Are Drop bars just an illusion for most?
#26
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I think the OP is on to something here. I see lots of cyclists who just cannot get in the drops. IMO, I think this is because too many cyclists buy aggressive racing frames with short head tubes. People buy something like a CAAD or Allez, both of which are for racing, and wind up having to run a giant stack of spacers with the hoods tilted to the sky to get their bars in a somewhat reasonable position. Even with these adjustments, many are forced to ride around 100% of their time on the hoods with locked out elbows and hunched shoulders. This looks like ****, it's uncomfortable and it reduces a rider's ability to safely handle their bike. More people should buy bikes with long head tubes and minimal saddle to bar drop. Get an endurance bike, a rando bike or even a touring bike. You'll be more comfortable and have a better ride. IMO, you should spend a good portion (if not the majority) of each ride in the drops with bent elbows. If you can't do that, the bike is too aggressive for you.
Side note: you even see the same thing in the pro ranks these days. I see pros all the time even PULLING on the front in World Tour races on the hoods with locked out elbows. I don't get it. When I was a kid in the 80s, pros were in the drops the vast majority of the time. No longer. Now, they set their bikes up ridiculously aggressively and then can't get in the drops.
Side note: you even see the same thing in the pro ranks these days. I see pros all the time even PULLING on the front in World Tour races on the hoods with locked out elbows. I don't get it. When I was a kid in the 80s, pros were in the drops the vast majority of the time. No longer. Now, they set their bikes up ridiculously aggressively and then can't get in the drops.
Last edited by Hiro11; 09-01-19 at 08:35 AM.
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The question is something of a red herring in my opinion. If you have shallow drops, the position of your back can sometimes be exactly the same on the hoods and in the drops, if you aren't riding stiff-armed. I use them interchangeably, except when riding at either extreme. It helps relax my elbows and wrists to change up, and neither is more difficult than the other.
#28
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I remember that within the (tiny) road racing community in my home town in 1990s Jordan, drop bars were the minimum "price of admission" for me to be taken seriously as a fellow road cyclist/aspiring racer, and I had to have either a Peugeot or a Raleigh to "fit in." So I just had to buy an entry-level Nottingham-made Raleigh with drop bars.
In the 90s, Raleigh and Peugeot were mostly afterthoughts in the US market. Raleigh held on a bit in the early 90s with their aluminum bonded to steel Technium frames, but sales were a relatively small within the market. Peugeot sold its rights to the US market just before the 90s and I cant remember seeing that brand in stores around me in the 90s.
Meanwhile, you had to have one of those brands to be considered legit over in Jordan.
Funny how popularity and brand trends work.
Neat bit of history, thanks for sharing.
#29
Senior Member
I also am getting more and more use out of the drops on my Toughroad, it's all a belly fat thing. Have to get back to the shop one day and get the brifters set up better, too much of a reach from the drops, especially for shifting the Tiagras.
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The question is something of a red herring in my opinion. If you have shallow drops, the position of your back can sometimes be exactly the same on the hoods and in the drops, if you aren't riding stiff-armed. I use them interchangeably, except when riding at either extreme. It helps relax my elbows and wrists to change up, and neither is more difficult than the other.
If you want see some interesting images, do a web search of racers, say from Fausto Coppi to Eddie Merckx, Lemond and Hinault too, and see how much those world champs rode the tops and hoods.
#31
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And brifters.
Last edited by sjanzeir; 09-01-19 at 10:22 AM.
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Does anyone choose bar style to fit in?
#33
I ride to clear my mind
Thread Starter
Wrong thread by accident? Lol.
