drop handle bars
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,787
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 522 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3228 Post(s)
Liked 3,851 Times
in
1,436 Posts
Yes, I find them comfortable. But before acidfast gets here to say so, let me tell you that most people in Europe don't use them.
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,589
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 239 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
They're useful when I want to do 'performance oriented' riding, like on my mountain bike. But for regular commuting a swept-back/city bar is more comfortable, and being upright is useful for traffic.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Dublin, Beziers, Jakarta
Posts: 59
Bikes: 1974 Gitane Tour de l'Avenir, 1975 Gitane Racing Team, 1977 LeJeune, 1988 Herrera, 1990's Ronson.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
very comfortable
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,411
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 55 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 32 Times
in
18 Posts
I don't like them. The braking position is completely uncomfortable and awkward feeling and I just don't feel like I have that much control over the bike. I've tried drop bars at two different times in my riding life and they just don't work for me.
I will say that most people do seem to like them, especially for longer rides, which I don't participate in. I ride more like a kid in that I do a lot of sharp turns riding around things, riding on narrow sidewalks at high speed, etc and almost never more than one hour. MTB bars with about 10 degrees of sweep back and however much rise is needed to get them a couple of centimeters above the saddle are my preference.
I will say that most people do seem to like them, especially for longer rides, which I don't participate in. I ride more like a kid in that I do a lot of sharp turns riding around things, riding on narrow sidewalks at high speed, etc and almost never more than one hour. MTB bars with about 10 degrees of sweep back and however much rise is needed to get them a couple of centimeters above the saddle are my preference.
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Saint-Petersburg(rus)
Posts: 13
Bikes: Fuji Classic Track; Dahon MuP8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If i was in the middle of nowhere I'd use them. But in town with bumpy roads, high traffic and low speeds drops dont needed. In fact, upright posture is awesome.
#12
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
I have 2 fixed gear bikes with riser bars and then I have a rigid forked mountain bike set up with drop bars. I am just waiting for somebody to try and correct me and say that it's wrong to have drop bars on a MTB.
#14
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Looney Tunes, IL
Posts: 7,398
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1549 Post(s)
Liked 941 Times
in
504 Posts
But it really doesn't matter one bit what others think about handlebars. Find what works for you and be happy with it.
On the other hand, posting on handlebar threads that anyone who doesn't favor the same bar as you (usually drops ) is wrong, can sometimes be fun.
#15
tgbikes
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Omaha Ne.
Posts: 147
Bikes: Volpe,Eros, Voyageur, LHT, Ochsner
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
About 25 yrs. ago, as I thought about geting a real bike I asked a friend (physical therapist) which hand position would be more comfortable. Her instant response was that the MTB ,horizontal pipe in front of you. was not a natural position. It requires many more muscles to maintane than the vertical palm position. Saying that you would never wake up with your hands in the MTB position. I'v wondered at the fortunes made, bar ends ,springey stems. ft. shocks, bar grips. I'm an bike fit anel 67 yr. old, riden ctc & border to border no gluvs brop bar, plane old touring bike. HOWEVER in city comuting I would want to be up using all my abilities to be as responsable for myself as posable.
#16
Senior Member
I use 'em, but I have to bring the height up for a more upright position. A cross, top brake levers is a must, because the drop bar brake levers is hard to work well when I'm wearing thick gloves.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 142
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
2 Posts
I commute in heavy city traffic and really like drop bars. But it does require more flexibility and core strength than a more upright position. In return, I get much better aerodynamics and a position that I'm used to from sportbikes, so I feel right at home as far as feel and control. Don't mind where the brake levers are. My only complaint is that if I try to pull up on the bars to wheelie up onto a curb, I either have to be very precise with how I do it and where my elbows are or I have to have my hands out of the drops and up on the top flat part. Otherwise, I get a sudden and unwanted stretch in the fibers of the ligaments that connect ulna and radius (the two forearm bones).
