Does anyone else not use the drops in their handlebars?
02-03-06, 11:05 PM
#51
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Have you thought about bullhorns?
02-04-06, 11:47 AM
#52
well hello there
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If I'm riding real easy, I don't use the drops much. But if I'm pushing hard, I'm in the drops.
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02-04-06, 02:37 PM
#53
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The OP said that the drops on his bike are collecting dust.
I'll suggest you start riding faster!
If they start growing moss, then cut 'em off.
I'll suggest you start riding faster!
If they start growing moss, then cut 'em off.
02-04-06, 02:50 PM
#54
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Even people who hardly ever get down in their drops are real happy to have them when facing a big headwind on the ride home.
02-04-06, 02:50 PM
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It took me a year of riding my first bike with drop bars to get used to them, but I did eventually. While I don't use them even half (1/4?) of the time I am riding, there are times they are indispensable. Have you tried putting the bike on a trainer and using the drop position in a lower risk, get the feel manner? I am a big fan of this for most "get used to it" bicycle things. Might help.
I don't use my pinky much, but I wouldn't cut it off until I was really certain I wouldn't ever be needing it. Just my two cents.
I don't use my pinky much, but I wouldn't cut it off until I was really certain I wouldn't ever be needing it. Just my two cents.
02-04-06, 03:03 PM
#56
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Originally Posted by khan
(...)and most of the bars nowadays (at least in this shop's stock) have a very short flat for the drop. They expect you to ride in the curve if you're going to be in the drops. I'm up there if I'm sprinting but at the front of a line or into the wind just cruising, I was alwasy on the flat of the drop just kind of relaxing. What happened? Did everyone change the way they ride in the drops nowadays?
02-04-06, 11:03 PM
#57
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Originally Posted by simplyred
2 Things
1/ Your balls may be too big & you need a cutout.. LOL
2/ You bars/drops may be too low & you need to raise it up a couple spacers...
Try it out man
That's what it's all about
-simplyred
1/ Your balls may be too big & you need a cutout.. LOL
2/ You bars/drops may be too low & you need to raise it up a couple spacers...
Try it out man
That's what it's all about
-simplyred
i've gotta play with the spacers.. perhaps even flip my stem upwards.
02-04-06, 11:18 PM
#58
Senior Member
Originally Posted by khan
Check overall bar height. The drops should not be so low that they are too uncomfortable to ride in. Of course, now that everyone is cutting off their steerer tubes that adjustment may be a bit more of a hassle than it used to be.
I recently bought new bars for a new frame I was building up. Didn't really notice it until the first ride but, when I went down to reach for the drops, whoa, there was nothing there. Went back to the shop to swap out bars and most of the bars nowadays (at least in this shop's stock) have a very short flat for the drop. They expect you to ride in the curve if you're going to be in the drops. I'm up there if I'm sprinting but at the front of a line or into the wind just cruising, I was alwasy on the flat of the drop just kind of relaxing. What happened? Did everyone change the way they ride in the drops nowadays?
I recently bought new bars for a new frame I was building up. Didn't really notice it until the first ride but, when I went down to reach for the drops, whoa, there was nothing there. Went back to the shop to swap out bars and most of the bars nowadays (at least in this shop's stock) have a very short flat for the drop. They expect you to ride in the curve if you're going to be in the drops. I'm up there if I'm sprinting but at the front of a line or into the wind just cruising, I was alwasy on the flat of the drop just kind of relaxing. What happened? Did everyone change the way they ride in the drops nowadays?
I think people have gotten lazy and stopped sprinting...
02-04-06, 11:25 PM
#59
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I use the drops every now and then. Especially when riding into a strong headwind. They are invaluable in that situation...that and high speed decents.
02-04-06, 11:30 PM
#60
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Originally Posted by mtn_mojo
Anyone else ride in the drops the majority of the time, or is it just me?
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02-04-06, 11:36 PM
#61
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Originally Posted by catatonic
Heck I rarely use the hoods at all...I found the bend where the horizontal and initial bend portion of the drops meet is the most comfortable spot for my hands ever...it's like my hands were made for that spot of the bars, I can ride there all day long.
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02-04-06, 11:40 PM
#62
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i use them to ride into headwinds and when i feel like i need to calm myself down and get a sense of rhythm back
02-04-06, 11:43 PM
#63
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Originally Posted by Doctor Who
Damn, that thing looks comfortable as hell. I wonder if it's possible to fall asleep from being totally and completely relaxed and unjostled while riding that around. Those MUTs sure have really rough terrain..
02-05-06, 12:03 AM
#64
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Originally Posted by bccycleguy
Even people who hardly ever get down in their drops are real happy to have them when facing a big headwind on the ride home.
02-05-06, 04:43 AM
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Drops aren't the same for everybody. If your bike is small relative to your body size, your drop position is likely too severe and why many find them uncomfortable.
To me, a bike is sized properly if the drops are comfortable.
George
To me, a bike is sized properly if the drops are comfortable.
George
02-05-06, 05:32 AM
#66
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At 67, my old neck won't permit me to get down to the drops very long. It's hard to keep my head up to see where I'm going. The only time I do get down is when it's really windy and I am trying to get a bit more areo dynamic.
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02-05-06, 06:22 AM
#67
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Drop bars were designed to give a number of riding positions. If you don't use them your set up needs tweaking. Experiment and raise your bars slightly, (change stem or spacers as needed) until you find something that it reasonably comfortable. Allow your body to adjust a bit at a time and you will find that you enjoy the added position. Like many others posting on this topic the lower position is essential for long rides into a headwind, unless you have added aerobars.
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02-05-06, 06:24 AM
#68
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some good points here. i spend almost all the time in the drops. mtn mojo is right; i think most people have their 'bars too low. raise 'em and the problem is fixed. it may hurt your neck initially, as some have said, but in less than a month your neck is trained and you don't notice it. and i also agree with khan; why is the flat section behind the bottom of the drops so short? and if your knees are pounding your gut, the problem is either 1.) lose the gut, or 2.) your hip angle is too compressed
02-05-06, 03:48 PM
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Originally Posted by mtn_mojo
I think I'm almost the opposite of the original poster...I ride in the drops almost the entire time I'm on my bike. I'm not sure if this is "correct" technique, but when I'm on the hoods it's because I'm either climbing, starting from slow/stopped at a light, or just coasting along taking it easy. I guess I just really love spinning along, all tucked in while in the drops.
Anyone else ride in the drops the majority of the time, or is it just me?
Anyone else ride in the drops the majority of the time, or is it just me?
I, too, ride in the drops most of the time (or on my aerobars).
