I've gone drop-bar-less. I still have a couple bikes with drop bars, but they are collecting dust.
I know of other, older, riders that have done the same. Some younger riders too.
Despite the limited hand positions (one), I just feel safer and more comfortable with flat bars.
Besides a slightly more upright position, which gives you a better view and is more comfortable, flat bars also give you more leverage and your hands are always in position to brake. I can look at the scenery, rather than my front tire.
With ergonomic grips, such as those by Ergon, I don't really miss the extra hand positions of drop bars.
Flat bars are a big reason MTBs became so popular. An awful lot of people were buying them for riding on road riding because they didn't like drop bars..
At first, I was using my MTB for road rides, and still do.
Over the winter I had a flat bar gravel bike built up. After I get vaccinated for covid and group rides start up again, I needed a faster road bike than my MTB. Last fall I also bought a flat bar commuter bike.
I now have three flat bar bikes that would work very well for the sagged tours I like to do.
I don't rule out going to a drop bar in the future. If I find I can't keep up, on group rides, with my gravel bike, I may pull my road bike out of retirement. But, for now, I only ride flat bars.
I know of other, older, riders that have done the same. Some younger riders too.
Despite the limited hand positions (one), I just feel safer and more comfortable with flat bars.
Besides a slightly more upright position, which gives you a better view and is more comfortable, flat bars also give you more leverage and your hands are always in position to brake. I can look at the scenery, rather than my front tire.
With ergonomic grips, such as those by Ergon, I don't really miss the extra hand positions of drop bars.
Flat bars are a big reason MTBs became so popular. An awful lot of people were buying them for riding on road riding because they didn't like drop bars..
At first, I was using my MTB for road rides, and still do.
Over the winter I had a flat bar gravel bike built up. After I get vaccinated for covid and group rides start up again, I needed a faster road bike than my MTB. Last fall I also bought a flat bar commuter bike.
I now have three flat bar bikes that would work very well for the sagged tours I like to do.
I don't rule out going to a drop bar in the future. If I find I can't keep up, on group rides, with my gravel bike, I may pull my road bike out of retirement. But, for now, I only ride flat bars.