Is this all most road riders need today?

[babse]

1 hour 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..

what wind?

[Mamil]

Definitely - and a dropper post to lower center of gravity - essential.

52 minutes ago, Bub Marley said:

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.

 

[NC_lurker]

2 hours 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?

I can't say I spend nearly as much as 50% of time in the drops, but if I'm on a sketchy downhill I'm definitely in the drops! Sitting on the hoods there's a risk of a hand getting bounced off if the gravel gets rough.

So likewise I'd say there are a number of obvious reasons to NOT ride gravel exclusively on the hoods/tops.

...my knees might not hit my stomach, but my dodgy neck & back certainly don't appreciate extended time in the drops, even with regular core & mobility workouts.

Edited December 8, 2025 by NC_lurker
Clarity

[bleedToWin]

1 hour ago, Mamil said:

Fast okes don't know what we mamils go through

For me my position is determined much more by the bend of my elbows than the placement of my hands. Straight arms while in the drops on the gravel bike is quite upright...

Edited December 8, 2025 by bleedToWin

[NotSoBigBen]

Sorrie ous but all this talk of gravel bikes is just a red herring  ... where you put your hands when you ride your neither road nor mountain bike is irrelevant 😜

The was about the vast majority of ROAD  bikers on the road that NEVER use the drops  ... capiche?

[bleedToWin]

17 minutes ago, NotSoBigBen said:

Sorrie ous but all this talk of gravel bikes is just a red herring  ... where you put your hands when you ride your neither road nor mountain bike is irrelevant 😜

The was about the vast majority of ROAD  bikers on the road that NEVER use the drops  ... capiche?

Yes OP, sorry OP

[babse]

almost all descends and most faster flat sections in drops...

 

so no, that hill climb bars wont cut it

[milky4130]

11 minutes ago, babse said:

almost all descends and most faster flat sections in drops...

 

so no, that hill climb bars wont cut it

I reckon we must just drop it now 😝

[Brakepad]

if you can't use the drops your bike is too "Remco Evenepoel" for you. As simple as that ...

Edited December 8, 2025 by Brakepad

[The Ouzo]

Love my drops, and the modern shallower drops are much more comfy than those deep drops from the 80s. 
 

but then I’ve been riding since way before the golfers got into cycling. 

[NotSoBigBen]

On an almost serious note, I was trawling round for some bits and bobs for yet another 'unusual' thing I'm busy with and chatted to a sample of 3 road riders

1) youngish lady, riding for 2 years, 'keen but not serious' she says ... "I've never even thought about using them, never saw a need"

2) father, riding 'for a long time'  ... "I don't go fast enough to do that pro thing in the drops"

3) son (teenager), "ride whenever I feel like but still beat my dad" ... "no one ever told me when to use them"

Nou ja daar het jy dit 😉

[ChrisF]

3 minutes ago, NotSoBigBen said:

On an almost serious note, I was trawling round for some bits and bobs for yet another 'unusual' thing I'm busy with and chatted to a sample of 3 road riders

1) youngish lady, riding for 2 years, 'keen but not serious' she says ... "I've never even thought about using them, never saw a need"

2) father, riding 'for a long time'  ... "I don't go fast enough to do that pro thing in the drops"

3) son (teenager), "ride whenever I feel like but still beat my dad" ... "no one ever told me when to use them"

Nou ja daar het jy dit 😉

 

You got me to try the drops this morning.

 

Sort of surprised that I could manage it .... handling okay .... back and hips okay .... even my belly was safe ....

 

BUT ... looking ahead was simply impossible !!  The helmet visor blocked any chance of looking ahead !!

 

Will try again, with a helmet with no visor.

[NotSoBigBen]

45 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

You got me to try the drops this morning.

 

Sort of surprised that I could manage it .... handling okay .... back and hips okay .... even my belly was safe ....

 

BUT ... looking ahead was simply impossible !!  The helmet visor blocked any chance of looking ahead !!

 

Will try again, with a helmet with no visor.

My work here is done .... but mon dieu a visor? On the road? On the drops?

Nee man Chris #MFM

[droo]

7 hours ago, Bub Marley said:

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.

Also much less hand fatigue in the drops cos you're not trying to brake and hold on with the same muscle group.

Middle and ring fingers are on a separate tendon to your index finger.

[Mook]

Just now, droo said:

Also much less hand fatigue in the drops cos you're not trying to brake and hold on with the same muscle group.

Middle and ring fingers are on a separate tendon to your index finger.

Good argument @droo 👌

Having scrolled thru this thread yet again, I still cannot find the person who stated that descending on the tops is a good idea.

Looks like excessive time in the drops could potentially lead to dyslexia 😵‍💫

[ChrisF]

1 hour ago, NotSoBigBen said:

My work here is done .... but mon dieu a visor? On the road? On the drops?

Nee man Chris #MFM

 

En flat pedals ... werk tekkies ...

 

En n rugsak oppad werk toe ...

 

Nee kyk, daai prentjie moes aardig gelyk het van die kant af ....