dropped handlebars

[thom]

I'm kinda hesitant to bring up this topic as it's not very ratrod related but I believe some on here are "into" all kinds of bikes.
I'm thinking about trying a bike with dropped , ten speed type handlebars for the first time in several years. I've passed up several ten speed bikes in the past because of the dropped bars and lack of fenders. I probably wouldn't have bought my favorite ten speed bike except it had upright bars like all the three speed bikes I have, and fenders. I'm really glad I got it. I've read about the advantages of dropped bars and want to see for myself.I'd like to know what others have done to improve dropped bars and make the most of them. What about foam covering instead of the usual tape type wrapping? What about "safety" brake levers so I can apply the brakes while holding the flat portion of the bars? What about the relationship of the bar height and saddle height? Thanks. :?: :?: :?:

 

[jOe]

Hi Thom,

I was in the same boat recently, I hadn't ridden drops since high school, and I still ride mostly upright bars. However, they do give you lots of good options for positioning, especially if you ride distances.

I had good luck setting them up to have to tops of the bars a little above saddle height. This works well with wider drops, and gives you a more "bullhorn" position on the hoods of the brake levers. If you use wider bars, you'll have more room on the tops of the bars if you want to hvae a more normal "upright" position. The Rivendell website http://www.rivbike.com/article/bike_fit/fit_sizing_position has a lot of good suggestions on it.

"Safety" levers work for some people, the new style "cross" or interrupter levers work well too. One of my bikes has drop bars and only has interrupter levers on it. This bike (not mine) has some cool guidonnet levers on it, those might work well for you. http://www.flickr.com/photos/strongligh ... 961001666/

As you get comfortable, you might find yourself lowering the bars to about saddle height.

Or even slightly lower-

Or you might decide you don't need drops at all -

 

[Wildcat]

Instead of foam covering, the good handlebar tape is padded enough to do the job. The safety levers never give me enough brake action, but they will work also.

I converted my Hercules 10 speed and I also put flat bars on my old 3 speed, pretty close to the flat part of drop bars.

 

[mastronaut]

Drops are cool for many reasons, but I found as I got older upright bars just work better for my riding style. I won't be 'dropping' any roadies out there, but I can still lay the hammer down! :lol:

 

[deorman]

I don't like "dropped" bars, but I won't deny they have advantages, not just for flat out sprints, they also distribute the weight more evenly between the front and back wheels, and lower the center of gravity. There are also leverage and breathing effects, but I don't care, I'm not into hardcore cardio riding.There's also no reason that they can't be used for a "rat" bike, people have done so. :wink:

 

[onelesspedestrian]

jOe posted some absolutely gorgeous bikes, but I have a different opinion on the bar height. I'd say as far as looks go, you need to keep the tops below seat level, or you are going to look like a fool (just my ex-racer opinion). But really, what's the point of having dropped bars mounted sky high? you might as well run a flat bar, or "boardtrack style" bars (aka flipped 3-speed bars) with a lower stem, and the bike will look much better, same fit.

you can get anatomical bends, which feel nice, but are kind of unstylish. I always ran a good synthetic cork tape with gel, and you can also get extra gel padding that you lay under the tape job, which is very luxurious comfort. The foam grips are awful, both from a comfort and style point of view.

"Safety levers" are usually unnecessary, if you are actually using drop bars as intended (outside of a cyclocross course). Also, danger is ratty!

 

[mastronaut]

'tis the season to be jolly falalalala, lalalalalala :mrgreen:

 

[SSG]

Drop bars are acceptable if your racing, or if you are a scorcher.

They don't get much lower than this.

 

[StephenH]

I recently bought a Raleigh Sojourn, google it to see what it looks like. It's the first bike I've ever owned with drop bars.

I mostly ride with my hands on the hoods, I think that's what you call the doohickeys on top where the brakes are. For a rest, I shift from there to the horizontal part of the bar.

I can use the drop part, but it's not real comfortable due to still having too much gut. So I can ride a mile or so like that, and then have to shift back to other positions. It does gain me about a mph in speed or an extra gear.

I did find that part of the issue was just getting used to how it felt. Felt like things were way out there at first, not it feels pretty natural.

 

[karfer67]

i will just keep my mouth shut................. :mrgreen:

 

[Anonymous]

I just 'Chopped and Flopped' the bars on a '72 Varsity for my first FIXIE project.

Bullhorn bars now.

 

[stretch]

varsitys are awesome fixies. have class, but are still on the light-ish side. :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah,about 40 pounds "light" in its original configuration....

I'll get it down to an acceptable weight!

 

[mastronaut]

Yeah make sure you drop the kickstand, you'll shave some weight there... :roll: :lol:

 

[stretch]

i would change out the sprocket, that varsity one is pretty hefty.

 

[Anonymous]

Kickstand is GONE...First removed and the hole pluged with a rubber cap,like it was never even there.

 

[stretch]

nice. what color is your varsity?

 

[Anonymous]

Its Cool Lemon with a 24" seat tube.

It was built in April 1972.

 

[stretch]

awesome. is it that bright straight yellow, or more like a candy lemoney color?

 

[Anonymous]

Its the original solid yellow.