I spend most of my time on the hoods like most people. I get up on the tops when I’m winded. But sometimes man, getting low in those drops is perfecto. The beauty of drop bars, even if you don’t use the drops, is the versatility of hand positions they allow. And yeah, they do look cool! Let’s not pretend that looking cool has NOTHING to do with it 😎
I spend most of my time on the hoods like most people. I get up on the tops when I’m winded. But sometimes man, getting low in those drops is perfecto. The beauty of drop bars, even if you don’t use the drops, is the versatility of hand positions they allow. And yeah, they do look cool! Let’s not pretend that looking cool has NOTHING to do with it 😎
#35
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I swear I tried this this morning and your totally right. It is very difficult to brake when in the hoods with my Tigara. FACTS!
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Yes.
Or it is just what everyone tells them they should be riding so they figure it must be true.
Many aspects of road biking are like this. The outsized influence of professional, competitive road racing results in many, many people riding gear and setups that Do not serve them well. Unusable drops are just one example of this.
Or it is just what everyone tells them they should be riding so they figure it must be true.
Many aspects of road biking are like this. The outsized influence of professional, competitive road racing results in many, many people riding gear and setups that Do not serve them well. Unusable drops are just one example of this.
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#37
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If I recall correctly, it was the style of the drop bars - rather than the function - that was a major part of what drove the Bike Boom of the 70s.
I remember that growing up in 1980s Jordan, mere mortal kids like me (you know, the shorter, weaker, milder-mannered ones that got to bear all the bullying and afterschool beat-ups ) had to settle for girly Schwinns with handlebar streamers or whatever Asian clones that were around at the time. The best we could look up to were the three-speeders of the day (and, of course, BMXes ca. about 1984ish.)
But the real cool kids - the ones that, more often than not, did all the bullying and the beatings, had drop handlebars. It didn't matter that some of them were grossly overweight and lardy - the obese ones that couldn't possibly bend down just flipped the handlebars around to have the drops facing upwards. But they wouldn't be caught dead on anything that didn't have drop bars.
I remember that growing up in 1980s Jordan, mere mortal kids like me (you know, the shorter, weaker, milder-mannered ones that got to bear all the bullying and afterschool beat-ups ) had to settle for girly Schwinns with handlebar streamers or whatever Asian clones that were around at the time. The best we could look up to were the three-speeders of the day (and, of course, BMXes ca. about 1984ish.)
But the real cool kids - the ones that, more often than not, did all the bullying and the beatings, had drop handlebars. It didn't matter that some of them were grossly overweight and lardy - the obese ones that couldn't possibly bend down just flipped the handlebars around to have the drops facing upwards. But they wouldn't be caught dead on anything that didn't have drop bars.
Last edited by sjanzeir; 10-27-19 at 08:09 PM.
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#38
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Yes.
Or it is just what everyone tells them they should be riding so they figure it must be true.
Many aspects of road biking are like this. The outsized influence of professional, competitive road racing results in many, many people riding gear and setups that Do not serve them well. Unusable drops are just one example of this.
Or it is just what everyone tells them they should be riding so they figure it must be true.
Many aspects of road biking are like this. The outsized influence of professional, competitive road racing results in many, many people riding gear and setups that Do not serve them well. Unusable drops are just one example of this.
Last edited by sjanzeir; 09-01-19 at 12:35 PM.
#39
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This. The very concept of the modern-day MAMIL wouldn't have come to be without all the hype. And things got especially worse as of the early 90s with all the extra coverage and billion-dollar marketing sponsorship that came about with the advent of satellite TV and dedicated, 24h channels.
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#42
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#43
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If I recall correctly, it was the style of the drop bars - rather than the function - was part of what drove the Bike Boom of the 70s.
I remember that growing up in 1980s Jordan, mere mortal kids like me (you know, the shorter, weaker, milder-mannered ones that got to bear all the bullying and afterschool beat-ups ) had to settle for girly Schwinns with handlebar streamers or whatever Asian clones that were around at the time. The best we could look up to were the three-speeders of the day (and, of course, BMXes ca. about 1984ish.)
