wheels do push air around so it might cause more drag to have the wheel tucked into the frame with no where for the air to go

Track racers use different gear ratios regularly. On a road bike, the rear derailleur takes up the slack in the chain, so the wheel can actually be in a fixed position and as close as you can get it.

On a track bike if a racer went from a 51x14 (where the wheel is slammed up in there) to a 47x14 (which moves the wheel back about 2 inches) that would create lots of slack in the chain.

This is why track racing bikes have long dropouts, to allow for the adjustment of the wheel to take up the slack and tighten the chain.

"Why not use a shorter chain for the 47x14 combination?" you ask...

Because that would be a pain in the butt and very time consuming. Track racers change gears several times during a training or race session. Uninstalling and installing a chain for different gear combinations is simply impractical, and more importantly, unnecessary.

So, yeah, it is actually supposed to happen.

Now, when you have street fixy guys that run the same gear ratio 100% of the time, sure, they can remove chain links (and add half-links) to get that rear wheel right in there for the photo shoot. But, it's simply not practical.

*raises hand*

Oh, I know! I know!

Because I'm a fantastic procrastinator, and I haven't bothered to track down some 31.8mm road drops yet.

(Well, and, I split my commuting between my FG with tarck drops and my Cross Check with proper road bars, so I can put it off for, at least, one more day...)

Hey! I've done that.

Yes, you have.

I shouldn't talk. I switch bars on my BK more often than I change my shirt.

Is the BK the favorite?

Have you ****ing seen it?

lol, yes I have. I've also seen his Dodici. Thats why I asked.

I don't know I think people just need to figure out what works I've gone through 2 different sets of Bullhorns, a set of Track Drops and a set of Compact drops before settling on a Set of risers. I think everyone needs to "try" track drops just so they understand what they do to your body. So try out lots of bars just don't buy premium parts until you know exactly what you want

I agree with that. Adjust yourself on what you've got to see what might feel better, find something cheap (or free) to try out until you've got it dialed in. I like the bullhorns I sliced out of some cheap drop bars quite a bit. Between them and the stem they make the steering feel more responsive, let me stretch out a little, and there is actually something to grab onto where I always find my hands on drops.

That sounds like a big PITA already.

Ah, ok. That all makes sense. However, if they're going to carry a few chainrings and cogs/rear wheels to swap ratios, why not carry two or three extra chains of extra length so that it can always be slammed? Does having it tucked not matter or create a bad wind situation as Hairnet has suggested? I get that swapping chains is impractical, but when you're already changing the rest of the drivetrain, why not do that too, just to keep the aerodynamics the same?

That would completely defeat the purpose of a track dropout, wouldn't it?

Then...

Reread my post.

Being slammed isn't a big deal at all.

There is a big gap between the top tube and the bottom bracket that no one is complaining about.

Yes.

Its funny how this forum reads my mind sometimes. I've got track drops on my bike and they definitely get uncomfortable on longer rides. I find myself "out" of them a lot and just loosely hanging on near where my stem clamps onto them. I've been debating a set of risers for a while but I might just throw some hoods/levers on my current drops and see if I like that better. Seems like they would be a better trade-off for comfort/"aero" than risers.

There are other kinds of bars besides track drops and risers.

Noted, I was sort of taking the two ends of the spectrum. Thinking out loud so-to-speak.

In that case, track drops with hoods will look goofy as hell and make no sense. You can throw bar-ends on risers for an extra hand position, which is one of my favorite setups. Or just go with road drops and hoods for the tried/true. Also, your arms bend. How low do you really need to get for aero benefits?

Track drops are ideal for the track, while road drops are perfect for the road. Go figure.

no meme with this Scrodizmmmm?

I thought that was a question, the answer for which is NO if you want to keep your street cred

edited.

With a sober reread, it makes more sense. Disregard my last post.

OP, get some damned road drops and be done with it.

What the OP will see: