adjusting to drop bars -- what to expect?

"garau" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The concern I have is this: I'm 5'8" and 195lbs. The prospect of

riding with

Quoted message said:

drops is the only thing scaring me. The folks at the LBS say that

after a

Quoted message said:

day, I'll wonder why I didn't go there sooner. Still, any tips on how

to

Quoted message said:

make the adjustment from straight bars to drops? That dang belly keeps getting in the way. Weird
how I can't breathe when I fold over my

belly...

Well you'd only be on the drops for brief amounts of time (sprinting or headwinds usually) and
should be hanging onto the "tops" or the shifters most of the time - so I'm told.

hippy

If you like the hand position that flat bars give you, you might just love how it feels to have your
hands wrapped around the brake hoods and the tops. Drop bars allow for many more hand positions than
flat bars.

Robert

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Hey there. First of all, let me admit my Fredliness and get it out of the way. Heck, that's why
I've got the question. I've been riding a Raleigh C-40 for a couple years now and enjoyed it on
the road, Greenway and a cyclocross race. I'm only putting about 1100 miles a year on it, but ride
lots of little rides a week (some commuting to boot). So, my wife, in a fit of generosity, told me
to go out and get what I want and, after much looking, reading, emailing and debate with the LBS,
I'm getting a pretty swell Steelman 'cross bike. I figure it'll give me everything the Raleigh
does and then some. The concern I have is this: I'm 5'8" and 195lbs. The prospect of riding with
drops is the only thing scaring me. The folks at the LBS say that after a day, I'll wonder why I
didn't go there sooner. Still, any tips on how to make the adjustment from straight bars to drops?
That dang belly keeps getting in the way. Weird how I can't breathe when I fold over my belly...

My suggestion would be to raise the handle bars enough that you can get onto the drops without
feeling like you're being blocked by your aero- belly, so you can breathe easily while riding on
them. Then as you ride more (which I'm sure you will do once you find out how nice all those
different hand positions are), you'll start losing the belly, and can drop the bars back down a bit
at a time until you are in a nice aerodynamic position.

--
Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:xJx4b.76095$bo1.39233
@news-server.bigpond.net.au:

Quoted message said:

Well you'd only be on the drops for brief amounts of time (sprinting or headwinds usually) and
should be hanging onto the "tops" or the shifters most of the time - so I'm told.

Not sure who told you that, but I use my drops about half the time. I use them on all downhills and
any flat road where I want extra speed (sometimes for miles a time).

garau said:

The concern I have is this: I'm 5'8" and 195lbs. The prospect of riding with drops is the only
thing scaring me. The folks at the LBS say that after a day, I'll wonder why I didn't go there
sooner. Still, any tips on how to make the adjustment from straight bars to drops? That dang belly
keeps getting in the way. Weird how I can't breathe when I fold over my belly...

Any help appreciated. Thanks!

You will probably spend most of your time with your hands on the flats or on the brake hoods. Two
issues- the height of the bars and the extension- will determine how far you have to lean. I would
first focus on the height of the bars- get them up, level with the seat if possible. Then go for as
long an extension as you find comfortable.

Your best bet is have the bike shop set you up. Arrange to swap stems for a bit, try different ones.
Hopefully they already know your riding history and what you are looking for in this bike. Plan on
changing the stem again in the first year as you get more comfortable with the position and as your
belly gets smaller.

Drop bars might feel squirrelly at first. The way you leverage and control the front wheel is
different. Nothing severe, but just different. You should think about avoiding heavy traffic areas
for the first hour or so and spend time focusing on the new steering and braking. But the LBS is
right- within a day you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

Quoted message said:

The concern I have is this: I'm 5'8" and 195lbs. The prospect of riding with drops is the only
thing scaring me. The folks at the LBS say that after a day, I'll wonder why I didn't go there
sooner. Still, any tips on how to make the adjustment from straight bars to drops? That dang belly
keeps getting in the way. Weird how I can't breathe when I fold over my belly...

