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Should I go lower my bar?

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Old 04-30-07, 03:26 PM
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Should I lower my bar?

I find that I ride in the drops 50% of the time. It feels comfortable and I somehow seem to be more powerful this way, relative to the hoods. My saddle to bar drop is 2.5 or 3 inches.

My rides are 40 to 80 miles long, so far this season.

Potential issue if I lower the stem/bar: the hoods might not be low enough and the drops might become too low.

Suggestions?
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Old 04-30-07, 03:37 PM
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Old 04-30-07, 03:44 PM
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Old 04-30-07, 03:47 PM
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Yeah I was wondering the same thing. I've gotten comments from other cyclists that I ride in the drops too much. Too much for what, I wonder? They say it's bad for my back, but I don't have any back pain from riding that way. So...

I'm wondering whether to bring the bars down a bit myself. If they go down by a hair, I should be able to get used to the more aggressive position before too long, right? is there any advantage to this position?

Not to jack this thread or anything, but what's the best way to go about lowering them? Considering my steerer tube is not cut and I'm running several headset spacers, should I

1) bring the stem down and put a spacer between the headset cap and the stem? (is this bad?)
2) flip the stem which might look weird considering there are a lot of spacers below it?
3) bring the stem down and cut the steerer tube above, hoping that i like the new aggressive position?
4) tell evreyone i ride with that i'm comfortable this way so kindly piss off about my position.
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Old 04-30-07, 03:51 PM
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I guess this begs the question, is there a problem with being in the drops "too" much?
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Old 04-30-07, 03:53 PM
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Originally Posted by MIN
I guess this begs the question, is there a problem with being in the drops "too" much?
No.
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Old 04-30-07, 03:57 PM
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No problem with being in the drops. 2.5 to 3" is plenty low compared to your seat hight,if your compelled by trend or traditon.
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Old 04-30-07, 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted by caloso
No.
If so, why do most ride the hoods 90% of the time?
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Old 04-30-07, 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by MIN
If so, why do most ride the hoods 90% of the time?
Wussies.
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Old 04-30-07, 04:08 PM
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It's easier to shift in the hoods and feels more comfy on my hands

but drops are MORE AERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111
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Old 04-30-07, 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by MIN
If so, why do most ride the hoods 90% of the time?
Maybe they have their bars too low.
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Old 04-30-07, 04:14 PM
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I spend most of my time on the hoods - it makes me feel faster when I go to the drops.
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Old 04-30-07, 04:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Zinn-X
Yeah I was wondering the same thing. I've gotten comments from other cyclists that I ride in the drops too much. Too much for what, I wonder? They say it's bad for my back, but I don't have any back pain from riding that way. So...

I'm wondering whether to bring the bars down a bit myself. If they go down by a hair, I should be able to get used to the more aggressive position before too long, right? is there any advantage to this position?

Not to jack this thread or anything, but what's the best way to go about lowering them? Considering my steerer tube is not cut and I'm running several headset spacers, should I

1) bring the stem down and put a spacer between the headset cap and the stem? (is this bad?)
2) flip the stem which might look weird considering there are a lot of spacers below it?
3) bring the stem down and cut the steerer tube above, hoping that i like the new aggressive position?
4) tell evreyone i ride with that i'm comfortable this way so kindly piss off about my position.
You ride in the drops to much compared to idiots who have there bars so low compared to their seat they can't comfortably ride in the drops, so they have to stay on the hoods. You can not be inthe drops to much.

As for you and the OP, I would lower your bars a little bit and see how it feels. When you lower it do option 1. Its not bad. I currently have three spacers above my stem as I dial in height.
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Old 04-30-07, 07:14 PM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by Zinn-X
1) bring the stem down and put a spacer between the headset cap and the stem? (is this bad?)
2) flip the stem which might look weird considering there are a lot of spacers below it?
3) bring the stem down and cut the steerer tube above, hoping that i like the new aggressive position?
do 1), see if you like it a few weeks, then do 3)

do 2) immediately
 
Old 04-30-07, 07:19 PM
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I actually find my drops more comfortable than the hoods. There is only about a 2 inch drop from seat to bars and my stem is unflipped. I am way faster in the drops. I have shims in the sfiters so I can shift and brake in the drops with ease.
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Old 04-30-07, 10:05 PM
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Originally Posted by DocRay
do 1), see if you like it a few weeks, then do 3)

do 2) immediately
+1
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