#18
Plays in traffic
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 6,971
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 76 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times
in
9 Posts
I wouldn't use anything but drop bars. Especially in the springtime winds here along the Great Lakes. (Not to mention the gales of November.)
My definition of "commuter bike" begins with the words, "drop bar road frame".
Still, as AlmostTrick said, it doesn't matter what works or doesn't work for me, or what works or doesn't work for anyone else. All that matters is what works for you.
After using regular bars, I tried a bike with drop bars and found that I like them a lot. If you try them you may find the same, or you may find you don't like them at all, or you may like them some of the time. But you won't know until you try them.
It's important that their height and reach are appropriate to your flexibility and measurements. Too high, and you'll wonder why bother. Too low and you'll wonder if contortionists ride bikes. Too close and you'll feel cramped and become unstable. Too far and you'll tire quickly. When moving down, remember to rotate from the pelvis, don't bend and hunch up your spine. You may need to shift back on the saddle slightly as well, since rotating forward moves you closer to the bars.
What I've found works best for me is having the hoods and the drops positioned so my shoulder and upper arm are at about 90°. I can ride for miles and miles in either position without undue fatigue, despite my arthritic back and hands.
My definition of "commuter bike" begins with the words, "drop bar road frame".
Still, as AlmostTrick said, it doesn't matter what works or doesn't work for me, or what works or doesn't work for anyone else. All that matters is what works for you.
After using regular bars, I tried a bike with drop bars and found that I like them a lot. If you try them you may find the same, or you may find you don't like them at all, or you may like them some of the time. But you won't know until you try them.
It's important that their height and reach are appropriate to your flexibility and measurements. Too high, and you'll wonder why bother. Too low and you'll wonder if contortionists ride bikes. Too close and you'll feel cramped and become unstable. Too far and you'll tire quickly. When moving down, remember to rotate from the pelvis, don't bend and hunch up your spine. You may need to shift back on the saddle slightly as well, since rotating forward moves you closer to the bars.
What I've found works best for me is having the hoods and the drops positioned so my shoulder and upper arm are at about 90°. I can ride for miles and miles in either position without undue fatigue, despite my arthritic back and hands.
Last edited by tsl; 03-24-13 at 08:57 AM.
#21
aka Timi
drop handle bars
Luv em! Ride mostly on the hooda, but down in the drops in hard winds.
Only the snow beater has straights.
Only the snow beater has straights.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Bremen, Germany
Posts: 365
Bikes: Poison Chinin IGH
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I love drop bars for the wrist angle at first place, somehow the position feels most natural (for me). Second choice would be mustache or flipped north road bars, third - flats with 12-20 degrees bend. For mtb rides and snow i prefer off road bars like salsa woodchippers or bend bars. No straight bars for me.
Most people would say drops aren't for slow city riding, but i think it can be perfectly comfortable if bicycle with drop bars is designed and/or adjusted for lazy rides.
Most people would say drops aren't for slow city riding, but i think it can be perfectly comfortable if bicycle with drop bars is designed and/or adjusted for lazy rides.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 83 Times
in
44 Posts
I love drop bars for the wrist angle at first place, somehow the position feels most natural (for me). Second choice would be mustache or flipped north road bars, third - flats with 12-20 degrees bend. For mtb rides and snow i prefer off road bars like salsa woodchippers or bend bars. No straight bars for me.
Most people would say drops aren't for slow city riding, but i think it can be perfectly comfortable if bicycle with drop bars is designed and/or adjusted for lazy rides.
Most people would say drops aren't for slow city riding, but i think it can be perfectly comfortable if bicycle with drop bars is designed and/or adjusted for lazy rides.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
I find them very comfortable. I favor traditional bend, medium (135mm) drops.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Bremen, Germany
Posts: 365
Bikes: Poison Chinin IGH
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I somehow think that the modern prevalence of straight bars in Germany is the result of marketing efforts. On the old bikes which were actually made in Europe you see plenty of various bend, albatross and drop bars. Ask hipsters!