Why don't people have their drops at a useable height?

[woodbutcher]

No idea who these guys are but they seem to have made their minds up

 

[Rusty Nails]

I returned to cycling about ten years ago after a gap of around 40 years. Because I have neck problems I started off on flat bars and had no problems with them, or discomfort, even doing a century on an mtb. I did try the occasional drop bar bike but couldn't get comfortable, then around five years ago I built up my own road bike from a new Genesis Equilibrium frame and fork, leaving the steerer uncut so I could experiment with the height, and stem length/rise. It was a revelation straight away and I now ride that bike 80% of the time, feeling no discomfort even though I had a C3/C4 fusion op 18 months ago. Although I must admit that I do not ride in the drops very often

I still find flat bars comfortable, although I prefer my bars cut shorter than they come as stock.

There is absolutely no need for an either/or choice other than specialised riding such as road racing or mountain biking.

 

[Twilkes]

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No idea who these guys are but they seem to have made their minds up
View attachment 495216

That's actually a good illustration of some of the points raised in the thread, riders in the past didn't have as great a drop from seat to bars, lots of photos on this link: http://bikeretrogrouch.blogspot.com/2013/10/changing-positions.html?m=1 But modern brake shifters mean riders can spend all day on the hoods without sacrificing control, whereas older brakes and down tube shifters weren't as accessible from the hoods of those bikes.

Anyway, I got some good answers to my questions and am playing around with positioning, so I'm out.

 

[mjr]

It has to be said, if you're bolt upright using a set of North Road style bars, you don't have the slightest need to change hand positions very much, as you'll not be leaning on them very much.

One shouldn't be leaning on them much on a road bike either. Just enough weight to steer. Nothing more, else you'll mess up your wrists, shoulders and/or elbows.

It does need more core/torso strength/stamina/fitness to hold a "drops" position without leaning on the bars, though, which gets more difficult as you tire. More aggressive dropped positions are more difficult for most people. IMO road bikes are easier to ride fast, roadster/town bikes are easier to ride more.

 

[Drago]

I've yet to see any empirical evidence that wider tyres are in any way inherently less unstable on poor surfaces.

 

[mjr]

I've yet to see any empirical evidence that wider tyres are in any way inherently less unstable on poor surfaces.

If you want empirical evidence, go fit pram wheels on your smart car and report back on its stability.

 

[GuyBoden]

No idea who these guys are but they seem to have made their minds up
View attachment 495216

These riders have made up their minds to use the drops, because they find being on the drops is faster in a sprint.

 

[woodbutcher]

These riders have made up their minds to use the drops, because they find being on the drops is faster in a sprint.
View attachment 495274

"Horses for courses" and all that

 

[PaulSB]

Until this thread opened I'd never thought about this subject. On my ride today I experimented. If I'm on the hoods, shoulders or holding the bars I can move smoothly, simply by dropping my hands, on to the drops. In fact any hand position change is simple to make. My body doesn't move. I can then move my body in to a position which is suitable for what I want to do.

I assume most of us have our bars set at a suitable height to give us a good bike fit. I'd also assume there can't be much difference in the measurement from the bar to the drops on the majority of bars.

Given the above I simply do not understand the thread title and feel it asks a question which doesn't really exist. This of course presumes the bike is correctly set up. The relevant question is surely why do many riders chose not to use the drops?

Also thought about the hybrid question raised in the thread. My hybrid gives me a much more erect position than my road bike. I don't think I could achieve the 20+ mph we often ride at on a hybrid. If I could I feel my road bike handles completely differently and is suited to this type of riding.

I enjoy hybrids and road bikes but I cannot see how a hybrid can come close to replacing a road bike just because the rider choses to sit up and use the hoods.

 

[Smokin Joe]

If you want empirical evidence, go fit pram wheels on your smart car and report back on its stability.

It will be perfectly stable, it won't overturn any more easily than with the regular wheels.

 

[PaulSB]

Less aero, less ergo, less braking lever force, to name but three reasons.

Aren't those the opposites? These are all benefits of being on the drops. The question is why do people chose not to take advantage of these benefits.

 

[boydj]

That people seem to have to wear padded shorts, padded gloves and to avoid pins and needles they need to keep moving their hands around on the bars. All the discussions on saddles. Number of riders who get nerve damage in their hands or neck or back issues. The fact that there is a whole industry around bike fit for road bikes. All these things point to a road bike not being comfortable out of the box.

Doesn't matter what kind of bike you get, you're bound to have some setup to do to get a basic fit out of the box. If you are going to be doing regular rides of any great distance, then wearing bike-specific clothes is bound to improve your comfort. and having saddle and bars at an appropriate height will help your efficiency.

I was in my mid-fifties when I started riding regularly - using a road bike for commuting - but it didn't take me long to have my bar tops about 4" below the saddle and I ride mostly on the brake hoods, but I do get down on the drops when going faster than normal.

 

[Rusty Nails]

............................... I ride mostly on the brake hoods, but I do get down on the drops when going faster than normal.

I never go faster than normal. I'm always slow.

 

[cyberknight]

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That's actually a good illustration of some of the points raised in the thread, riders in the past didn't have as great a drop from seat to bars, lots of photos on this link: http://bikeretrogrouch.blogspot.com/2013/10/changing-positions.html?m=1 But modern brake shifters mean riders can spend all day on the hoods without sacrificing control, whereas older brakes and down tube shifters weren't as accessible from the hoods of those bikes.

Anyway, I got some good answers to my questions and am playing around with positioning, so I'm out.

TMN to me

 

[PaulSB]

That people seem to have to wear padded shorts, padded gloves and to avoid pins and needles they need to keep moving their hands around on the bars. All the discussions on saddles. Number of riders who get nerve damage in their hands or neck or back issues. The fact that there is a whole industry around bike fit for road bikes. All these things point to a road bike not being comfortable out of the box.

Some or all of this may be true for a selection of riders. The point though is no one human being is the same as another and therefore each individual will need a slightly different set up.

I've experienced some of the issues you describe and have been able to address them with some small adjustments.

I ride regularly with around 60 people, through my club I know 200+, and to be honest I rarely hear any discussion of the type you describe or other issues I read about on here. This is not to say they don't exist but their existence doesn't indicate road bikes are inherently uncomfortable.

The conversation I do hear is on the lines of "I changed xyz and what a difference its made."

I sit on mine 2-3 a week for 70+ miles. I can sit on it for 130+ miles. If it was uncomfortable this would be difficult to say the least.