Is it Time to Drop Drop Bars?

Myself I keep coming back to drop bars. I really like the flared gravel style ones. Just feels more natural to me in my primary position which is on the hoods.

"industrial roadie complex"--best description of the corporate bike industrial complex. This is why I SUPPORT this channel....made my day... :)

I appreciate your honest and broad-based comparison of different competing products without any predisposed preference or motive.

I only use flat or alt bars because drop bars and controls are expensive, tedious to swap and I find them no more comfortable with less steering control on the fun terrain. Moloko is my fave except friction shifter mounting isn’t ideal. Pedro’s tire levers are the best but I snapped one for the first time last week (trying to mount a wtb raddler) so it’s making me revisit everything I know about bikes. Maybe I’ll put a drop bar on my commuter just for experimental purposes

Another great video. I have raised my cow chippers above my seat height so that the top/hoods are at the top of my comfort range and the drops are high enough to use without much discomfort. I use the drops all the time now. Handle bars & positions are worth experimenting with.

You just did the best, most comprehensive —and to the point—comparison of these two types of handlebars! I’m approaching my late 60s…a bicycle rider since 1972, maybe 1973? I’ve done my “crazy” riding, but healing takes much longer now. My old road bike sits, as I hate “roads with cars”. My old thrasher sits, as I’m more relaxed in my riding, and again, I just don’t heal as quickly as I used to. My primary ride now…is my Chumba Stella ti…built up with Rohloff aft, and SON Dyno forward….used for gravel, rail trail, forest service roads to access New England fly fishing spots….and long bikepacking trips when I just have to get away! Bravo-Zulu, we’ll done….explaining. I’m now considering those hand extensions on my Thompson flattie, just to give me another hand position. Wishing you many smiles with the miles, and safe riding, brother!

I have the same numbness in my hands with flat or sweep bars, but seem to avoid it with drop bars & riding on the hood. Definitely my most comfortable position to ride.

A popular set up for bickpacking is actually flat bars with clip on aero bars. It’s a little busy and ugly but quite functional

I've been using a Jones H-Bar for about 5 years now for daily use and tours on my Cross Check (had to scale down from 5 bikes to 2). I enjoy it very much and at 66 y.o.a., the upright position works for me. But I really enjoy the panache of drops, especially the way Russ has his set up and the hoods I do miss...

I do love my drops but I’m building up a Gunnar with some new Nitto’s with a dramatic sweep. It will be interesting to see how I like it on long rides(I know I’m going to dig the upright position for shorter stuff).

Love traditional road drop bars. I don’t even want a little bit of a flair. I use regular 44 cm drop bars on my gravel bike same bar I use on my road bike. And I like the way they look.

I've used drop, straight and alt bars. I prefer straight and alt bars because I feel I have quicker access to the brake levers. I ride in an urban environment and being able to get on the brakes quickly can be a life saver. I have nothing against drop bars but at 63 I just don't find them as comfortable as I do ride in a more upright position.

That dirt dropper looks cool. If you want a real chill ride on your bike even when putting in strength into the pedals the alt bars are great. I have straight bars, and ones that are slightly moved back. And there both good. I think mostly it’s a feel for the bike, and aesthetic.

A good analysis . I use drops - and this is for comfort reasons more than anything else. If you are doing more gnarly down hills then flats/alts may be a better solution, but what and where you ride and how comfortable you are will dictate what you are using. I am just a bit miffed that no handle bar can deal with the flooding we have at the moment 😂

Like Russ said, it depends on the ride. I have really wide Nitto Noodle drop bars on my Long Haul Trucker and use all available hand positions on long rides. The width helps keep the bike from feeling squirrely in gravel or rough. I have an alt bar on a bike I ride in town a lot because the upright position feels safer to me in traffic. I feel like I'm better able to keep my head on a swivel.

I agree. Depending on what your plans are one is better than the other. I ride on my fixed gear both risers and Dropbars. Riser for commuting because of the more upright position and better view over traffic and drop for recreational riding ✌️

I prefer drop bars personally but I don't set them too low which is common now, this allows me to use the drops and not just the hoods.

I've come to prefer very wide drop bars (50+ cm) mated with ultra dorky tall stems. My bars level or even higher than the saddle. This makes technical trail riding much easier, safer and natural. The older I get, (I'm 61 years young) the more I'm happy sitting up and 'in' the bike. When I'm comfortable, I'm very happy to pedal all day, and then some! All my racing habits have slowly but surely disappeared as I've gotten older. But I can ride long enough that most fast youngsters lose interest. I ride with lots of young guys at the shop. I'm an old school 'off-roadie', riding hard since the '70s. We rode our racing bikes with sew ups off road, well before most folks ever saw an mtb. Anytime we discovered a new trail in the local mountains, we would find out where it went. So far I dig Nitto Dirt Drops and Ritchey Venturemax best on my all purpose bikes. Can't wait to try a Surly Corner bar when I can finally get my hands on one. I can then use mtb controls and hydro disc brakes I already have to convert my MTBs to drop bars. I use these bars for some fairly technical rocky singletrack on rigid cross/gravelish frame. On my vintage steel rando 'all road' tourer, used for mostly smooth road or dirt riding I like the 48cm Nitto Noodles. I agree that everyone should use whatever equipment they find most comfortable and whatever allows them to spend as much time riding as they wish. Party pace is ALL about being comfortable while riding. I'm retired now, but wrench in a high end shop part time. New bike technology doesnt impress me very much. My old junk hasn't worn out yet. The most important parts on your bike are the touch points on the bike where you interface with the bike, your tires/wheels that are your connection with the ground and a simple, RELIABLE and CLEAN drivetrain that makes you go. Never forget the importance of your attitude, skills and fitness. It will always be the RIDER, not the freakin bike!!

Bravo. My bike came w cowchipper bars, and I like them for the reasons you gave: many holds, hide from the wind, and given their width, plenty of leverage. I had a 30 yr old MTB w flat bars and I pulled one or two sons in a kid trailer. Until I turned into the wind. And didn't have a low enough gear to continue. There's almost always wind. Long live cowchippers. Where's your join button.. (JK, I'm on my phone, I'll find it w my pixel book). Great, informative challel IMHO.

Nice balanced presentation. I'm used to drop bars and like the varied hand positions. Riding the hoods is my default, in a non-crouched position. One problem with drops is that they take a little while to get used to. New cyclists ate often intimidated.