Another daft question / drop bars

[Biker Joe]

I use the drops when the head winds are a bit strong and on longer down hills. Sometimes on flat sections just for a change in position.
Oh and there is no such thing as a daft question on here.

 

[RedRider]

Usually on the drops, second position is the 'shoulders', into the hooks downhill or fast and occasionally on the tops. Hardly ever on the hoods which I think is unusual, probably old=fashioned but each to their own, Think it's down to set up. When I had shallower drops I hardly ever used them, they were the wrong shape and size for me.

 

[Inthecup]

Then you are either 1: Not used to the bike 2: You need a bike fit.

I'm not use to it yet but getting more comfortable with every ride.

I got the bike from Evans and asked for a fit. They told me they didn't really do that and set it up roughly in a good position for me and told me to tinker with it until I got comfortable.

 

[the_mikey]

I use the drops:
1) When I'm trying to reduce wind resistance or gain speed.
2) When descending, I use the drops to gain more control/confidence, and have better control over the brakes.
3) When out of the saddle, use the drops to provide a good lever against my own weight on the pedals.

 

[MikeW-71]

Most of the time I'm on the hoods. I'll go to the drops on a fast descent, or if I'm into a headwind (helps a surprising amount). If I'm on a long climb, I use the tops to sit up straighter and help breathing.

 

[ColinJ]

I had not been able to get comfortable on the drops for years, not because of a bike fit problem, but because my fat belly got in the way! Then I lost about 5 stone in weight and it became much more comfortable so I used the drops more often, rather than just on downhills and into headwinds.

Then I got fat again, and stopped. Now I am getting slim again, it is once again becoming more comfortable.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I like drops as it gives me more places to reposition my sore hands.

Real men don't use gloves you see!

 

[jowwy]

I like drops as it gives me more places to reposition my sore hands.

Real men don't use gloves you see!

maybe you should then you wouldn't get sore hands - unlike us unreal men

 

[Spinney]

I can't brake from the hoods, so when in traffic or on steep hills I'm always in the drops, but with my hands at the front in the curved bits, if you see what I mean.
Hands on the horizontal part of the drops when trying to go fast (e.g. getting some downhill momentum to save effort on the coming uphill!) or into a headwind.

 

[Rob3rt]

Drops = when more control is required for me, i.e. technical courses.

I can get just as aero, if not more aero riding on the hoods in a psudeo-TT position, i.e. forearms parallel to the ground (which is a position I am very comfortable in, given the amount of time I spend riding a TT bike).

I CAN ride in the drops comfortably all day, but I rarely do it, because it offers me little advantage.

 

[Dusty Bin]

It all depends on what being 'on the drops' means, as being 'on the drops' is not necessariy the same as being 'aero'. I have seen some bikes where the rider 'on the drops' is actually more upright than I am when riding on the tops.

 

[sutts]

I had to look up 'hoods', 'cos I had no idea what you were all talking about! For other noobs who are similarly puzzled, try this:

http://lovelybike.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/drop-bar-hand-positions-introduction.html

 

[compo]

On my roadbike most of my time on the tops, some of the time on the hoods, rarely on the drops if I am pedaling as I get tired of kneeing myself in the belly every pedal revolution.

 

[Biker Joe]

I had to look up 'hoods', 'cos I had no idea what you were all talking about! For other noobs who are similarly puzzled, try this:

http://lovelybike.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/drop-bar-hand-positions-introduction.html

Good clear article. Well done.