View Poll Results: How much time do you spend in the drops?
0 - 5%
66
30.70%
6%-20%
75
34.88%
21% - 50%
46
21.40%
over 50%
28
13.02%
Voters: 215. You may not vote on this poll
% of time you spend in the drops
08-04-07 | 06:17 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,237
Likes: 75
From: Fallbrook,Calif./Palau del Vidre, France
Bikes: Klein QP, Fuji touring, Surly Cross Check, BCH City bike
Only time I am not in the drops is if I am braking or turning. I am quite comfortable down there.
08-04-07 | 06:20 PM
#27
Riding to fill the void
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: NC Foothills
Bikes: 1998 Kona Caldera
I've set up my bikes with about 2cm drop to the bars. I'm able to stay in the drops for everything but really steep climbs. What I lose in outright aero, I more than make up by being able to stay lower and narrower for longer periods.
08-04-07 | 06:24 PM
#28
shedding fat
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,149
Likes: 1
From: South Florida
Bikes: LOOK 595 Ultra/Campy Record 10Sp, restored Guerciotti/Campy C-Record 6 Sp, TIME RXR/Campy SR 11Sp, and Colnago C-60 with Campagnolo SR 11sp.
I would say until a few weeks ago, hardly ever. Now it is more like 80+% of the time.
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Arguing with ignorant people is an exercise in futility. They will bring you down to their level and once there they will beat you with their overwhelming experience.
Arguing with ignorant people is an exercise in futility. They will bring you down to their level and once there they will beat you with their overwhelming experience.
08-04-07 | 09:19 PM
#30
Cycle for life...
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 2
From: Southern Indiana
Bikes: Trek 5200 | Cannondale Six13 TeamOne | Cannondale Road Tandem | Cannondale Prophet 3 "Lefty"
I truly NEVER ever ride in the drops. Never had a reason to ... using the hoods and tops of the bars are fine for me and I can become aero enough when needed to accomplish what I need. Because I don't ride in them, the few times I've experimented with them ... it doesn't feel natural.
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-\Brian
18' Landshark Tandem - Custom
15' Wabi Special Single-Speed Road
06' Cannondale Six13 TeamOne
06' Cannondale Prophet 3 "Lefty"
92' Trek 5200
-\Brian
18' Landshark Tandem - Custom
15' Wabi Special Single-Speed Road
06' Cannondale Six13 TeamOne
06' Cannondale Prophet 3 "Lefty"
92' Trek 5200
08-04-07 | 10:30 PM
#33
I eat carbide.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 21,677
Likes: 1,417
From: Elgin, IL
Bikes: Lots. Chapter2, Van Dessel, Giant, Trek, etc Dealers for BMC, Chapter2
0-5% - I've got some issues that have led me to ride with my saddle a little lower than it should be. Now my abdomen gets in the way of riding in the drops. Maybe I should just size up all of my frames and be done with it....
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08-04-07 | 10:47 PM
#34
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,910
Likes: 327
From: Portland, OR
This is a pretty hard question to gauge because it varies from ride to ride.
Easy recovery rides - almost never in the drops.
Fast flat rides alone - most of the time, except for warm up and cool down which can be 30% of the ride.
Fast flat rides with a group - 100% of the time I am in front, maybe 60% of the time while I'm drafting again the warm up/cool down is the exception.
Hard hilly rides - 100% in the drops on descents, almost 0% on ascents, and about the same as flat rides on the flats.
I answered 21-50% in the poll, but after writing it out I think it may be <20%.
Easy recovery rides - almost never in the drops.
Fast flat rides alone - most of the time, except for warm up and cool down which can be 30% of the ride.
Fast flat rides with a group - 100% of the time I am in front, maybe 60% of the time while I'm drafting again the warm up/cool down is the exception.
Hard hilly rides - 100% in the drops on descents, almost 0% on ascents, and about the same as flat rides on the flats.
I answered 21-50% in the poll, but after writing it out I think it may be <20%.
08-05-07 | 11:29 AM
#37
Road Nazi Hunter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
From: Slow! But Ahead of You.
Bikes: Kuota Kredo, Litespeed Vortex, Aegis Victory, Burley Tandem, Cannondale Rush
riding in the drops
I ride in the drops whenever I am riding over 15mph and can push a big gear. I don't like to spin while in the drops, so I like to be in them in a bigger gear. It helps me maintain more speed and I can turn some hills into rollers. I don't ride in the drops all the time due to comfort issues. It's easier to breather while sitting up.