But the real cool kids - the ones that, more often than not, did all the bullying and the beatings, had drop handlebars. It didn't matter that some of them were grossly overweight and lardy - the obese ones that couldn't possibly bend down just flipped the handlebars around to have the drops facing upwards. But they wouldn't be caught dead on anything that didn't have drop bars.
I remember that growing up in 1980s Jordan, mere mortal kids like me (you know, the shorter, weaker, milder-mannered ones that got to bear all the bullying and afterschool beat-ups ) had to settle for girly Schwinns with handlebar streamers or whatever Asian clones that were around at the time. The best we could look up to were the three-speeders of the day (and, of course, BMXes ca. about 1984ish.)
But the real cool kids - the ones that, more often than not, did all the bullying and the beatings, had drop handlebars. It didn't matter that some of them were grossly overweight and lardy - the obese ones that couldn't possibly bend down just flipped the handlebars around to have the drops facing upwards. But they wouldn't be caught dead on anything that didn't have drop bars.
But more importantly, what could be wrong with brifters functionally? They are literally, the easiest shifter to use. Some may seek more period correct or easier to diy repair but I can't see what there is to get used to.
And that's from a guy who used thumbies, stem and dt's for 50 years before them.
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#44
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That's a lot of judging going on there.
But more importantly, what could be wrong with brifters functionally? They are literally, the easiest shifter to use. Some may seek more period correct or easier to diy repair but I can't see what there is to get used to.
And that's from a guy who used thumbies, stem and dt's for 50 years before them.
But more importantly, what could be wrong with brifters functionally? They are literally, the easiest shifter to use. Some may seek more period correct or easier to diy repair but I can't see what there is to get used to.
And that's from a guy who used thumbies, stem and dt's for 50 years before them.
#45
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More people should eat less, sit less, and touch their toes more.
there is more comments about the belly being in the way, than can't do it because they were fit. Matter of fact one said that when he lost his belly drops worked better. DUH!
if the point of riding a bike is to get fit, then don't match the longer head tube to your body type. Start stretching and get fit!
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D
Fit the bike to where you are at, not where you dream of ending up.
Change the fit as your body changes.
No,
More people should eat less, sit less, and touch their toes more.
there is more comments about the belly being in the way, than can't do it because they were fit. Matter of fact one said that when he lost his belly drops worked better. DUH!
if the point of riding a bike is to get fit, then don't match the longer head tube to your body type. Start stretching and get fit!
More people should eat less, sit less, and touch their toes more.
there is more comments about the belly being in the way, than can't do it because they were fit. Matter of fact one said that when he lost his belly drops worked better. DUH!
if the point of riding a bike is to get fit, then don't match the longer head tube to your body type. Start stretching and get fit!
Change the fit as your body changes.
Last edited by Kapusta; 09-01-19 at 05:58 PM.
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#48
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see the difference is how thinking changes the outcome?
a person can go from not being able to touch ankles to being able to touch toes in less than a week.
A BIG belly can be lost in 2 weeks, 4 weeks
it's all about goals, will power, and self control. long head tubes can't be changed riser stems can be! go back and re-read the post I quoted. "longer head tubes", Those can not be re sized thus , your "dream" will always just be a "dream".
#49
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quit making it a "dream" then, and make it a 'goal'
see the difference is how thinking changes the outcome?
a person can go from not being able to touch ankles to being able to touch toes in less than a week.
A BIG belly can be lost in 2 weeks, 4 weeks
it's all about goals, will power, and self control. long head tubes can't be changed riser stems can be! go back and re-read the post I quoted. "longer head tubes", Those can not be re sized thus , your "dream" will always just be a "dream".
see the difference is how thinking changes the outcome?
a person can go from not being able to touch ankles to being able to touch toes in less than a week.
A BIG belly can be lost in 2 weeks, 4 weeks
it's all about goals, will power, and self control. long head tubes can't be changed riser stems can be! go back and re-read the post I quoted. "longer head tubes", Those can not be re sized thus , your "dream" will always just be a "dream".
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