Drops are they well.....right ?

[velomaniac]

Being as this is the dept. of old roadbikes I have a question on roadbike set up. Is it essential for a roadbike to have drop bars to look right. I know a bike can have any bars a rider wants, I myself favour flat atb bars. However does a roadbike look best with drops or is it just a case of its always been that way so no one questions it. Personally I cannot get comfortable with drps but flat bars even to me look odd on a roadbike, possibly I have been conditioned to think that way ?

 

[legrandefromage]

'hybrids' - flat bar road bikes or 700c mountain bikes have been around for nearly 3 decades. You can even buy flat bar specific road parts so the front mechs and brakes work properly

heres a neo retro retro neo google pic

Something terribly modern with dics

Something old and random

So flat away!

 

[legrandefromage]

And dont forget the 'Trackers' of the 70's with big bars

 

[The History Man]

That’s the thing we used to build for pulling wheelies outside school, impressing the ladies with the adolescent equivalent of handbrake turns.

 

[allenh]

And dont forget the 'Trackers' of the 70's with big bars

That brings back memories, Raleigh Arena 5 speed with Cow Horns now that was a machine

 

[allenh]

That’s the thing we used to build for pulling wheelies outside school, impressing the ladies with the adolescent equivalent of handbrake turns.

Yep many an unintentional crash and worn out rear tyre, and if you lived near the countryside like me bombing through the woods and connecting with the odd tree by mistake, all before BMX's and mountain bikes were a twinkle in their trendy designers eyes.

 

[allenh]

I for one have no problem with flat bars on a road bike and have built quite a few that way over the years.

I built these two as a pair a few years ago, one with the original drops and all Raleigh marked bits as standard and the other an identical frame with flat bars and a much more modern 27 speed Campy group for off roading.

 

[torqueless]

Re:

I don't think there's anything aesthetically horrendous about flat bars on a road bike.. but the fact is that drop bars give you three alternative hand positions- two of them with neutral un-pronated wrists, which counts for a lot on a long ride, even on good roads.
Only sprinters, testers, youngsters or athletes actually use the drops, though..

 

[The History Man]

Well I don’t go fast, I’m not young, and although Mrs hm says I’m testing at times it’s not on a bike, so I must be an athlete!

 

[jimo746]

Re:

If you're talking of it looking "right" " in the classic road bike look then yes, only drop bars will suffice.
However things have changed a lot, and flat bars or risers can look" right" on a more modern road or city bike.
I wouldn't worry too much whether it looks right, as long as it works for you and you're comfortable riding it. I currently have flat mtb handlebars on an old road frame!