Here's a question for the more knowledgeable than myself:

My bars on my bike are set up with the ramps at about a 5 degree downward tilt, if even that. Basically: ridiculously flat and comfortable.

However, many pics I see of bikes have the drops set up with slopes on the ramps up to 20 to 30 degrees nose low, and some "older" pics seem to be at an even more extreme angle than that.

I'm not contemplating changing my own setup...but everytime I see one set up described I wonder: how do you rest your hands on the ramps?

I suppose when I rode in that century I should have asked someone, but I was too excited about my first organized ride. Over the course of my regular commute I NEVER see another cyclist to ask. Once in a "blue moon" a guy on a MTB, but he can't answer my question. So I leave it to any of you who set up your drops like that.

You are riding on the hoods, not the ramped parts.

The older style for drop handlbar setup usually had the "flats" parallel to the ground. The levers were set with the tips inline or close to inline with the flats. Basically you didn't have the ramp as an extension to the hoods providing more options for hand positions.

I have my drops set like yours also. The ends are actually pointing at the rear axle. It's as comfortable as I can get drops to be. All my other bikes have North Road bars - I love 'em.