tour de france on flat bar road bikes

bob161069

If all components being equal except for shifters and bars would a flat bar and drop bar be equal. If the tour de france was run on flat bars this year would the riders be averaging the same speeeds. Could you develop the same body position on a flat as you could on a drop.

xxamr_corpxx

No.

1. Riding bent low provides more power.
2. Riding on drop bars is more aerodynamic.

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2004 Trek 1000
2005 Giant Elwood
ACE Folding Bicycle

Albert 50

No. I ride both

Jotjepoes

I assume the frame woutd be exactly the same.

Is the "no" answer, because of the ability to go down on the drops? If you have your hands on the hoods, would that have the same result as on a flat-bar?

nerdag

Not always. Off-the-shelf flat bar frames often have longer head tubes to accomodate the higher/more upright riding position, as well as more relaxed geometry.


Assuming identical frames, rider position, and weight, then there's little difference betweet a flat bar with barends (assuming they are the same width as drop bars) , and riding on the hoods.

In practice, though, the subtle differences between flat bar and racing designed frames does influence how fast you're able to push yourself on the bike.

n

janiejones

I rode a flat bar for a while and found it harder to climb

Cycler6n

no, drop bars would be faster, and more comfterble.

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“(Training) doesn't get easier; you just get faster”
-Greg Lemond

bob161069

I would have to say that the tour riders spend around 90 to 98% of the time on the hoods and in a bunch. So i would think getting dragged by the bunch and getting streamed by team mates the advantages of a drop would be minimal.

More power in a sprint would be your only advantage i would think. But could you get around that. If enough time was spent on that position who knows.
When greg lemond used the aerobars for the first time everyone thought that was weird and unnatural.