Profpointy
Legendary Member
Not on a bike that may get ridden in traffic I don't. Back in my teenage days I had drops on my Raleigh Arena 5 speed, and 99% of my miles were clocked up with me sitting up using the tops of the bars and the extension levers on the brakes. The only time I would ever use the drop position was if I was trying to make good time into a headwind and I would still only do it on roads where the traffic wasn't too dodgy. I reckon riding in a dropped position seriously reduces your view of the road compared with an upright stance, and compromises safety.
Only this week, a colleague at work driving in central London witnessed some Lycra Clown on a drop bar bike with all the gear on smash hard into the back of a Transit van that he had completely failed to notice had stopped in the traffic. The idiot apparently then wedged his head between the side of the van and a bus, much to the entertainment of onlookers.
Sorry, I was being mischievious rather than really giving advice. Well, it is still good advice, you doubtless you have reasons which I'll not argue with.