Switching to Drops... Scary

SDP

Magibob wrote:

Newbie question.

I have flats now. I think my next bike will have drops. Where do you brake from? Do you sort of reach round from the hoods, or drop your hands onto the drop parts?

Andy

either ......unless you have teensy weensy little hands...

NWLondoner

The thing that puts me off is getting to the brake levers in time. At least with flats i can "ride" the brake lever as it were. Too many idiotic drivers in London

I also fear that i would not be able to control myself i.e swerve in an emergency.

Are these worries well founded ?

chrisw12

I'm with sdp, how hard is it to ride on the drops? What a fuss about nothing. If you haven't tried them, then do so and you'll realise how much more comortable they are and how easy and safe braking is with them. But until you try, you'll never know.

Oh and aero bars are the most comortable bars, end of :roll:

Mark Alexander

they are the best way to go. try before you buy. Most LBS worth their salt will let you try one out. there really aren't any down sides.

aracer

NWLondoner wrote:

Are these worries well founded ?

No, not really. You have your hands on the brakes all the time if you have your hands on the hoods (which is the standard riding position for many people). Meanwhile drops make it no more difficult to swerve in an emergency.

daniel_b

Going from a roadbike to an MTB I imagine would be a piece of cake, and would not be difficult at all.

I went the other way, and the first ride was a bit nervy and twitchy at first, but by the end of the 20 mile ride, I was 90% confident on it, and could change hand positions, get my water bottle out from the cage, look behind me with no issues.

My GF, who has only started riding again about a year ago, also had her first roadbike, and had the same experience as me, and is now as comfortable as I am.

If you have never ridden a roadbike, then it does take a little while to get comfortable, I found the best thing to dowas to go out on a long straight road where there was little chance of having to perform an emergency stop, and get used to the bike, gear changes, braking that way.

Dan