A cyclist’s decision to cut off his gravel bike’s handlebar drops because he “just does not use them” and riding without “feels perfect” blew up on our live blog and social media this week, the eye-catching alteration sparking plenty of discussion about when we should be riding with our hands on the drops plus, most importantly for the purposes of this feature, if it matters if we don’t.
Of course those of you reading in the UK — or with any experience or knowledge of the lengths hill climbers will go to save even a smidgen of weight — will likely have seen this before, the drops often sacrificed for performance gain by those who look to ride up steep hills as fast as humanly possible.
With that said, what was most notable about the case that has turned so many heads this week is that the rider had chosen to do so on his everyday gravel bike, not purely for the purposes of the never-ending quest for performance perfection, but instead because “it just feels perfect” and “I just don’t use the drops at all and ride the hoods for everything… it somehow feels better”.
It got us chatting in the road.cc office and among yourselves in the comments about how much we all use our hoods vs drops and, frighteningly, if we should all be finding our nearest saw and following suit into a drop-less existence, a conclusion that the vast vast majority of us probably agree, even if we don’t use our drops as much, it’s still quite nice to have them for those long descents or times when pushing on and getting a bit more aero can help out.
Whether it be for comfort, core strength, or positional reasons, plenty of people much prefer simply riding with their hands on the hoods for the majority of the time — you’ve got brake and shifter access and can tuck in a bit if you want to get more aero, and there’s no question the more upright, relaxed position is likely your most comfortable option.
But there are also those who’d have you believe that being able to use the drops is a vital aspect of having your set-up correct. You can no doubt find comments online, some posted this week, to the effect of: ‘If you aren’t using the drops your set-up is wrong’. But is this true?
We spoke to Bryan McCullough, a bike fitter at Wiltshire-based The Bike The Body, to get to the bottom of it.
“In general that term ‘if you can’t or don’t use your drops then your bike fit is off’ can be a fair statement, but of course each circumstance is unique,” he began. “What’s the reason for not using the drops? If it is simply too low/compressed, for example, then there is a fairly high chance that the cockpit is not optimised for the rider. Do we NEED to be able to ride on the drops? No, not necessarily at all, it is simply another optional ride position.
“If the rider gets on really well with their hoods position and they are happy to spend the majority of their ride between there and the tops then the drops are not essential. This is especially more so if a rider is more casual — not racing etc. — and the benefits of getting low, or lowering your centre of mass over the bars and front is not a concern.
“Cutting the drops off completely does seem a bit extreme — I certainly wouldn’t like to experience that adaptation period where I go to change into the drops and they’re not there.
“So, in short, I would say that really it can be a personal choice but cutting the drops off completely has inherent dangers of potentially compromising the safety and integrity of the bar as well as the possibility of hood slip, your hands actually falling off the bar rather than just down the drop curve slightly.
“Then there’s the adaptation of accidentally looking for the drop. A small weight saving which might be worthwhile for weight weenies and hill climb events. Ultimately he hasn’t changed the set-up he uses, he is just continuing to only use the hoods, which, as I said, is perfectly fine too.”
The aero consideration is certainly something to consider if you’re looking to go faster. When we sent road.cc Dave to the Boardman Performance Centre wind tunnel he learnt that simply switching his hands to the drops could save him nearly 20w versus riding on the hoods at 45km/h.
Then again, we’re sure someone will tell us you could achieve similar savings getting low with your elbows tucked in on the hoods too. On the descents, you might prefer the drops to keep your weight lower and have more control over your front end and brakes, reducing the risk of hand slip if you hit an unexpected bump. There’s a reason why the world’s best descend on the drops too, it’s almost certainly going to be your fastest position, especially on technical descents.
Descents aside, for the vast majority of us, comfort is going to be a far more prominent reason for choosing where to grip the bars and, as Bryan points out, individual circumstances matter too.
Those carrying or recovering from an injury may avoid using the drops completely. road.cc reader Kevin got in touch this week with his own solution to nearly 30 years of cycling with a depressed vertebrae in his neck that often left him struggling with the lower drops position.
Initially he just cut the drops off, like our live blog mate, but later worked with Ken Foster’s Cycle Logic in Manchester to come up with his solution.
“Luckily I am mates with a guy called Sean who runs Ken Foster’s Cycle Logic in Manchester. I discussed the issue with him and he came up with the solution. Using H bars or tri flat bars, and this was 25 years ago.
“The levers are situated in such a position that you are always on the hoods. I have three bikes and they all have the same set-up thanks to Sean. Yes, slightly old school with exposed cables on the bars, but it works. Out of the saddle climbing is a joy, no problem with shifting either Shimano or Campag, as I have both. With electronic shifting the cable issue would be tidied up.”
28 thoughts on “Is it OK to never use the drops on your road bike?”
My initial response to the
My initial response to the title was that not having drops would significantly reduce braking force on long high speed descents but Kevin’s solution makes that thought moot.
As for the looks, what’s important is not how a bike looks but where it takes you. If Kevin is able to enjoy his cycling that’s all that matters.
When I bought a speedometer
When I bought a speedometer for my bike I found that switching to the drops meant I went 1-2 mph faster on the flat for no additional effort.
