Time on the drops

[malcermie]

Out of interest how much of your riding time do you spend on the drops? I hardly ever use them and ride almost always on the hoods.

 

[FeistySquirrel]

Roughly 0% of my time. Always the hoods.

 

[ianrauk]

Not much.. but do now and again.

 

[youngoldbloke]

5% maybe. Especially into the wind. As I'm getting older I try to stay flexible so make a point of ringing the changes and use the drops at some point every ride.

 

[cosmicbike]

I try it from time to time, but to be honest my physical shape doesn't lend itself well at the moment

 

[vickster]

Barely ever and only on an empty straight flat road

 

[mrbikerboy73]

About 2 minutes in the last 5 years or basically never. Might even saw them off to save some weight!

 

[coffeejo]

On almost all descents, and I sometimes stay on them if it's a down followed by a short climb followed by another grin-maker.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Now and again, when riding uphill or into the wind, about 7% at best.

 

[marcusjb]

Descending cos I have little hands and I have more power input into the brakes on the drops than the hoods.

Other than that - rarely.

I love those that commute on the drops, head down, huffing and puffing as they chug along in an impossibly high gear at 10mph.....

 

[Mo1959]

I'm actually quite surprised by the replies so far. I seem to be the exception so far and probably spend almost 50% of my rides on the drops, sometimes more on a windy day.

 

[morrisman]

Glad it's not just me then. Having now done 600 miles on my first road bike after various flat bar bikes I have tried and rejected the drops as a viable position. Mind you I'm a bit on the fat side of racing snake so maybe as the weight comes off but feels downright dangerous at the mo.

 

[Spinney]

I need my hands at the front of the drops for proper braking (can't get enough leverage from the hoods), so hands are there quite a lot in town and on downhills.
Drops proper when going into the wind, but maybe only 10-15% of a ride overall.

 

[Dogtrousers]

As a percentage? I don't know. Depends on the terrain and type of ride. Maybe 10%. More if I'm on my own, more if it's flat. Less if I'm with others or it's hilly.

Typically
On the flat, trying to move a bit more quickly than usual
Especially on the flat into the wind
To get a change of position, ease my wrists a bit

Also downhill while on the brakes, but that's not so much in the drops, as the loopy bit at the front of the drops.

 

[GrasB]

I'd guess around 25-30% on a fast ride, abut half that on a mid-paced ride & almost no time at all on a slow ride.