Riding in the drops - when / how much?

imposter2.0

Rick Chasey wrote:

Flat backs are faster but more uncomfortable - they require stronger back & core strength - that's why you don't do it all the time.

Bent arms on hoods with a flat back is marginally faster than flat back on the drops, but that requires even more strength.

So for long stints with a flat back, sit on the drops. For shorter stints, you can get away with being on the hoods.

When descending you should always be on the drops.

Sprinting too.

The thing is - the more you do those things, the more conditioned and adaptive your core becomes. I don't think there's any particular reason why a flat back should be uncomfortable anyway - unless you simply weren't used to it.

rick_chasey

Requires more core strength for the same power.

imposter2.0

Not sure what you mean, sorry...

Matthewfalle

Rick Chasey wrote:

When descending you should always be on the drops.

.

What if you're just as happy and fast descending on the hoods?

apreading

Matthewfalle wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

When descending you should always be on the drops.

.

What if you're just as happy and fast descending on the hoods?

Lower centre of gravity in the drops giving more stability.

andrewjoseph

when riding on my own i spend 80-90% in the drops, but have set them up so i'm more comfortable there than on the hoods.

Matthewfalle

apreading wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

When descending you should always be on the drops.

.

What if you're just as happy and fast descending on the hoods?

Lower centre of gravity in the drops giving more stability.

But what if you're just as happy and fast descending on the hoods?

andrewjoseph

Matthewfalle wrote:

apreading wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

When descending you should always be on the drops.

.

What if you're just as happy and fast descending on the hoods?

Lower centre of gravity in the drops giving more stability.

But what if you're just as happy and fast descending on the hoods?

buy a flat barred bike? chop the redundant bits off to save weight when climbing? realise that you could probably be better in the drops?

imposter2.0

apreading wrote:

Lower centre of gravity in the drops giving more stability.

If you already have a flat back on the hoods (as mentioned previously, by bending your elbows when on the hoods), then your CoG will be largely unaffected by simply moving your hands lower.

Matthewfalle

andrewjoseph wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

apreading wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

When descending you should always be on the drops.

.

What if you're just as happy and fast descending on the hoods?

Lower centre of gravity in the drops giving more stability.

But what if you're just as happy and fast descending on the hoods?

buy a flat barred bike? chop the redundant bits off to save weight when climbing? realise that you could probably be better in the drops?

But why would you be better in the drops?

slowmart

Matthewfalle wrote:

andrewjoseph wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

apreading wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

When descending you should always be on the drops.

.

What if you're just as happy and fast descending on the hoods?

Lower centre of gravity in the drops giving more stability.

But what if you're just as happy and fast descending on the hoods?

buy a flat barred bike? chop the redundant bits off to save weight when climbing? realise that you could probably be better in the drops?

But why would you be better in the drops?

I'm a strong advocate of riding on the drops, it's er more aero....

rick_chasey

Matthewfalle wrote:

But why would you be better in the drops?

Lower centre of gravity, much more leverage on your brakes.

However hard you think you can pull on the hoods, you can pull harder on the drops.

It also begs the question, if you're still more comfortable when descending on the hoods - despite the higher speeds, I'd say your bars or the drop is probably too low.

larkim

Watched the Brownlee bros around Leeds today, reassured me that if they don't feel the need to be in the drops most of the time when they are racing 40km, neither do I!

milemuncher1

larkim wrote:

Watched the Brownlee bros around Leeds today, reassured me that if they don't feel the need to be in the drops most of the time when they are racing 40km, neither do I!

That's about it.

davidof

Racing bike bars offer a variety of positions. I tend to use most of them in a ride if only for variety. I always descend on the drops, but I'm a fast descender and need the control and braking.

rick_chasey

larkim wrote:

Watched the Brownlee bros around Leeds today, reassured me that if they don't feel the need to be in the drops most of the time when they are racing 40km, neither do I!