On a long ride, being able to switch position from time to time also helps avoid pain in the wrists and hands.
For commuting in town I never used the drops though. 30 minute rides with comfort and control the priorities. It all depends on what you want to do on the bike, I guess.
I’m having an annoying bit of
I’m having an annoying bit of wrist pain at the moment and was glad to have the drops as an extra position yesterday. Riding a flat bar at the moment is pretty uncomfortable, but on the race bike I could keep switching positions and was comfortable on the bike for 2 hours. Absolute agony when I got off the bike though!
The more positions the better
The more positions the better (unless you’re totally upright Dutch-bike style then your arms aren’t taking much weight).
OTOH for some turning to the dark side* means that they can avoid arm / wrist pain almost entirely (no weight to take), and also work round neck / back issues.
Horses for courses and some folks apparently say they’ll only travel recumbent once, in a wooden box…
* A fair number to choose from even in the UK: Pelso, HP Velotechnik, Azub, ICE trikes …
Thanks. I’m certain my much
Thanks. I’m certain my much lower position on adapted Roubaix is 5, even 10 kph faster than before my mods.
30 to 40 years ago, I usually rode on drops through London. Fewer traffic lights, almost infinitely fewer cyclists, motor vehicles not as wide and slower than now, bar tops were much higher compared to saddle than now. East Ham to Chelsea and other routes was a series of sprints, eased approaching lights but didn’t jump them.
If course, down tube gear levers were easy to tap if hands on drops, no indexed gears then but only 6 to select
I don’t know why more people
I don’t know why more people do not use the drops but then again you very rarely see pros either apart from decents most use the aero hoods.
I like using the drops I proberbly spend 30-40% of my time in them, I find it very comfortable
I wondered about why modern
I wondered about why modern pros don’t use drops much. Bike set up has bars much lower than old days. Riding in bunch wouldn’t be safe as they’d struggle to look forwards. That leaves breakaway into wind as main context for drops, unless sprinting
If you aren’t using the drops
If you aren’t using the drops then you might as well use a flat bar (brakes and shifters are probably cheaper) but there are lots of shallow drop bars you can get to make going from hoods to drop easier.
As for the hoods being just as aero, that is true but usually requires a greater degree of bend at the elbow so you can’t, generally, hold it for as long as you can in the drops.
I would say that if you aren’t using the drops you aren’t using all the options available to you and perhaps you should look into why. Flexibility, set up etc. it’s a bit like not using your front mech because you haven’t trained your fingers to push the buttons/levers.
festina wrote:
Well, no. The riding position is very different on flat bars.
festina wrote:
Unless you chop the ends off flat bars then they are much less aero than drops because they set your arms are wider apart significantly increasing frontal area. Also, flat bar geometry is different, namely that the top tube is generally longer so putting flat bars on a drop bike needs a mahoosive stem which affects the steering feel. Also it can be uncomfortable just having the one hand position with wrists flat. In most of the hand positions on drop bars the wrists are vertical similar to holding a cup of tea – which is an obviously more relaxed position, especially for English people! Not so for flat bars. You would spill most of it.
Pub bike wrote:
Unless you chop the ends off flat bars then they are much less aero than drops because they set your arms are wider apart significantly increasing frontal area. Also, flat bar geometry is different, namely that the top tube is generally longer so putting flat bars on a drop bike needs a mahoosive stem which affects the steering feel. Also it can be uncomfortable just having the one hand position with wrists flat. In most of the hand positions on drop bars the wrists are vertical similar to holding a cup of tea – which is an obviously more relaxed position, especially for English people! Not so for flat bars. You would spill most of it.
— festinaYou can fit grips (or bar ends) that mimic riding on the hoods, giving you two hand positions, and also fit tri bars if you really want to get low and aero using flat bars. Basically three main positions on flat bars but much more comfortable than drop bars. This setup is arguably superior for ultra-endurance riding to drops.
I’m 72. I only started
I’m 72. I only started cycling for sport about 4 years ago when I had to give up running. I’ve had professional bike fits but also have a prostate problem which becomes aggravated if I ride on the drops. It took me a while to work out that riding on the drops was the problem. I’ve also discovered ISM saddles which have been a game changer for me in the comfort stakes. I’m only riding for the exercise and not competing with anyone but myself so I guess I could saw off the drops but for me there’s no point really.
The answer to the original
The answer to the original question is obviously “of course it is” – ride whichever way you are happy to.
I do find when I use the drops that I very often end up going up one or sometimes two gears. Whether that says that using the drops is more efficient for me or my setup is ‘wrong’, I don’t know! ?
I previously setup one of my
I previously setup one of my bike with bull-horn bars and drop-bar levers like shown in the final photo of the article. One issue is that the levers are closer to the bars than on drop bars, so you have to keep your brakes well-adjusted to make sure the levers can’t touch the bar under full braking. I also tried to route the cables more discreetly with some segmented / flexible cable housing, but that was never ideal. I haven’t done that setup for a long time, because I like having the drops position for battling headwinds and control in descents. Plus, bike weight isn’t as important as people believe.
