At what speed do you get in the drops?

pipipi

I appreciate that someone is going to say all the time, but while I get my back used to being in the drops (I can do 5 mins or so but then need a break) I was just wondering if there was a particular speed when you HAVE to be in the drops.

and obviously going into a headwind at 15mph, it would be great to get in the drops, but does it make much difference (anyone got a %).

ollyridesfirst

Unless i'm going for it, i stay off the drops. I'll get on the drops when behind one of my riding buddies, but only because he's small and any chance of drafting is useless unless i'm down there.

Aside from that, it's when i'm into a strong headwind or going downhill

bigmat

As much as possible. Into headwinds. Downhill. Anywhere where you need to be ready to brake firmly. Sprinting. Short sharp climbs (up to 2 or 3 minutes). I just find that as well as being more aero, it gives me a more balanced position on the bike and I find it easier to put the power down.

Zoomer37

BigMat wrote:

As much as possible. Into headwinds. Downhill. Anywhere where you need to be ready to brake firmly. Sprinting. Short sharp climbs (up to 2 or 3 minutes). I just find that as well as being more aero, it gives me a more balanced position on the bike and I find it easier to put the power down.

+100

saintdracula

Depends which bike I'm using. Because the Weinmann brakes are absolutely useless, I pretty much use them all the time on my butler, except when I'm climbing.

You do get used to them but the bars are really uncomfortable.

Thelittlesthobo

Havent been riding long and my stem admittedly has a huge stack of spacers. BUT i find the drops quite comfortable. Can go on them for ages and as mentioned above, they are such a benefit up/down and flat when its windy or drafting that i use it quite often. Sometimes i even use them to give my hands a rest from riding on the hoods in the same position.

I plan to slowly remove the spacers and reduce this height which may involve some pain but slowly slowly it should be ok.

Speedmenace

clip on TT bars > drops

pipipi

Thanks for the replies. I try and get down there as much as possible, but every so often I'm having a break on the hoods and think that if I'm going this fast I ought to be back down in the drops.

Not sure I'd ever stay if I was going uphill. There's certainly no aerodynamic advantage for me at the speed I go up them!

reformedfatty

Climbs, generally I'm on the hoods to avoid compressing the lungs / diaphragm and reducing my air intake
Headwinds, down on the drops
Sidewinds.. on the drops
Anytime im on a short ride.. on the drops
Longer rides and touring I switch around a lot to keep comfortable.

markos1963

I try to ride on the drops for around ten mins in every hour even if I don't need to. It helps with my flexibility and obviously helps with aerodynamics. I nearly always will ride on the front of my club group on the drops as the sudden hit of extra effort needed can be offset by being on the drops.

merak

saintdracula wrote:

Because the Weinmann brakes are absolutely useless, I pretty much use them all the time on my butler, except when I'm climbing..

You'd find cycling easier if you didn't use your brakes all the time - honest

oldwelshman

Only into a headwind, or when infront in a race or in a break, and in every track race.

nickel

I vary my grip as much as possible on the bars to try and avoid nagging back pain which can kick in if I stay in one position for too long, I do find the drops very comfortable and natural position to be in though. Also I much prefer when I'm climbing out of the saddle to use the drops rather than the hoods, just feels more powerful to me and seems to work well for me.

lol headwind

markos1963 wrote:

I nearly always will ride on the front of my club group on the drops as the sudden hit of extra effort needed can be offset by being on the drops.

I agree with this, I started getting more comfortable in the drops by using them to hold onto an extra gear when I needed to keep my pace up for a small roller or a fast area of traffic for a minute or so. You'll build your strength up quite fast in these situations and look forward to riding in the drops when you aren't pushing so hard.

I also spent a while always riding in the drops if I was going downhill. To start with I got tired, don't push it sit up and relax for a bit. Don't take it too easy though

mowflow

I don't get it when people say they don't have the flexibility to ride in the drops. My posterior chain flexibility is bloody awful and I find it quite easy and comfortable. What area do people find they need to be more flexible?

As I generally ride alone I nearly always ride in the drops. I found it a bit uncomfortable on my old bike because it's a little bit big for me. The new bike is very comfortable in the drops.

pst88

I probably get on the drops at around 18mph and that immediately gives me a speed boost of a few mph for no extra perceived effort. That said I sometimes get on the drops when climbing at about 7 mph just cos I feel like it.

neeb

If you're riding alone, at the front of a group or especially into a headwind you will get a big benefit from getting as low as you can, but you don't always need to be in the drops to do this, you can also ride on the hoods with your elbows bent and your forearms more or less horizontal and get a very similar aero advantage. If you have a good setup and are comfortable on the bike you should be able to get your torso into a lowish position while keeping your arms relaxed enough to change hand position without affecting upper body angle much. Nothing beats being on the drops though for getting as low as possible and also being in control.

Pross

Other than sprinting and occasionally when time trialling I very rarely use them. Into the wind I prefer to have my hands on the hoods but with mu forearms almost flat, I feel lower / flatter backed like that. The thing I found hardest when I started riding on the track was riding on the drops all the time. Far better to be comfortable IMHO.

Anonymous

Only when I see another cyclist coming in the opersite direction and I want to look a bit 'ard. :oops: :oops:

(Just don't find it comfortable, probably need a bike fit).

HiMoz

When it starts to hurt.

Dodger747

Pross wrote:

Other than sprinting and occasionally when time trialling I very rarely use them. Into the wind I prefer to have my hands on the hoods but with mu forearms almost flat, I feel lower / flatter backed like that. The thing I found hardest when I started riding on the track was riding on the drops all the time. Far better to be comfortable IMHO.

Yep me too I much prefer this position. However, some of my bigger riding friends are too top heavy to stay locked in that position for long. Seems to work for this guy too...

geebee2

I reckon you don't need to think about it, after a while riding in the drops comes naturally, you will just know.

Last year I used them very little, now I ride in the drops much more ( not a deliberate decision, just seems right ).

With me I guess it depends on circumstances, but I pretty much always ride in the drop on fast descents, into a strong headwind or when riding hard for whatever reason, but not on steep climbs - there I use the bar tops, or when extremely steep, the hoods.

On the flat, when going hard, I will alternate drops with top of the hoods, to stay comfortable.

hstiles

I prefer riding on the hoods downhill, unless it's a nice straight descent. A chunk of my commute is along the north embankment from the edge of the chelsea harbour development to Parliament Square and I'm nice and loosened up by then, so I'll go down onto the drops for a nice blast along Grosvenor road. On a good day, I'll hit 30mph on the flat

geebee2

<i>I prefer riding on the hoods downhill..</i>

I really don't like this round here - when the roads are really poor, and you are getting a major amount of vibration from the road, it seems much more secure to be properly in the drops.

racingcondor

For my first year on a road bike I found it almost impossible to get in the drops (combination of poor core strength and 3 lower back vertebra that just didn't move).

Now I'm on a bike one size smaller, have a ridiculous saddle to bar drop (around 15cm, my short torso means I still only have a 10cm stem though) and I'm comfortable in the drops for the duration of a crit.

Just keep riding and you'll get there although I suspect you can help things along by doing core excercises and a lot of stretching (glutes, hip flexors and hamstrings).

hstiles

geebee2 wrote:

<i>I prefer riding on the hoods downhill..</i>

I really don't like this round here - when the roads are really poor, and you are getting a major amount of vibration from the road, it seems much more secure to be properly in the drops.

Horses for courses init. My bike has a pretty short stem, which makes it lovely and responsive, but also quite jerky. I find that I have more control over the steering with my hands on the hoods rather than in the drops.