Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
Reload this Page >

Correct Hand Placement

Search
Notices
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Correct Hand Placement

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-22-07, 08:18 PM
  #1  
Playing with the traffic
Thread Starter
 
jetbike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sydo, 'Straya
Posts: 428

Bikes: 2009 Colnago Primavera, Campy Chorus 11 speed, 1986 Colnago Master, C-Record, 2008 Surly LHT, 1930's Malvern Star 3-speed.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Correct Hand Placement

I ride Nitto b123's. I find my hands are mostly on stem and shoulders, but regularly use the drops. It's the first time I've used non-flat/riser bars, so I'm really happy that I've made the conversion.

I want to ask if people think there's correct hand placement whilst in the drops? I tend to have my hands near the front of the bar, on the curve - this feels good and stable. It feels great, so I'm assuming it's fine, but there's a hell of a lot of bar left towards the rear (the flat part). What's that bit for?

Hope it makes sense.
jetbike is offline  
Old 01-22-07, 08:20 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
barba's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,083
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
If it works for you, then it is correct. The great virtue of drops is that they allow for a variety of hand positions.
barba is offline  
Old 01-22-07, 08:35 PM
  #3  
cab horn
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28,353

Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times in 19 Posts
Originally Posted by barba
If it works for you, then it is correct. The great virtue of drops is that they allow for a variety of hand positions.
Another great virtue is that it's on 99% of peoples track bikes without hardly ever being used.
operator is offline  
Old 01-22-07, 08:40 PM
  #4  
aka mattio
 
queerpunk's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,586

Bikes: yes

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 344 Post(s)
Liked 58 Times in 35 Posts
when i'm cruising and want to be low, i'm on the flatter part of my drops. when i'm exerting a bit more, i grab closer to the curve - feels more solid.
queerpunk is offline  
Old 01-22-07, 08:42 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 718
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by jetbike
I tend to have my hands near the front of the bar, on the curve - this feels good and stable.
that's exactly where a former olympic track cyclist told me to put my hands the first time I rode a track
potus is offline  
Old 01-22-07, 08:46 PM
  #6  
not actually Nickatina
 
andre nickatina's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: OR
Posts: 4,447
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Do you generally like the bars? Comfy when you're hand is on the outside top part where it starts to curve? Wide enough? I think I'm going to go B123 or B125 route, they are dead sexy and I'm used to having my hands on the curves of my flip n clip road bars.
andre nickatina is offline  
Old 01-22-07, 09:15 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 147
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
127's i think i currently have on are like 123's except with a flat part on the curve where you describe putting your hands i find them mad cool for comfort. thats all that really is important to me
g4dhatch2 is offline  
Old 01-22-07, 09:23 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Jonny Pockets's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA.
Posts: 350

Bikes: Univega conversion and a Bianchi Pista.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
If I am just cruising around, I generally hold on to the tops of the bars, but I utilize the drops when I am going for speed, which is generally only in downtown settings, which i don't run into much in this town.
Jonny Pockets is offline  
Old 01-22-07, 09:40 PM
  #9  
Playing with the traffic
Thread Starter
 
jetbike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sydo, 'Straya
Posts: 428

Bikes: 2009 Colnago Primavera, Campy Chorus 11 speed, 1986 Colnago Master, C-Record, 2008 Surly LHT, 1930's Malvern Star 3-speed.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by andre nickatina
Do you generally like the bars? Comfy when you're hand is on the outside top part where it starts to curve? Wide enough? I think I'm going to go B123 or B125 route, they are dead sexy and I'm used to having my hands on the curves of my flip n clip road bars.
Love the bars. I got them because i wanted to try something new, but secretly suspected i'd go back to risers pretty soon, for comfort. That hasn't happened and I don't see it happening any-time soon. Although I'm curious about bull-horns.

I really like the different hand positions and the shoulders are plenty big enough to ride on. The drops are great for quick starts. I have a long stem, so getting in the drops for climbing is great - really puts you on the front wheel.

I'd give 'em a four cos I can dance to 'em.
jetbike is offline  
Old 01-22-07, 09:51 PM
  #10  
Blue Light Special
 
kmart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Bay Area, Sunny Cali
Posts: 1,467

Bikes: '05 Felt F55, Schwinn Prologue road bike, '86 Centurion DS Iron Man, Sette Flite AM MTB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Why are track bars made so curvy on the tops anyway? Besides looking sexy that is...

I mean, obviously if you're on the track, you're going to be in the drops. But cruising around town, if you ride the tops but with your hands away from the stem, your wrists just curve outwards more.
kmart is offline  
Old 01-22-07, 10:07 PM
  #11  
crotchety young dude
 
el twe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SF, CA
Posts: 4,818

Bikes: IRO Angus; Casati Gold Line; Redline 925; '72 Schwinn Olympic Paramount

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Stem.
__________________
Originally Posted by CardiacKid
I explained that he could never pay me enough cash for the amount of work I had put into that bike and the only way to compensate me for it was to ride the hell out of it.
IRO Angus Casati Gold Line
el twe is offline  
Old 01-22-07, 10:12 PM
  #12  
hunter, gatherer
 
coelcanth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,183
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
because otherwise when you'd be riding on the track in the drops your monster arms would bump the tops all da time

Originally Posted by kmart
Why are track bars made so curvy on the tops anyway? Besides looking sexy that is...

I mean, obviously if you're on the track, you're going to be in the drops. But cruising around town, if you ride the tops but with your hands away from the stem, your wrists just curve outwards more.
coelcanth is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.