arms on bars

[endoman]

Watching the TDF I see a few of them riding with their forearms on the tops of the drops for a more time trial like position. I tried this on a ride this evening, and it made my legs hurt on tops of thighs pretty quickly. Once I returned to the hoods all was fine and I kept the same speed etc. Any reason why this may be? I do find it much more comfy pedalling while on hoods than on drops, but can do 10 miles flatish on the drops no problem, so am fairly sure saddle height is correct.

 

[YahudaMoon]

I tried that. Nearly crashed lol. I think that they spend so much time on the bikes it gives the hands a rest. Also maybe they can do it cos they have TT bikes and can do that posision with ease without crashing. Unlike me ?

Thats my guess anyway

 

[YahudaMoon]

Funny thing is. I use my drops just as much as the hoods and the flat part of the handlebar. Using all three points on dropped handle bars is the correct way over a long distance as it puts less strain on your body. These guys use four points lol

Their is no point having dropped handle bars if all you use is the hoods. You may as well just have flat bars on your bike

 

[Norm]

Any reason why this may be?

Yes, the more hunched / crunched position means that you are using core muscles rather than just leg muscles, and the leg muscles you are using are different.

As with everything, doing it regularly (building the fitness as appropriate, of course) will build the strength to let you do it even more frequently.

Funny thing is. I use my drops just as much as the hoods and the flat part of the handlebar. Using all three points on dropped handle bars is the correct way over a long distance as it puts less strain on your body. These guys use four points lol

More than that, many of them use the bends and top of the hoods too, like the guy in yellow just left of centre on this image.

That last position, where the top of the brake lever is in the palm of the hand rather than between the thumb and fore finger, is where I ride most of the time, now.

 

[Stephenite]

I do it, but not for long. Just for a change of position when i'm riding the mountain bike on long flat tarmac stretches. I find it's not very stable tho.

 

[endoman]

Ok, will keep trying it every now and again to use some different muscles,

I do also use hoods, flats and drops about evenly as well,

 

[Fnaar]

Watching the TDF I see a few of them riding with their forearms on the tops of the drops for a more time trial like position.

I do that. I have my bars angled slightly down, and my forearms can rest on top of the bars. Been doing it for years, and I find it really comfortable, on long straight stretches, but yes, slightly unstable. I go back to the hoods for any bumps/bends etc.

More than that, many of them use the bends and top of the hoods too, like the guy in yellow just left of centre on this image. That last position, where the top of the brake lever is in the palm of the hand rather than between the thumb and fore finger, is where I ride most of the time, now.

...and I do that too.... again here it's most of the time, but going back to thumb/forefinger position as needed. Least common position for me is using the drops.

 

[gregsid]

Their is no point having dropped handle bars if all you use is the hoods. You may as well just have flat bars on your bike

The position of your hands is almost 90 degrees different on the hoods compared to flat bars.

 

[amaferanga]

Riding with your forearms on the bars like the TDF riders gives you virtually no control over your bike. That's all and well if you're a pro cyclist trying to get a few seconds advantage where the risk may be worth it, but for regular cyclists its a ridiculous thing to do. One unexpected bump or a gust of side-wind and you could very easily hit the deck. Its not cool and its not clever.

 

[amaferanga]

The position of your hands is almost 90 degrees different on the hoods compared to flat bars.

Flat bars plus bar ends then....

 

[byegad]

Riding with your forearms on the bars like the TDF riders gives you virtually no control over your bike. That's all and well if you're a pro cyclist trying to get a few seconds advantage where the risk may be worth it, but for regular cyclists its a ridiculous thing to do. One unexpected bump or a gust of side-wind and you could very easily hit the deck. Its not cool and its not clever.

Exactly and they hang on to cars and motorbikes on the move and have far more crashes than normal cyclists. It's a race and they are racing hard. They take risks that are not sensible for the average rider.

 

[benb]

Exactly and they hang on to cars and motorbikes on the move and have far more crashes than normal cyclists. It's a race and they are racing hard. They take risks that are not sensible for the average rider.

Isn't that cheating? It should be.

 

[Fnaar]

Riding with your forearms on the bars like the TDF riders gives you virtually no control over your bike. That's all and well if you're a pro cyclist trying to get a few seconds advantage where the risk may be worth it, but for regular cyclists its a ridiculous thing to do. One unexpected bump or a gust of side-wind and you could very easily hit the deck. Its not cool and its not clever.

I do it cos I find it comfortable. Not sure why it's ridiculous. Yes there's a bit less control, but I ride on quiet roads and I know virtually every pothole by name

I've done the roads so often.

 

[amaferanga]

Isn't that cheating? It should be.

They only do it when being seen to by the race doctor or when their bike is being treated by the magic spanner.

 

[dodgy]

Flat bars plus bar ends then....

You can't brake or change gear from the bar ends.