Getting comfortable on drop bars

[HelenD123]

I've recently got a bike with drop bars. People say the advantage of them is loads of hand positions so you can shift your hands around and keep comfortable. My problem is that NONE of the positions are comfortable! I seem to be putting a lot of weight on my hands and none of the positions coincide with the padding on my gloves. What am I doing wrong? I'm beginning to despair.

 

[killiekosmos]

Is your saddle too high in relation to the bars (or the bars too low)? This would put more weight on your hands.

I tend to have my hands on the 'hoods' most of the time but occasionally move to middle of bars or outside the levers for a wee change, seldom go into the drops.

 

[skwerl]

I seem to be putting a lot of weight on my hands

how are your core muscles? if you lift your hands off the bars can you support yourself in that forward position for a reasonable length of time?

 

[HelenD123]

Is your saddle too high in relation to the bars (or the bars too low)? This would put more weight on your hands.

I tend to have my hands on the 'hoods' most of the time but occasionally move to middle of bars or outside the levers for a wee change, seldom go into the drops.

I think the saddle height is OK, although I do keep tweaking it. If anything, it felt a fraction too low this morning. The bars are at such a height that I'm not particularly stretched out.

 

[HelenD123]

how are your core muscles? if you lift your hands off the bars can you support yourself in that forward position for a reasonable length of time?

I think my core muscles could do with some work! I'll experiment on the way home.

 

[jimboalee]

Do you know about the 'obscured front axle' method?

 

[HelenD123]

Do you know about the 'obscured front axle' method?

It rings a vague bell but you'd better explain.

 

[punkypossum]

When riding on the hoods, the handlebars should obscure the front axle - if they don't, the frame might be too large/small depending on if you see the hub in front or behind the handlebars.

 

[HelenD123]

When riding on the hoods, the handlebars should obscure the front axle - if they don't, the frame might be too large/small depending on if you see the hub in front or behind the handlebars.

Thanks! I'll try that out later.

 

[jimboalee]

When riding on the hoods, the handlebars should obscure the front axle - if they don't, the frame might be too large/small depending on if you see the hub in front or behind the handlebars.

Do you know about the 'bathroom scales' method?

 

[punkypossum]

If you stand on them and the needle goes off the scale, you are too heavy?

 

[John the Monkey]

...or if it's a speaking scale and it says "Oof! One at a time please" ?

 

[redjedi]

When riding on the hoods, the handlebars should obscure the front axle - if they don't, the frame might be too large/small depending on if you see the hub in front or behind the handlebars.

That's a new one on me, I'll have a look at that later myself.

to the OP. It could be a case of just getting used to the new position.

I recently changed my flat bars for drops, and the first time I used it my back hurt. I decided the bars were too low, so I put an adjustable stem on and moved the bars up and closer.

This felt a lot more comfortable. But as I got used to them I started to move the bars back down.
Now after a couple of months I've put the normal stem back on and it's fine. (Bars are now lower than saddle)

I could also do with doing some work on my core muscles which should help reduce the amount of weight put on my hands, but it's getting better.

 

[HelenD123]

I've changed the stem for a shorter one and raised up the bars. I haven't actually done that many miles I guess so you are right that I need to persevere. It's just frustrating having gone from doing 106 miles with relative ease on my hybrid to feeling uncomfortable just doing 8 miles to work. I'll use the new bike for my Amsterdam trip then I'll be forced to get some miles in. I can't change my mind once I've set off! (Oh no, just realised I can as we'll be cycling nearly past my house on the way to the ferry. Must banish that thought...)

 

[Arch]

I never got completely happy with drop bars on my Galaxy, despite swapping to the shortest possible stump stem and putting Marsas Padding foam under the tape, and eventually changed to normal ones (my other long distance bike has the same with bar ends). When I rebuild, I'm going to have a go with a pair of moustache bars, see if I get on with them.

See how Amsterdam goes. If after that, you really don't get on with them, think about swapping?

BTW, stopping the group to say "hang on, I just need to pop into my house to swap bikes" is the ultimate cyclist pose, surely!