stem, sure. Otherwise, yeah...wtf?

My only reservation with drop bars is traffic awareness. In a complex traffic environment I like to be more upright to keep more of my awareness constantly open to the world around me. Good mirrors can go a long way to mitigating this disadvantage which really only applies when on the drops.

Agreed though, that the multiple hand positions and aerodynamic advantages offered by drop bars are factors worthy of consideration as well.

My flat bar with bar ends gives me 2 hand positions, which is plenty enough for me. I can ride 100 miles with them without any pain or great discomfort. My bull horns give me 3 hand positions. My riser bars with only 1 hand position are great for an 18 mile round trip commute. I don't miss my drop bars.

If you're staring at your stem or can't otherwise see traffic, you are doing it wrong. And it has nothing to do with the shape of your bars.

I commute with drops most of the year and switch to a bike with flat bars when the weather gets nasty. Both bikes have pretty fat tires though.

true...but it's easy to chop flat bars. my two commuters have bars a touch wider than my shoulders -- ~355ish.

most people will sing the praises of drop bars so to be contrarian i'm going to list some advantages of flat bars:

1. most who commute with drops spend a lot of time on the flats. so unless you commute on the equivalent of chicago's lft drops are less necessary than most aficionados would suggest.
2. flat bar levers generally have better leverage and lessen reaction time versus drop-style levers.
3. flat bars encourage a heads up default riding position.
4. flat bars are twitchier and potentially more nimble (skills required).
5. track standing/sitting is generally easier on a flat bar. (i hate putting my feet down.)

installing interruptor/cross levers on drop bars mitigates many of these concerns. effective use of hood and drop position also mitigates some of these concerns. (i rarely see a drop bar commuter without their hands on the flats.)

My commute is on MUPs and in suburbs, and along one suburban artery. I like drop bars fine for this. I think if I were dodging city traffic, or had more really steep sections to mash upward, I'd prefer flat bars where I've got a lot of leverage and I'm always covering the brake like they teach you in MSF. Your basic reflexes developed as a child on a bike are with flat or riser bars.

I posted this elsewhere:



Comfy & stable, and works with brake lever types that i know of.

- Andy

I have a bike with drop and one with flat bars.

Drop bars are set up so that on the hoods, I'm more upright (bar top is just below seat level), so I can see above cars. Also, the STI levers are set up so that I can brake well when on the hoods. When not in slow traffic, I'm always on the drops - just made sure I keep a finger or two on the brake levers.


The only flaw of drop bars i the availability of levers - regular, bar end, or STIs are all very hard to find in my country. Also the price. That's why I keep an old MTB as a backup ride.

MTB is a no suspension steel one. It is better for shorter distances in crowded, heavy traffic. More nimble, easier to manouver. Drop bar bike is better for distances over 5 km one way.

The closet I have to drops are the luterwassers on my 1935 Raleigh which is my "weekend" bike. For utility riding and commuting I much prefer an upright riding position, better control and visibility are the primary reasons. The "advantage" of multiple hand positions is a moot point for me as an upright riding position doesn't put weight on my hands and wrists.

Wtf does this post even mean?