How do you hold drop handlebars?

steelmole@

I've tried cycling with them and I find that my hands start to hurt after a couple of minutes wherever I put them. Also I feel like I'm putting less weight on them than I normally do with flat handlebars. How can I make this a little more comfortable?

CrookedCucumber

Try different hand positions. Try different saddle angles (if your undercarriage will stand it ) Check that handlebars aren't too low compared to the saddle. Perhaps use gloves or padded handlebar tape (I have both).

I find that I have to change hand positions on my drop handlebars quite frequently for them not to be uncomfortable. But I do that anyway, as the terrain changes, so I don't really think all that much about it.

Mettan

I change from the hoods to drops and vice/versa regularly throughout a ride and don't stick to either for too long - depnds on the road/conditions/wind/gradients etc etc - you could try getting some Gel palmed gloves (I use them) - they can certainly give a cushier feel and more grip, and if you do come off they'll help protect your hands.

chronyx

Thanks for posting this, I meant to but forgot! I'm never sure if I'm holding the drops correctly as it's never really comfortable

But, this is a little disheartening!

My bike isn't particularly comfy at the moment but I was hoping a good fitment would sort that - so even with a well set up bike as I assume you guys have I'll still be shuffling round on the bars every five minutes?

redddraggon

chronyx wrote:

so even with a well set up bike as I assume you guys have I'll still be shuffling round on the bars every five minutes?

Not if the bike is well setup. For long distances I live on the tops, bar fast sections and descents when I'm on the drops, only really using the hoods when I'm honking out of the saddle.

chronyx

By tops do you mean just the 'normal' hand position similar to a MTB?

redddraggon

chronyx wrote:

By tops do you mean just the 'normal' hand position similar to a MTB?

Sort of, but my hands are very close to the stem, a bit like a more upright version of the TT (Tri bars) position.

chronyx

Gotcha

steelmole@

Hmm. I've tried it out a bit further and still I can't really get my hands comfortable at all. It feels like there is a strain on them in any position I put them (at least on the top of the bars) on the actual dropped part it's more comfortable in terms of hands. I do have gloves and the bars are fairly padded.

Also, I noticed how much my core ached after using these drop handlebars for a while on sunday. Is this usual? just using different muscles from riding a bike upright?

CrookedCucumber

I can't help wondering -- and I hope this doesn't sound too rude -- whether your expectations might be a bit too high?

What I mean is -- I love cycling, but even after 30 years of practice I wouldn't describe it as comfortable. Even with the best set-up bike in the world, and the best kit money can buy, cycling is never going to be like riding in the back seat of a Bentley

The trick, I suppose, is knowing when you've crossed the boundary between discomfort -- which I think is part-and-parcel of cycling -- and pain, which shouldn't be.

If you're changing hand positions a fair amount to maintain comfort, I, personally, think that's to be expected. I suspect that reddragon might be the exception rather than the rule in this case But if my hands actually hurt, wherever I put them, then I would take that as indicating that something was wrong.

It's a very individual thing, I guess, how much comfort you expect on a bike. For my part, I wouldn't cycle with my hands on the drops for very long, because my old back won't stand it. I find the tops and corners moderately comfortable, the hoods less so.

I appreciate this doesn't help, of course.

redddraggon

CrookedCucumber wrote:

I suspect that reddragon might be the exception rather than the rule in this case

I wouldn't say I was "comfortable" on the bike but as you put it there's a difference between pain and discomfort. I happily cycle all day within my comfort limitations, but I get a numb bum, and my back can ache a bit, I just have the got the bike set up so that my hands don't suffer that much.

dave7348

Steelmole, you don't say how long you've been riding.

Sitting on a bike for more than a few minutes takes time for the body to adjust.

Have you spoken to any of the local club cyclists and asked them to see if your bike is set up correctly?

You should be putting roughly 1/3 weight on each of the following - saddle, 'bars, pedals.

The advantage of drop bars versus straights is the abilty to make minor movements of where you hold them. By gripping the bars in different places you should be able to fnd about 7 different positions for your hands, unlike straights, where you are limited to only about 3.

Don't spend much time on the drops ("hooks" in club parlance). Even the pros don't go down there except when they're REALLY trying hard.

Stick with them, but do get an experienced rider to have a look at your position first.

