I have 4 bikes, one with a flat bar and the others with drops. The flat bar bike is the newest edition to my collection and I do like it in traffic, but it is slower due to the more upright position. I find dropts are similar to using bullhorns but this really depends on the brifters... I changed out the low end brakes and stem shifters and put on microshift shifters / brakes which makes riding the hoods better and more comfortable. I rarely use the drops but if the wind warrants it, I will use them for short intervals.