Standing in drops

adh038

Does anybody else have difficulty standing/sprinting with their hands in the drops?

No matter how much i ride, I still find it an odd experience!

Ectomorph

I struggled for months with my new fixed until eventually I took it in to my LBS (plug: the excellent Rayment Cycles in Brighton) where they spent 20mins setting it up for me: dropped the saddle loads, moved it forward a tad & flipped the stem. Now it's transformed and riding/sprinting/climbing in the drops is no problem at all. Have a look at your set up; I can't believe I'd let mine drift so far out.

Ecto.

kingrollo

Yes - I never used to - but maybe I have just gotten to comfy sitting down !

redddraggon

The more you do it, the more you get used it. On my carbon bike with a slightly too tall headtube I find standing in the drops safer/more comfortable than using the hoods.

It also helps to have decent shaped bars, ergo bars aren't ergonomic for the majority of people - most people are better off with some sort of compact or round shaped bars.

gtitim

I have to say I find this hard. I agree with reddragon that handlebar shape plays a big role. Its not often that I really need to do it so maybe its just lack of practice but it feels rather unintuitive to me.

fnegroni

redddraggon wrote:

The more you do it, the more you get used it.

+1

CTML

I had this exact problem a while ago when i was still getting used to my new bike, i found that i would wobble around alot and find it very difficult to keep a straight line but its all down to getting used to your positioning and where you hold the drops

Monty Dog

Standing on the pedals with hands on the drops is probably the hardest position to hold for any period as it really tests your 'core' muscles - that said, I find it the most 'powerful' position on a bike and so suited for sprints and short, hard climbs. A lot depends on the drop from your saddle to the bars - the more extreme the harder to sustain. Lots of practise and core body exercises to help develop the strength.