Using the drops

t5nel

Hi All,

Still getting used to my new road machine and trying to experiment with using the drops more on my commute this morning. After my last posting I am pleased to say that I have found some more speed (> 30kph commute did not kill me) from the bike and the big factor has been position.

Hoods do feel more natural (to a long time MTB user) but I have to say that on the drops with a bit of elbow bend I really could notice a benefit on the flat.

That said I do feel much less stable on this bike than MTB and so I tend to go to hoods when it is busy or if I am doing double changing on hilly bits.

Q I would say I am 70/30 hoods drops at the moment, do you think over time that the hoods will come my preference?

Thanks
Tim

thescouselander

I usually stay on the hoods unless I'm going into wind or really motoring along. Its just a matter of comfort really - I find it easier to breath while on the hoods too.

cje

I'm nearly always on the hoods, or occasionally the tops when I need a breather. The drops feel very unnatural to me at present, but I'm new to road biking so still refining my balance and position...etc

rafletcher

Just watch the pros - they ride on the hood a lot of the time - except when pushing on. And even then it may be the ones at the front of the peleton. Those in the draft can stay on the hoods.

danowat

Probably about 95% on the hoods for me.

danowat

Probably about 95% on the hoods for me.

t5nel

rafletcher wrote:

Just watch the pros - they ride on the hood a lot of the time - except when pushing on. And even then it may be the ones at the front of the peloton. Those in the draft can stay on the hoods.

Yep I was watching the Vuelta highlights last night, the breakways etc who have less draught (as I do on solo commute) use drops much more.

OT but...I was amazed at the difference in ike position between the pro riders too. some very flat horizontal backs - others quite a curve.

itchieritchie

RE: hoods/drops question.

Factors such as fatigue, comfort, wind, gradient and mood of rider are all relevant here. Even traffic and road conditions. It all depends.

For example, if it starts pissing it down on my commute, I'm more likely to use the drops as I'm in a hurry to get home quicker. If it starts blowing a gale, I'll try to hunker down out of the wind. A combination of the two as we see all too often in this country, might see me use the drops 90% of the time. Glass on the roads or huge potholes will see me on the hoods so my false teeth don't get shaken out into the gutter...!!

Apart from exiting the transition area in the London Triathlon, I pretty much used the drops the entire way - if I wasn't on my aerobars.

But if I'm on my singlespeed on a beautiful sunny Sunday (I'm a dreamer!) and on my way to Brick Lane or something for a kwarfee with my mates, then the drops are just for show, baby...!!

As for the pros, well I guess stamina, endurance, lung capacity and position in the peloton are additional factors there. As stated above, they rest when they can, i.e. when in the pack on someone's wheel, but if they're part of a breakaway or maybe leading out their sprinter, then you won't see them hanging about on the hoods.

Interesting observation about the position of the backs. I've often wondered why there's such variance myself. My theory is that the leaner riders better suited to climbing are having to generate extra power on the flats compared to their stockier counterparts. Since they generally have less muscle mass in their legs, they use their backs more to "lever" their legs against, almost as a brace. This leads to the pronounced curve. I saw Andy Schleck's curved back whilst in the prologue of the TDF and that's what made me think it.

But on the flat, compare him to Cancellara, who is a time trial specialist and has tree trunks for legs - his back is much flatter because he doesn't depend on it as much for power. It's like he has a naturally more powerful core so he can keep it straight whilst still using his legs against his back. Can't for the life of me recall what Cav's back looks like though...

All I know is that I'm lean at 5'9" and 65kgs, so my back tends to curve a bit more and I find it gives me a bit more strength when I need it.

Like I say, just my own observations/theory. Probably codswallop, but I find it interesting all the same. Who's gonna be first to shoot me out of the water...??

rolf_f

rafletcher wrote:

Just watch the pros - they ride on the hood a lot of the time - except when pushing on. And even then it may be the ones at the front of the peloton. Those in the draft can stay on the hoods.

Good advice. If you spend most of your riding time in a peleton, don't bother with the drops much......

Probably about 33% drops, 33% hoods, 33% tops for me.

keef66

90% of the time on the hoods, 8% tops, 2% drops (headwinds, scary descents when I want to be able to heave on the brake levers if required)

I am my own peloton.

rolf_f

keef66 wrote:

.........2% drops (headwinds, scary descents when I want to be able to heave on the brake levers if required)

re my previous post - in Yorkshire, the above is 33% of the time!

ride_whenever

I think the back curve thing is more to do with flexibility than using the back to support the leg drive.

thamacdaddy

It really doesn't matter, you simply choose what is most comfortable at the time. I have seen various clips from sports science programmes where they themselves state in a wind tunnel riding on drops is far mew aerodynamic and can have an affect on speed etc. However the downside is it reduces lung capacity which in turn can affect performance. On hills you will see riders using the tops of the bars to increase lung capacity.

If you feel more comfortable in the drops then great, go for it. If you feel better on the hoods then do that too. Most people will ride on the hoods saving drops for times they are trying to motor. If you are not racing then in all honesty all that matters is comfort.