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Drop handlebars hurt wrists

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Old 05-25-11, 03:35 PM
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siggy2xc
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Drop handlebars hurt wrists

I got a road bike yesterday (finally, my 1st REAL bike!) and it has drop handlebars. I rode it around for the 1st time today and it is a lot harder on my wrists than the flat handlebars I had before. Does this disappear with time?
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Old 05-25-11, 03:40 PM
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Andy Somnifac 
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Depends on if the bike it fit properly or not. If it's not, then it may not go away.
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Old 05-25-11, 03:43 PM
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caloso
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Hmm. That is exactly the opposite of my experience. The main reason I prefer dropbars is that they allow for an number of different hand positions -- flat bars allow for just one -- and moving your hands around prevents wrist pain. Were you just in one position?
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Old 05-25-11, 03:46 PM
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AdelaaR
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Maybe your flatbar was positioned higher than your current dropbar?
I found that a clip-on aerobar is great to relieve the wrists and be more comfortable.
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Old 05-25-11, 03:47 PM
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kstryapko
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Try all the different positions
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Old 05-25-11, 03:47 PM
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siggy2xc
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Originally Posted by caloso
Hmm. That is exactly the opposite of my experience. The main reason I prefer dropbars is that they allow for an number of different hand positions -- flat bars allow for just one -- and moving your hands around prevents wrist pain. Were you just in one position?
Ya, I only see 2 positions though? what other hand positions are there?
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Old 05-25-11, 03:49 PM
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Old 05-25-11, 03:50 PM
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Clockwise from top left: hoods, tops, drops, ramps.

[edit: beat me to it! ]

Last edited by caloso; 05-25-11 at 03:52 PM. Reason: comment
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Old 05-25-11, 03:51 PM
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siggy2xc
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Thanks a million guys!!!

and sorry for being a n00b
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Old 05-25-11, 03:55 PM
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I swap between at least 6 different positions/grips. More if you count various split finger grips over the hoods. Keeps the hands happy.
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Old 05-25-11, 03:58 PM
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Don't forget invisible aerobars!

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Old 05-25-11, 03:59 PM
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Tilt the nose of your saddle up a notch or two, you are sliding forward in your saddle and trying to compensate by holding your body weight with your arms.

After the wrists don't hurt, then worry about stem length in the drops.
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Old 05-25-11, 04:21 PM
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Originally Posted by caloso
Don't forget invisible aerobars!

I have been tempted to try this a number of times, or to just get real aeros...
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Old 05-25-11, 04:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Andy Somnifac
Depends on if the bike it fit properly or not. If it's not, then it may not go away.
Bike fit matters a lot. Core strength matters a lot, too.
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