josephvman

It's easier for me to focus when in the drops too. On the hoods I look around too much, my mind wanders and I stop paying attention to smoothness. I've found that in the flat stuff (which is pretty much all there is around here) I'm 1-2 mph faster in the same gear with the same cadence when in the drops.

slvoid

How is that physically possible?

2manybikes

I get about 1 mph more from the drops at times. Often one more gear. I have my bars up to the saddle on some bikes. I would guess the higher bars make for more of an aero change when switching than lower bars do. ??

Edit: one more gear is the only way to keep the cadence the same and get about 1 more mph. As far as I know !!

I need more coffee.

mayukawa

He's comparing riding on bouncy roads versus smooth roads?

slvoid

I dunno.. I mean one more gear is fine. But he said same gear, same cadence, technically, unless you're coasting, it should be the same speed no?

2manybikes

Yes.

Here's one possible guess as to what happens. There is a small cadence change that is not noticeable. The computer is about to change to the next number and it goes up one mph.
But, I think that is not likely. He probably means the same effort, he needs more coffee too. I've said worse things.

Michel Gagnon

Slvoid,

Glad to know that I'm not alone feeling that way, and glad to know that "I'm not insane", as somebody once said to me for riding in the drops.

I'm no racer and in fact, if you had posted this in the "Touring" or "Commuting" forums, I would have replied sooner. My typical average speed is around 22-23 km/h over 80-100 km, with 2-3 km/h less if loaded, with kids... Still, I set the top of my handlebars about level with my saddle, have the lower part of the drops pointing down about 10 degrees and ride in the drops about 80-90% of the time. Why?

– Better wrist angle, I find.

– With wide handlebars, I just rest my hands on the bars. No need to grab them hard. And even when the road is bumpy (i.e. almost all the time around here), I don't loose my grip.

– Good control in crosswinds, even with unexpected gusts or when piloting the tandem + trailercycle.

– I feel much less stretched out then on the hoods. Actually, my only other position is on the tops, a position I mostly use to coast, when following my young daughter at 5-6 km/h, etc.

Apart from front-end simplicity, my preference for the drops is another reason why my preferred shifters are bar-end shifters.

P.S. Just to prove that we are in good company, I remember Sheldon Brown once wrote that "If you can't ride comfortably in the drops, it means the bars are too low".

josephvman

Resurrecting a lost thread here!

I guess logically that doesn't make much sense, until you throw the aerodynamic advantage in there. At my typical cruising speed in the low 20's, picking up 5-10% in the drops vs. the hoods because of the difference in drag is reasonable, I think. I focus more and don't take as many "breaks" in the drops, so though I think I'm spinning the same cadence, maybe I'm not as consistent when on the hoods.

blue_nose

+ 1.

This is the most comfortable spot for my hands as well. Too bad it is probably as far from the brake levers as possible

bbattle

Yes it is.


I didn't know you ventured outside the Foo.



I enjoy riding in the drops for a while but I actually spend most of my time on the hoods or on the flats. I change it up as conditions dictate. I'll ride no hands while chomping on a Clif bar and swiggin' water. I don't stretch as much as I should so long term riding in the drops doesn't happen. I notice the TDF riders don't spend that much time in the drops, either.

roadCruiser76

Same with me, which is why I find myself switching back and forth fairly frequently.

Drag

I'm on the hoods nearly all the time, unless I'm doing a pretty decent downhill.

I envy you guys who can ride in the drops for any longish duration.

jsigone

I'm on the drops on all flats and all down hills. The hoods and flats are for the climbs. I'm 6'2 and there is a big aero difference from the hood to the drops. I've been trying the Floyd style of aero using the flats and tucking in alot to get the narrowness of it all and that kills me neck more then riding the drops. But damn that position is effective. Still trying to train my neck muscles to hold that for longer then 5 minutes. I get alot of headwind were I ride, so aero is the key.

campeck944

noob question...i figure a drop is the curvy part where the brakes are..and the hood is at the top. but then someone mention hood, drop AND a top...help!! what are they?

thanks!

Mach42

The drops are the curved parts of the bar that drop down below the shifter. The hoods are the rubber-coated bodies of the shifters/brakes themselves and the tops, or flats, are the flat and straight portion of the bar that attaches to the stem and end at the curve towards the shifters.

Psimet2001 

I hate my drops. I spend 95% of the time on the hoods and tops. Drops for downhills or seriously hIllacious headwinds.

My saddle is still too low and my gut still too big and I end up not being able to breathe deeply while in the drops. Can't get the bars higher (I didn't cut the fork) and I like the smaller frame size....oh well...I can get lower on the hoods than a lot of guys can in the drops...

botto 

+1

Cyclist0112

I was a center in high school and its not as bad as it might look. As long as you wear a cup! I suppose there are two reasons for that: one the quarterback doesn't want to touch your nuts, two have you ever snapped a ball as hard as you can directly at your nuts?!

Oh and I prefer to mix up the riding position depending on what I'm doing at the time. If I'm really working hard I'll be in the drops but that limits my air intake a little bit. So after working hard for awhile I like to put my hands on the hoods to relax for a bit.

vantassell

You're more aero in the drops....so 1 more mph due to less drag. That's what i thought he was talking about..?

eandmwilson

+1. I've been playing around with saddle tilit, and tilted it a tad too far down in the nose. I spent the ride wracking my arms holding myself up. I'll see how it feels tomorrow tilited back a bit.

eandmwilson

Perhaps you need a shot or two of man juice to keep that neck limber? Go truly "Floyd", so to speak?

jyossarian

I got 38 cm bars if you need 'em.

[e] I didn't realize this thread was so old!

timmhaan

ah, yeah, i actually got the correct size bars about 4 weeks ago. much much better!

38!!! that is really narrow!!

mimis

my problem exactly...