Why drop bars

Getting down into the drops pulls the body into a nice low profile position for slicing through the air and going faster for the same power output.

Riding on the hoods with the forearms as flat as possible and the elbows bent at close to right angles is also a great aero position that reduces the area of the rider trying to cut a hole through the air. Drop bars also tend to be narrower than flat bars and this also significantly reduces the frontal area of the rider and ekes out even more aerodynamic advantages.

The narrower width also makes it easier to dodge and dip between cars that are snarled in a traffic jam. The extra width of flat bars provides better handling but there is an aerodynamic compromise. To a large extent, the type of handlebar affects the handling and feel of the bike. Wide handlebars give you more leverage and ultimately more control. Although great for improving aerodynamics, the narrow width of drop bars can make it difficult to achieve tight, precise turns.

For most road cyclists blasting along smooth tarmac roads, this will not present any issues but for anything more technical you will feel this distinct lack of handling. Being significantly wider, and therefore the ends being further away from the axis of rotation lends flat bars more control over drop bars. This is particularly noticeable at lower speeds.

You need to be able to reach the brakes instantly when you need them. That should be obvious to every rider but it bears repeating but if you are not used to riding drop bars then you may be searching in vain for a brake lever that is not there. If you have never ridden drop bars before, it can take a while to get used to the odd-looking position of the brake levers and STI shifters. It might even take you a while to figure out how to change gears at all. When you do get used to riding drop bars, the position makes perfect sense, and braking and shifting gears become second nature.

For commuting in areas with busy, unpredictable roads the brake position on drop bars can cost riders a small amount of reaction time. This could be the difference between crashing and nearly crashing.

When riding in these conditions it is important to always have a couple of fingers looped over the brake lever and expect the unexpected. The brake position on flat bars is much more intuitive and obvious.

It is right where they have always been on every bike riders have had since they were kids. For riding through town and mixing with traffic and pedestrians, having the brakes nearby at all times inspires much more confidence on the bike. However, there are some significant differences between the two, particularly their effect on comfort and components.

Plus, we just wanted to know which people would choose, if required to pick only one for general mixed-terrain bikepacking. We all have our own personal preferences and some of us are more fixated than others. In this video, Neil contrasts the two, reveals the results of the survey, and points out few of our favorite bars here at bikepacking.

Putting aside the drop bars vs flat bars debate, we here at bikepacking. I really like the feel of carbon handlebars, but prefer aluminum bars if going on a big trip. A couple of my favorites are the carbon Whisky Milhouse mm and the aluminum Hunter Smooth Move bars. Virginia has tried a lot of handlebars. Riding the hooks is most common when you have an extremely high need for control and accurate braking, such as in a fast or highly technical descent.

This original Tour de France position offers maximum defense against wind resistance. And other bars have developed as well. What do you need from your bike? Drop bars are best if you bike over 40 miles at a time, routinely bike in windy areas, or simply like to go fast.

This is not a spacecraft. Time trial bars are for going very fast for a well-defined time frame in a severely bent over position. At the conclusion of that, you get off and go ride a more comfortable bike. This bike has proven popular for anyone from RV owners to boat owners to private pilots.

Looking ahead, we are considering another dropbar model… an all-terrain folding road bike with disc brakes and 40mm airless tires—a beast of a gravel bike that never gets a flat.

If so, let me know directly at bob. Your email address will not be published. Where did drop handlebars come from? There are literally dozens of new bar styles that offer a unique geometry to change it up. You can view most of your options at WhatBars. More Bikepacking Handlebar Pack Options Handlebar packs are often interrupted by drop bar levers unless you succumb to quite a low volume bag.

The Ortlieb Handlebar Pack S fits nicely between a set of drop bar levers, but its volume works out at 9L compared to the 15L you can accommodate on a flat bar. In addition, you have the option to run unique handlebar packs like the Revelate Sweetroll which mount to a Jones Loop bar at four locations, rather than the standard two, for a more secure fit.

Bar Tape Kinda Sucks Granted a good-quality wrap can last years provided it has the right amount of stretch and grip, bar tape is still quite susceptible to tearing, moving or unwrapping itself.

On a long bike trip, this just means more bike maintenance. Ergonomic Grips Rock Never used Ergon grips? For a sweptback handlebar, check out the Ergon GC1!