Might want to lop off the drops entirely and ride with bullhorns then. Save some weight.

You're taking cues from Triathletes? That's where it's going wrong.

larkim

LOL, I suspect the Brownlee bros (and any other elite triathletes) are superior cyclists to most (all?) who post on here! But just checking out some photos of the TdF online, it's obvious that the answer to my original question was "the pros ride with their hands in many positions, no reason why you shouldn't too".

milemuncher1

larkim wrote:

LOL, I suspect the Brownlee bros (and any other elite triathletes) are superior cyclists to most (all?) who post on here! But just checking out some photos of the TdF online, it's obvious that the answer to my original question was "the pros ride with their hands in many positions, no reason why you shouldn't too".

Very true, I like having the options on a drop bar bike, I have ac favourite, but I do vary the position.

drlodge

I very rarely use the drops, on fast descents (some of the time) or occasionally with a headwind, that's about it. I find the difference in body position between the drops or hoods is only marginally different, but the difference on the drops means my legs are coming up into my torso a smidge.

rick_chasey

If you're not gonna use 'em, lose 'em.

drlodge

I don't use a pony tail so I lost that.

larkim

I think for me I prefer to be in the drops when I think I might need to apply the brakes harder, so fast descending generally makes drops a must. I know its heresy, but my first "proper" bike when I was younger was a Sun Solo with 5-speed gears and extension brake levers on the flats as well as brakes on the drops. Not as efficient for stopping power (but I wasn't ever going that fast on it anyway) but definitely useful as a speed control and easier to use than dropped brakes alone.

Anonymous

drlodge wrote:

I don't use a pony tail so I lost that.

Hahaha, my fave reply in ages

andrewjoseph

larkim wrote:

LOL, I suspect the Brownlee bros (and any other elite triathletes) are superior cyclists to most (all?) who post on here! But just checking out some photos of the TdF online, it's obvious that the answer to my original question was "the pros ride with their hands in many positions, no reason why you shouldn't too".

i doubt that you can claim that they are superior to most on here, the cycling is only a ⅓ of their sport, they only need stamina, not so much skill in a bunch, from what i've seen the cycle routes are not very technical.

i think the most technical part of their sport is the transition and getting into the bike shoes.

larkim

I'll let you claim that if you want Andrew. These are guys who are running sub 30 minutes for the 10k of the run where running is "only" 1/3 of their sport too. Bear in mind that last year on the track only 23 men in the UK clocked a sub 30 minute 10k. I doubt they are particularly "worse" at cycling than they are at running.

At the London Olympics Alistair Brownlee covered the 43km route on his bike in just over 59 minutes, by my reckoning that's 27mpg average, after a 1500m swim and before a sub 30 minute 10k. Sounds pretty swift to me,,,

larkim

To be fair, I've not dealt with the technical aspects that you raised. Though as they ride in a pack these days where drafting is allowed, I suspect they are riding more competently in a technical way better than most here. Add to that the sorts of courses they race around (city centre, tight turns, barriers, high speed etc) I stand by my assertion - if they are not better than everyone on here, they are better than the vast majority.

Anonymous

larkim wrote:

At the London Olympics Alistair Brownlee covered the 43km route on his bike in just over 59 minutes, by my reckoning that's 27mpg average

He had an engine!

Anonymous

larkim wrote:

At the London Olympics Alistair Brownlee covered the 43km route on his bike in just over 59 minutes, by my reckoning that's 27mph (FTFY) average, after a 1500m swim and before a sub 30 minute 10k. Sounds pretty swift to me,,,

I would be happy with a 22mph avs after a splash in the bath and prior to a dash to the cafe 8)

larkim

Mpg <> mph oops!

paul2718

I was sad enough to go and look at the Olympic Triathlon on YouTube. Both Brownlees well in the drops.

Drops for descending, going fast and butting a headwind. Doesn't seem too controversial.

Paul