I would say the vast majority
I would say the vast majority of riders seldom use the drops and when they do it’s in certain circumstances ie sprinting or if they are going fast downhill. Even pro riders very rarely use them except for the sprinters in which case they are doing so for maximum control while they do. If a rider is riding high tempo in a breakaway for example they generally try to get as aero on tbe hoods as possible – hence why there has been so much made of arm position , resting them on the bars being prohibited and now the sudden fashion of inward pointed hoods to the extreme.
I can’t say I ride on the drops very often but that’s usually cos my front wheel is pointing uphill on most of my rides. The occasional fast decent with chin on the stem and arse in the air may be the only time I do. I may occasionally if I’m into a strong headwind and I’m trying to get as low as possible but again it’s rare and I may do whole rides where I barely change my hand position at all.
All my bike’s have dropped
All my bike’s have dropped bars but the only time I’ll go into the drops is when I want to hunker down out of the wind whilst changing my hand/ back position. The vast majority of the time I’ll be on the hoods and my elbow will change my position.
I rarely use drops as I haven
I rarely use drops as I haven’t found a bike short reach and high stack enough for my long leg short torso proportions which means drops always feel too stretched. Nice to tuck down out the wind but not comfortable. I hear people say drops are better for hard braking but for me it’s total opposite. Hit a bump in the drops and my hand moves backwards towards the end of the bar. Always have loads of control braking on hoods.
I seldom use the drops. I
I seldom use the drops. I feel like I lose power there compared to the hoods, and what with middle aged spread, there’s too much belly getting squeezed in the middle. I have used them more on my more upright Faran with flared bars, but it’s still not somewhere I spend a lot of time. Should probably try a bike fit to access a wider range of positions, but it’s not really bothered me.
I’m 73 and I occasionally
I’m 73 and I occasionally still use the drops, it’s a lot about being able to change hand positions enough to elevate hand problems from arthritis if left to long in one spot; and if going down a long hill, hitting the drops means I can pick up more speed.
I’ll be honest and say when
I’ll be honest and say when on a ride I probably have my hands on the hoods or on top of the bars 70% of the time, but would I cut off my drops? Absolutely not. I use them while descending, I use them to stretch out my back to help stand on the pedals and give my butt a break, and I use them to get out of the wind and also again to gently lift my butt off the saddle. To me, though, the drops are important, especially on a steep descent for better bike control, I don’t feel comfortable (or as safe) doing that on the hoods or top of the bar. So, if you use your drops once or twice during a ride, then I think removing them is a mistake because they are providing a purpose. And removing them, in my opinion, is a marginal gain. I’d rather have them than not have them.
So why are there not more
So why are there not more flat bar bikes? I have even read here that you have more control with a flat bar. I am just to old at 82 to have to ride with my hands on my socks, they just do not reach, even if I could reach, then where am I to put the mirror so that I can see where I woild like to go.
Sure I could ride with my hands on the brop bars as long as the drop bars are not fixed to the bike; else inverted.
Oldblokey wrote:
They don’t look as cool.
I seem to be the only one here who uses the drops at least as much as the other positions put together.
Bragbtime. Got a second hand
Brag time. Got a second hand 2018 Roubaix Expert. First owner was a newbie – all spacers, suspension at max, the gent up bars. Like sit up and beg. I’m 69, changed stem for 130mm horizontal angle and normal but narrower drop bars, removed spacers, suspension at bottom: about 6 cm lower with longer reach, rides great, especially on drops. Have drops, use them. Aero improvement is noticeable. Maybe 5, even 10 kph faster and much more fun. Oth, if they don’t fancy using drops, folk don’t have to use them – just don’t slow me down as riding slow on my bike is uncomfortable
I probably use drops less
I probably use drops less than 5% of the time, but I would definitely still miss them.
Look at photos of old races.
Look at photos of old races. Stem and bar tops just a fist and a half lower than saddle. Cinelli 1A stem with deep drop bars, brakes at about 2 o’clock round the bend and bottom of drops at 5⁰ from horizontal. You could ride for hours holding the drops below the brakes, sprint on the flats at bottom of bars, relieve back with the tops, otherwise hands on hoods. 4 positions.
Today, saddle to stem and bar top is far greater drop, more like riding on hoods or drops in old days. It does seem to make drops redundant but also reduces positions to 2 or 3 so you can’t get as upright as old days nor can you get at drops which are not that much lower than hoods
Today’s positions seem to be
Today’s positions seem to be much better suited to racers getting aero than club riders getting comfortable, I much prefer a deeper drop bar set to give the same position on the drops with a higher hoods position.
Yes. The serious race set up
Yes. The serious race set up is not suitable, even harmful, for most riders, even quite serious regular riders who lack natural flexibility
One of my favourite ever
One of my favourite ever comuting bikes from about 20 years ago had road bars which I turned upside down and sawed off half the drops (bull horn?). brakes mounted at top of the ‘horns’. Sadly don’t have pictures as the bike was stolen from outside the restaurant I worked at.
just getting back into road cycling again slowly at age 56 and agree that drops feel lower and cause a more compressed riding position than back in the day. I’m also sure that this is mostly due to my widened body shape now!