Drops

Chefshaw

Being relatively new to the sport I'd like to thank the members of this forum for their help and advice. Every ride I'm getting stronger faster fittter and more confident. Today's ride I wanted to use the drops as much as possible! All was fine and I feel more comfortable, but at times I seemed tense in my shoulders and neck. How do u relax your upper body when down in this position? Or will it just get better after a few more rides?

pilot_pete

To start with you need to ensure that your bike is set-up properly for you. I mean saddle lay back and height, then handlebar height relative to saddle, and handlebar reach based on stem length.

Once that is all correct you should find that you are not putting weight on your hands/ wrists and you should not be 'dropping' too low causing possible neck/shoulder pain.

Also, it is probably inadvisable to try to stay in the drop position all the time. Any single position can start to cause fatigue after a while, so it would seem best practice to vary your position now and again to prevent this.

So I would start with bike set-up and see how you go.

PP

p.s. How old/ flexible you are will also have an effect. The older you get, generally the more it will stress you being in the drops.....and generally you will not be able to get into as 'dropped' a position as you probably could when you were twenty, or at least this is what I have found!