Quick primer on drop bars?

Ok - getting a bike with drop handle bars this week (Bianchi Volpe) and haven't ridden with drop bars since the'70s. Am really looking forward to the drop bars since I ride in lots of hills and like to get down for the descents (especially in wind).

Way I rode in the PH (pre-helmet) days was in traffic mainly with my hands on the top of the bars (seems like I had brake handle extensions on the tops too.)

So, can any of you roadies give me name of each area on the drop bars and the primary use of each? (Since the Volpe is more of a Tour bike my bars won't be as low as on a dedicated road/race bike, but I figure the dynamcis would be the same or very similar).

Thanks.

Hi Lauren - congratulations on getting that Bianchi :D

You may hear some other names for these but one common set would be (in order of increasing reach):

tops
hoods (or brake hoods)
drops

I think using these is fairly individual and can oftentimes depend on your set-up (low seat, high seat, long stem, short stem, etc).

I use the tops & hoods while climbing as I feel I breathe much better and get more leverage - though some folks do well on the drops.

For flat riding I will gravitate more towards the hoods and drops, but at times will use the tops, especially if I am going at a moderate pace.

Enjoy your new bike and drop bars :)

I ride for the most part on the hoods - you can brake from the hoods. Most of the riding that I do in a pack, on a regular ride is in the hoods. Probably then I ride on the tops as well on regular parts of my ride (i.e flats and hills)

I alternate between the tops and the hoods when I am climbing.

I have a bad back so I don't ride in the drops as much as some. I will if I want to go fast on the flat, if I'm drafting someone who is really fast and I need the aerodynamic help of being flatter to keep up, on the down hill.

It's best to get in the habit of doing all your hard braking from the drops. More braking power with your hands and better position (low body, arms straight, butt back) from which to brace your body weight against its own inertia as the bike slows.

I often find myself in the drops when I am going on a flat stretch as well as when I am going downhill. This allows me to stretch out my lower back which on long distances really helps.

I mostly ride on the hoods, but I use the drops for descending ALWAYS!!! I also use the drops if I am really trying to go fast, ride aggressively, or into a headwind. For the limited racing I've done, most of the riding was in the drops.

When I did my 600k, I found myself on the tops for the last 150 miles or so, which told me I needed a better bike fit! :D

I've also heard of "hooks." Is that a particular place on the drops? Is it more toward the curve of the drop or nearer the end?