hiker88

About a week ago I dropped my handlebars right to the top of the headset. I would say the drop was about 1.5 to 2 inches.

I don't have a powertap, so I have to base this post on speed and perceived exertion, but I have been quite surprised in the difference it has made in my riding. I ride a lot of the same routes and today for example, on a ride I would expect to average around 18-19 mph, I was consistenly riding at 22-23. There were some times on the flats where I was consistently hitting 25 at times. Usually I'm not a 25 mph guy unless I'm in a group or something. I know it is not exact science but there was a noticeble improvement in my speeds.

I'm trying to ride as much as I can in the drops this season and the other thing I like about the bars being dropped is that if I do ride on the hoods, I don't feel like I'm kicked back on the couch or something. I feel like I can take a break on the hoods and still maintain a more aggressive\aero position.

So, with all the jokes about 'flip it' on BF, I have to say it's made a difference for me. I think my stem may have about 10 degrees rise in it. I may even play around with a no rise stem, or try something a bit longer.

I don't have a good before picture, but this is what the bike looks like with the stem bottomed out.
IMG_3936..jpg

datlas 

Hard to say how much is aero, how much is improved efficiency from your position, and how much is placebo.

njkayaker

There are a few resources that should give us some idea.

https://www.noping.net/english/

StephenH

It seems to me that riding in the drops is good for maybe 1 or 2 mph with the same effort, so I wouldn't expect to go from 18 to 22 mph due to 1.5-2".

fa63

The rider is the biggest source of aerodynamic drag on the bicycle, and everything else (wheels, frame, etc..) are pretty insignificant in comparison. So optimizing your position on the bike is the best and cheapest way to go faster. It does sound like some of it may be from placebo because the difference between before and after are very big, unless your position on the bike previously was piss poor. Anyways, enjoy your new found speed.

cachehiker

I manage to hang with a masters group I have no business riding with. They all race and put in 3 times the training miles I do. On top of "just commuting", I skip every other training day in favor of something else like hiking, climbing, or xc skiing. It's all because I can live in my drops and virtually disappear behind the horses with my 5'7" frame for 20 minutes at a time. More than a few of them will be giving yoga a try this year in an attempt to do the same.

nanan

The difference between tucking and sitting up on my motorcycle is very noticeable and I use it as a air brake at times such as coming up on traffic, I can be going 60mph and by just sitting up my speed will drop to the low 50's.

mrvile

As long as you don't hurt yourself man. TBH, 1.5-2" is quite a drop, I needed some time to adapt to losing just 1-2cm of spacers. But if you can stay in the drops without too much effort, then congrats, hammer on.

Yaniel

and how much is tail wind.

dstrong 

Seems to me that if you dropped it that far, then the previous setup had you sitting fairly upright...even with the drop, you have a fairly mild saddle-to-bar drop. Also looks like your bars have a "standard" drop (as opposed to compact), so both dropping the bars and riding in the drops would take you from a "wind fully on the chest" position to more of a "top of shoulders to the wind" position...IMHO. whether that's worth the speed increase you're experiencing? Dunno. For me, I always seem to pedal harder when I'm in the drops for some reason.

idcruiserman

How did you get 1-2" of drop? That must have been a huge riser stem. Nice looking Waterford BTW.

godshammgod

Agreed. Honestly OP go play with that link to the noping.net power calculator. It's a good way to keep yourself honest. It's amazing how much even a minor tailwind can affect power numbers.

ErichM

Yeah I was just going to say, the saddle to bar height is still not very much. That is still a pretty easy ride.

CHAS

The drop probably also got your glutes, the largest muscles, working.

Chris_F

How do you guys keep your eyes far enough up the road in these lower positions? My neck always gets sore.

hiker88

For me it wouldn't be possible without yoga. My wife and I started last year. We have a dvd called 'AM yoga for your week' and we do it 5 days a week when we first get up. The difference it has made in our flexibility, and core strength has been really helpful. Plus it's a nice way to start the morning.

hiker88

I can buy pretty much every suggestion except the tail wind factor - even the placebo factor.

I rode twice last weekend in the new configuration for 90 miles, rode home every night this week except Wednesday for another approximate 90 miles and I had today off so I did 45 miles. So, I've ridden two of my major routes that I've ridden for the last couple years in the last week 3 times apiece. I wish I could get that lucky with tailwinds. All I can say is that several times this week on each ride I have found myself taking a double take at the computer and thinking 'can that be right'?

Maybe I'm using the term 'aero' too loosely. Part of it is probably true aero dynamics and part of it could be that I've found a better position that works for me so I'm more comfortable and maybe able to put out a little more power.

The other thing I will add is that the new position seems to have reduced my sit bone pressure. Dropping forward seems to have dispersed my sitting weight more over the bottom of the glutes\top of the hamstrings. I've also seen other threads where people say that going slower hurts more, so I could be benefiting from my legs working harder in the new position and taking some of the weight of the sit bones.

Well, not trying to stir up too much controversy here. I just wanted to let people know that for the investment in an allen key there might be some opportunities for you. Thanks for the discussion as always.

datlas 

Yeah, how can I get more tailwind?!?

BarracksSi

Peanuts work for me....

ErichM

This isn't necessarily a good thing. Your sit bones should still support pretty much all of your saddle weight.

The trick is to sit up straight on the saddle and then bend over to the handle bars without moving your pelvis. Which is why flexibility is so crucial to riding.

logdrum

People are touchy about speeds on BF 41, they just are. It hurts to hear someone go from 18 to 22, so you will get snarky comments and it is unavoidable.

Who cares about a powertap when you have a nice bike. Good on the yoga I say.

Peace

mugatu

sounds like your fit wasn't dialed in, now it is better
that'll make a difference

Gluteus

I was just thinking the same.

How is your lower back feeling after the change?

Yaniel

it just seems amazing that someone found 100 watts of power/efficiency over night by lowering the bars 1.5 inches.

WhyFi

With this math, I'm going to lower my bars 3" (it'll take a little figuring out, as I don't have that much steerer to give) and I'll barnstorm my way to amateur racing greatness.