Raise them bars till you're comfortable. You can drop 'em later as you drop the gut. Start with the
top of the stem level with the top of the saddle. This is a good recreational height that you may
never deviate from. As far as nervous about riding drops, in my experience very few riders ride in
the drops themselves except when honking into a head wind. Hands on the tops and the brake hoods
feels just about the same as flat bars and bar-ends.

OOPS! Just checked the website. Stoopid threadless headsets. Still the answer is higher bars until
you drop the gut.

On Mon, 01 Sep 2003 01:50:18 GMT, "garau" <[email hidden]> from EarthLink Inc. --

url='http://www.earthlink.net/'http://www.EarthLink.net/url said:

The concern I have is this: I'm 5'8" and 195lbs. The prospect of riding with drops is the only
thing scaring me. The folks at the LBS say that after a day, I'll wonder why I didn't go there
sooner. Still, any tips on how to make the adjustment from straight bars to drops? That dang belly
keeps getting in the way. Weird how I can't breathe when I fold over my belly...

Ir's uncomfortable at first in the drops, but then you adapt to it. Plus, you can put your hands on
the hoods or the top of the bars, too. You aren't limitied to riding in the drops.

--
home.sport.rr.comcuthuluOpen ↗ human rights = peace an ancient meat is a specific clock,
12:58:06 AM 1 September 2003

01 Sep 2003 02:19:25 GMT,

Quoted post said:

Drop bars allow for many more hand positions than flat bars.

Robert

If you can't breathe when you're on the dropped part, you won't be spending much time there.
--
zk

"garau" wrote

Quoted message said:

The concern I have is this: I'm 5'8" and 195lbs. The prospect of riding

with

Quoted message said:

drops is the only thing scaring me. The folks at the LBS say that after a day, I'll wonder why I
didn't go there sooner. Still, any tips on how to make the adjustment from straight bars to drops?
That dang belly keeps getting in the way. Weird how I can't breathe when I fold over my belly...

Any help appreciated. Thanks!

--
Kristin Garau

My weight (and waistline) has fluctuated more than I like over the years. I find that when I'm
heavier than I want to be I spend a lot more time on the brake hoods, and as my weight drops I spend
more time in the drops. Either way I cannot imagine riding on pavement with flat bars.
--
mark

garau said:

I'm getting a pretty swell Steelman 'cross bike. I figure it'll give me everything the Raleigh
does and then some. The concern I have is this: I'm 5'8" and 195lbs. The prospect of riding

with

Quoted message said:

drops is the only thing scaring me. The folks at the LBS say that after a day, I'll wonder why I
didn't go there sooner. Still, any tips on how to make the adjustment from straight bars to drops?
That dang belly keeps getting in the way. Weird how I can't breathe when I fold over my belly...

Make sure the LBS gives you a proper fitting (not just a standover check)! It sounds like you
haven't gotten the bike yet, so I don't know how you know it won't be comfortable. But make sure
you're happy with the fit and setup before accepting the bike. If necessary have the shop raise the
bars and/or swap out the stem.

Having the option of riding in the drops is the whole point of getting drop bars.

Art Harris

"David Kerber" <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says... My
suggestion would be to raise the handle bars enough that you can get onto the drops without
feeling like you're being blocked by your aero- belly, so you can breathe easily while riding on
them. Then as you ride more (which I'm sure you will do once you find out how nice all those
different hand positions are), you'll start losing the belly, and can drop the bars back down a
bit at a time until you are in a nice aerodynamic position.

Sounds like a plan ... as long as you actually remember to drop the bars. Set a reminder for
yourself. Saddle height or higher ask the bike shop for that at first then see how it feels.

You can ride lower from the start but you'll end up on the tops and the hoods almost all the time.
And then it will take longer to get lower.

Doug Toronto

Quoted message said:

Well you'd only be on the drops for brief amounts of time (sprinting or headwinds usually)

if only all headwinds were brief!