Riding on Hoods vs Drops

[danny121]

Just a silly question, but I see a lot of references on various forums about people spending most of their time on the hoods.

I spend about 80-90% of my time on the drops and only switch to hoods if I need to change hand position or when going uphill (seems to help).

Is there some reason to stay on the hoods I'm not aware of?

 

[domtyler]

Hi Danny, just do what feels right to you mate!

 

[Smeggers]

Im 95% on the hoods. Any time on the drops really hurts.

Depends on geometry I suppose.

 

[Paulus]

Whichever feels comfortable for you.

 

[danny121]

Thanks for the quick replies - of course if I were braver I'd use some bolt-on aero bars but don't like the idea of taking my hands so far away from the brakes .

Must admit I'm enjoying the road bike a lot more than the old hybrid (did about 9000 miles on it before it got nicked).

 

[RedBike]

Is there some reason to stay on the hoods I'm not aware of?

Most people find it more comfortable, espeshially over longer distances.

 

[Disgruntled Goat]

You can reach the brakes and change gear without having to move your hand position.

 

[yenrod]

I like a long reach on a/my bike and spend quite a bit of time on the tops which I reckon is from my MTB days but its a varying amount in either position.

 

[rich p]

My belly gets in the way on the drops

 

[domtyler]

My belly gets in the way on the drops

I thought it got in the way of the tops too rich?

 

[Maz]

Numpty question: Do you normally hold the tops (hoods? i.e. the flat straight bit!) when indicating?

 

[fossyant]

Ususally hold the brake hoods when indicating as you can brake as well !

 

[danny121]

Numpty question: Do you normally hold the tops (hoods? i.e. the flat straight bit!) when indicating?

Drops - I can easily reach the brake lever andif I need to brake it's a lot easier to apply max force from the drops than the hoods due to leverage.

 

[Plax]

I spend proportionately more time on the tops - not quite on the hoods, I like to rest my hands on the bit that curves fron the top straight bit to the hoods (if you follow me). I tend to use the drops when I'm going really fast down hills, then in traffic I hover over the hoods, or I've recently noticed that when I approach junctions to slow down / stop I'll have my left hand on the drops braking and leave the right hand on the hoods.

 

[Tynan]

usually hoods as I'm invariably in heavy traffic and I feel more visible upright and can see better but I do drops for downhills (better braking) and into the wind and for any long straight bit when I fancy blatting on a bit, I love the options after flats, especially into the wind, headwinds have almost stopped being a problem