Drops vs Hoods?

danowat

Did do a quick search, but the questions "drops vs hoods" brought up 5000+ results!!!!

Anyway..........

I tend to use the hoods about 95% of the time, and very rarely move to the drops, only normally on descents, which around my way, doesn't happen offen!!!, I don't think I am losing out much on the aerodynamic side, as I find that I can hunch down a fair bit on the hoods, and don't feel much more aero on the drops.

I just find the hoods so much more comfortable to use.

Is this bad?, should I be looking to use the drops more?

Lillywhite

danowat wrote:

..... should I be looking to use the drops more?

Only when racing.

danowat

Really?, so its not unusual to predominantly use the hoods on training rides?, what about sportives?

Rouge Penguin

Always on the drops.

Lillywhite

danowat wrote:

Really?, so its not unusual to predominantly use the hoods on training rides?, what about sportives?

Can't answer for Sportives but even in races in the UK you'll see many riders on the hoods when in the bunch because like you they find the hoods more comfortable..

ex-pat scot

Rarely on the drops, except for:

1. strong headwinds
2. steep / technical descents (where I need strongest braking)
3. Time trialling technical bits (where I can't be on the aero bars as too far from brakes)

PeeDee

If you are riding on the bar tops/hoods 95% of the time then I would say that makes you like 95% of normal riders.

The other 5% will be racing or time trialling, and probably not hanging around in beginners forum.

danowat

Thats good to know, always helps to know if you are normal or not!!!!

Lillywhite

danowat wrote:

Thats good to know, always helps to know if you are normal or not!!!!

You contribute to this forum so you're hardly normal.

CarleyB

Lillywhite wrote:

danowat wrote:

Thats good to know, always helps to know if you are normal or not!!!!

You contribute to this forum so you're hardly normal.

Drops on descents or if flat and i am trying to get faster I will use the drops till i run out of lung capacity...which is quite quickly.

amaferanga

You don't need to use the drops if you don't want to, but if you don't use them often you won't get your body used to riding in that position so you'll never find them comfortable.

Pross

Nearly always on the hoods, even when racing unless I'm really going for it. I find I knee myself in the gut when on the drops :oops: I just find the hoods the natural place for general riding except when climbing in the saddle and then I use the tops.

danowat

Yes, it does feel very natural on the hoods.

I guess I'll try and get used to the drops by trying to use them a bit more.

Lillywhite

danowat wrote:

I guess I'll try and get used to the drops by trying to use them a bit more.

And make you have have both fore-fingers pointing out lightly touching each brake lever in true pro racing style.

rolf_f

I'm on the drops when:

I am on a downhill to reduce wind resistance
When I am riding into a headwind to reduce wind resistance
On steep climbs to move my centre of gravity forward.
When I feel like a change of position.
When on the flat and I want to be fast(ish!)
When I want to be ready for maximum braking.

In hilly country, the above counts for quite a high proportion of cycling time. Probably on drops more than a third of the time. I don't feel any less comfortable on the drops than any other position. Use the tops quite a lot too.

I'm surprised so many people don't seem to use them much; they're good!

danowat

I also find I "run out of breath" quicker while on the drops, could be my gut getting in the way!!!

APIII

Rolf F wrote:

I'm on the drops when:

I am on a downhill to reduce wind resistance
When I am riding into a headwind to reduce wind resistance
On steep climbs to move my centre of gravity forward.
When I feel like a change of position.
When on the flat and I want to be fast(ish!)
When I want to be ready for maximum braking.

In hilly country, the above counts for quite a high proportion of cycling time. Probably on drops more than a third of the time. I don't feel any less comfortable on the drops than any other position. Use the tops quite a lot too.

I'm surprised so many people don't seem to use them much; they're good!

+1 with the above.
When I first started riding, I rarely used the drops, but a change to a shallow drop bar changed all that. You're missing out on free speed, if you use the hoods exclusively.

John.T

Getting low on the hoods is often more aero than using the drops. You are presenting less arm to the wind. Holding the tops and crouching is even better but not as comfortable. Drops are best left for when you give it some real welly and for more brake power on descents.

paul64

I switch between (1) top of hoods (2) back of hoods (3) corner arc between hood and tops and (4) tops more towards the stem (but not close to) fairly regularly. All in the name of circulation and relieving pressure from any hotspots in the hands whilst chewing up the miles. I also find you can feel muscle groups in the arms, shoudlers and back changing as well even if sometimes quite subtly plus pressure on the saddle bones.

This is all most noticeable when I'm on my MTB and missing the flat tops as that appears to be the most stable, back-held-still and strongest peddling position. It;s the only time I can catch my off-road colleagues. I suppose it's because it's a comfort version of a tri tuck.

It's good advice about getting used to the drops as it takes time for it to not feel like its an uncomfortable stretch. On mild descents I like the hoods but as it steepens I find that using the drops means your entire forearm/wrist/hand are in their strongest position as the rest of your bodyweight then moves itself through those two planes.

There must have been plenty of science done on this through the years?

Matt the Tester

ex-pat scot wrote:

Rarely on the drops, except for:

1. strong headwinds
2. steep / technical descents (where I need strongest braking)
3. Time trialling technical bits (where I can't be on the aero bars as too far from brakes)

yea sounds about what i do! i usually sprint abit on the drops too if im feeling lucky!

Pross

Drops should only be used on descents on the approach to a bend, on straight sections your hands should be as close as possible to the stem with your nose directly above the front hub, knees bent and arse out of the saddle Move into this position and you will instantly feel the speed increase (unless on those poncy English 'descents' where you need to pedal obviously)

rolf_f

John.T wrote:

Getting low on the hoods is often more aero than using the drops. You are presenting less arm to the wind. Holding the tops and crouching is even better but not as comfortable. Drops are best left for when you give it some real welly and for more brake power on descents.

But low on the hoods surely presents more body to the wind? Also, low on the hoods is less comfortable than the drops.

John.T

But low on the hoods surely presents more body to the wind? Also, low on the hoods is less comfortable than the drops.

It all depends on how your bike is set up. If my hands are on the front part of my Shimano levers my forearms are nearly horizontal as is my body. On the drops my body is in much the same position but my forearms are pointing down catching more air. I can hold either position for several miles. I tend to alternate these positions with one using 'virtual' tri-bars (but not on rough roads) when pushing into headwinds.

Move into this position and you will instantly feel the speed increase (unless on those poncy English 'descents' where you need to pedal obviously)

Most descents round here are so poncy that you dare not be far from the brakes. Twisty 10%+ with dry stone walls either side are common. That is not counting the potholes (there are too many for that now )

Pross

pah, who needs brakes? The walls will soon slow you down if necessary I'll exempt anyone north of Stoke from the poncy hills bit then

John.T

Cheers Pross.

mattward1979

Ive started using the drops a lot more...

Flats, I hit the drops for the aero position and (for me) better power in each stroke.
Descents, SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED.
Climbs, I find that I have WAY more oomph out of the saddle and in the drops, although this tires me faster and Im still trying to learn to stay seated.

But yeah, Drops are more fun than the hoods in my humble opinion

nico79

I'm also trying to use the drops more, however I do find myself running out of breath very quickly.

This will get better with practice and many more miles