Join you local cycling club!

steelmole@

When I talk about it being uncomfortable I mean in comparison to the bike I usually ride(a marin kentfield is you're interested). I've ridden it 50 miles before and had a bit of soreness, but not the same as what I'm talking about now. I'm not worried about the muscle tiredness around my middle because that'll adjust as my body gets used to it. What I'm talking about is it takes around a minute before my hands become uncomfortable and get a sort of cramped feeling at the base of my thumb. If I leave my hands in the same place it becomes painful quickly.

I don't know what you mean by how long have I been riding. Ever since I was a kid? I mean, I don't do any "serious" riding, just use it to get where I'm going, with some longer recreational rides now and then.

I guess I'll have to find some more experienced cyclists and ask them in person for position. Thanks for your help anyway.

dennisn

steelmole@ wrote:

I've tried cycling with them and I find that my hands start to hurt after a couple of minutes wherever I put them. Also I feel like I'm putting less weight on them than I normally do with flat handlebars. How can I make this a little more comfortable?

Normally less weight on your hands, while they are on the bars, is a good thing. Not as
much pressure on them. They should feel at least a bit better than on your flat bars, which you claim had more weight on them. Generally on a road bike you want most of
your weight supported by the saddle(you want to SIT on it) so that your not holding
yourself up with your arms and thereby putting extra pressure on your hands. The seat
is where your body is supported, not the bars. Anyone?????

Dennis Noward

dave7348

Just one more thought

If the bike is set up more for racing, you will be sitting with your head lower down and your arms more out in front of you (stretching).
If it's set up more for gentle, leisure riding you will sit more upright.
The former will put more weight on your wrists than the latter, but the more energetic riding that goes with it, will take some of the weight off as you pedal down harder.

Perhaps a shorter stem would help (this will allow you to sit more upright), but that costs, so get advice from someone who can see you on the bike first before spending your cash.

cyclingfury

Agreed. Decide what sort of riding you are likely to do and get your bike set up accordingly. I think the modern trend for having low handlebars accounts for a lot of discomfort amongst many cyclists. Unless you are particularly supple, riding in a position similar to the pros is bound to give some riders comfort problems.

biondino

I am finding my preferred cruising position is with my hands on the outside of the curve on top of the bars, i.e. 3 or 4 inches behind the hoods. The only problem with this is that there aren't any brakes there and half my riding involves commuting through central London.

jedster

biondino,

does that suggest that the top tube / stem length is a bit big for you? I would have thought it makes sense to optimise the fit so that the hoods are at comfortable reach?

J

Infamous

i'm on the hoods 75% of the time.

use the drops for downhill or annoying head winds.

use the tops only for taking the pressure off my hands. or sometimes when I climb.

biondino

Jedster, it may sound ridiculous but I've never thought of that! The bike feels comfortable, with the hoods the place my hands go when I'm pushing a reasonable pace, while the area I mentioned or the inside of the top of the bars (where I have auxiliary brakes) is where my hands go when I'm taking it relatively easy.

I wonder if the bike is a bit big? Certainly the rest of it - a 58cm Trek 1200 - fits me perfectly, and I'm pretty normally proportioned. Something to think about!

jedster

Yeah, I guess everyhing is a bit of a compromise. I have slightly short arms relative to legs and torso so I went for a slightly shorter stem. Still I think I could do with half an inch less reach to the hoods. Guess it also changes with bar height etc. I may try rotating the bars slightly to bring the hoods up and back a tad.

I ride on the hoods most of the time, on the drops downhill. When I'm pushing or into a headwind I alternate between the drops and holding the top of the hoods with my forearms resting on the tops to get a bit lower.

biondino

I forgot to add I'm 6 foot tall with 34" inside leg and relatively long arms so something weird'd have to be going on for the bike not to fit me. Certainly when I do use the hoods or the drops (the latter I am starting to train myself to use in advance of my ride to Paris in July) there's no undue stretching involved. I guess I just prefer the more upright position (and may well regret purchasing an aggressively pitched new Focus, sigh).

Does anyone else have auxiliary brakes or does it prove I'm some kind of limp-wristed old woman that I do? I suspect the latter...

Mark Alexander

If your bike is the right size and set up correctly for the type of riding that you do, then you shouldn't have a problem.. weight distribution is the key.