Is this all most road riders need today?

[NotSoBigBen]

Unpopular opinion perhaps but as per my observation over time it would appear that almost no one uses the 'drops' on road bikes anymore .... would it not be better for most to have straight bars or the cool kids could have these?

Ek wonder maar net ....

 

[ChrisF]

4 minutes ago, NotSoBigBen said:

Unpopular opinion perhaps but as per my observation over time it would appear that almost no one uses the 'drops' on road bikes anymore .... would it not be better for most to have straight bars or the cool kids could have these?

Ek wonder maar net ....

 

 

Maybe we should re-invent the 80's up-side down drop bars .... 

[michaelbiker]

I like using the drops on descents - the steering feels less twitchy and the leverage on the levers is stronger for braking. They’re also nice to use if you are riding into a headwind and get tired of aero tucking on the hoods. Seems a bit silly to remove them just to save a few grams. 

[NotSoBigBen]

2 minutes ago, michaelbiker said:

I like using the drops on descents - the steering feels less twitchy and the leverage on the levers is stronger for braking. They’re also nice to use if you are riding into a headwind and get tired of aero tucking on the hoods. Seems a bit silly to remove them just to save a few grams. 

Those are all very valid points and the very reason they are there at all! Thing is to my mind you are one of the .0013% of non pro riders that use them!

Ja ja most statistics are made up on the fly anyway 😜

[Mamil]

I use them when im trying to look fast which i can do for only short periods of time. 

[Thomo]

5 minutes ago, Mamil said:

I use them when im trying to look fast which i can do for only short periods of time. 

This.!☝️

Nowadays my back barely let's me ride on the hoods never mind the drops. 🤣

[cadenceblur]

Reckon it’s a factor of people having poor flexibility and a weak core ,and perhaps the silly trend of slammed stems but the drops are actually quite comfortable but it takes practice to get your body accustomed to the position 

Edited December 7, 2025 by cadenceblur

[Mook]

Could it perhaps be the effect of gravel biking blowing over into the other dropbar cycling code?

Gravelbikers spend >90% on the tops for obvious reasons, and most of them were probably roadies by choice before getting into gravel.

My 2 cents

[dave303e]

13 hours ago, cadenceblur said:

Reckon it’s a factor of people having poor flexibility and a weak core ,and perhaps the silly trend of slammed stems but the drops are actually quite comfortable but it takes practice to get your body accustomed to the position 

ya I took flames for pointing out riders are great at neglecting core and then finding other ways to make themselves more comfortable(ridiculous setups). But you are 100% correct

[Mongoose!]

I have more confidence in the drops than on top. For road I always ride in the drops when getting nervous in a racing bunch or technical decents or shap corners. 

Same for gravel, when things get "busy" I'm in the drops.

I guess not liking the drops is a "mtb thing"...😜

Sê maar net... cheers julle🤣

[bleedToWin]

11 hours ago, Mook said:

Gravelbikers spend >90% on the tops for obvious reasons, and most of them were probably roadies by choice before getting into gravel.

As a more than 2 decade roadie veteran and now 2 year gravel newbie that spends ~50% of gravel riding in the drops I can't think of an obvious reason to ride gravel almost exclusively on the tops?

[Jbr]

yeah idk... these days with the constant wind I spend a hell of a lot of time in the drops or in aero position, both on the road and gravel bike..

[BuffsVintageBikes]

It's got nothing to do with flexibility and everything to do with my knees hitting my stomach in the drops 🙃

[NotSoBigBen]

Ok so we've merely established that you 5 'ubbers do ride on the drops .... the rest 🤔

[Mamil]

34 minutes ago, Jbr said:

yeah idk... these days with the constant wind I spend a hell of a lot of time in the drops or in aero position, both on the road and gravel bike..

 

43 minutes ago, bleedToWin said:

As a more than 2 decade roadie veteran and now 2 year gravel newbie that spends ~50% of gravel riding in the drops I can't think of an obvious reason to ride gravel almost exclusively on the tops?

HA HA - spoken like people with flat stomachs in the racing groups and who's hip stabilisers and flexors haven't ossified.

Fast okes don't know what we mamils go through

[Bub Marley]

13 hours ago, Mook said:

Could it perhaps be the effect of gravel biking blowing over into the other dropbar cycling code?

Gravelbikers spend >90% on the tops for obvious reasons, and most of them were probably roadies by choice before getting into gravel.

My 2 cents

Descending on the tops on gravel bike? Not sure I agree with that. You need the braking power that you can get in the drops. I would never descend on the tops on a gravel bike.