Flat bar vs. dropped bar

Getting ready to buy a new bike. I had a hybrid commuter with a flat bar that worked well for me except I ended up with tendinitis in the elbow shortly after beginning to ride). I'm definitely going to upgrade and am looking at the dropped bar like on the road bikes.

I mostly ride the road, commuting to work and leisure rides with the family. I do want to incorporate longer rides and perhaps do a half century this year. I have the option of riding on somewhat flat terrain OR going all out into the foothills. My usual ride incorporates both types of terrain since I live in the foothills.

So my question is...

What's the pros and cons of both flat bars and dropped bars?

(I haven't ridden a drop bar since I was a kid with an old 10 speed, I don't even know if I can stay on one now :))

Thanks - Jen

I find flat bar more stable but drops have more hand positions. More people will be a little more thorough on the debate.

I wonder though if your problems stem from a poor bike fit? That may be something to consider and address on the new bike.

I think flat bars give you a bit more control, and since you're more upright you have an easier time checking out your surroundings. Dropped bars give you many more hand positions and are more comfortable for longer rides.

I prefer dropped bars because they seem much more friendly to my wrists and elbows, but I think if I was doing much riding on city streets I'd want flat bars.

Sarah

Try out bikes of both types and see which ones you like better. The key is fit--sounds like your old bike was too stretched out for you. You may also have ridden with your elbows locked. Whichever bike you get, be sure that the fit is right for you and that you ride with your elbows slightly bent all the time. Strengthening your core through Pilates or planks and the like will help with being able to hold yourself up with our core instead of leaning on your elbows and wrists.

I have bikes of both types. My flat bar bike has bar ends that add a few more hand positions. As the years have gone on, I prefer my drop bar bikes, though.

When I switched from a friend's borrowed hybrid with straight bars to my own bike with drop bars, it felt really weird and kind of scary at first. But after a couple weeks of getting used to it, I loved the drops bars way more than the straight bars. And yes if you plan on doing 50 mile+ rides, drop bars are great- I can ride with my hands in about 6 different positions, so I never get tried hands from holding the bar in one position.

I switched about five years ago from straight bars (on a Mountain bike) to dropped on a road bike. I thought I would be sooooo uncomfortable but I wasn't. However, I recently bought a new woman's specific bike and it is even more comfortable. The drops are not so far away from the top bar and I can easily change positions. My old drops made me lean way over and I was somewhat uncomfortable. After buying a Woman's bike, I am really happy with the feel of the drops and ride in them more often than the other road bike I had.

Definitely listen to the advice which is to ride both kinds of bikes before you decide!!

My hybrid bike (Trek 7.2 FX) came with a flat bar. I hated it -- my wrists would ache after just a few minutes on the bike. I swapped it out for moustache bars with bar-end shifters. My new bars are very comfortable and all-purpose, and I am super happy with the switch. Might be another option for you to consider.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...s/DSCN0474.jpg http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...s/DSCN0475.jpg

. . . and just because they are "drop" bars, you don't have to ride them in the drops. Most of my bikes have drop bars but I never drop. :p bikerHen

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wackyjacky1

My hybrid bike (Trek 7.2 FX) came with a flat bar. I hated

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I like mine. But I added ergonomic grips and bar ends.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wackyjacky1

My hybrid bike (Trek 7.2 FX) came with a flat bar. I hated it -- my wrists would ache after just a few minutes on the bike. I swapped it out for moustache bars with bar-end shifters. My new bars are very comfortable and all-purpose, and I am super happy with the switch. Might be another option for you to consider.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...s/DSCN0474.jpg http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...s/DSCN0475.jpg

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I still LOVE your bike. It's SO purdy with all the modifications. If only I could justify another bike....:):)

I got ganglionic cysts in my wrists when I rode a flat bar mtb (granted, it was too big for me). I find drops very comfortable. I change hand positions a lot, and like having all the options.

My road bike is a Rodriguez. They sell them with flat bars if you want them, and that's what I got. I prefer flat bars because I have asthma and riding in the drops makes for harder breathing, for me.
Keep in mind that if you get flat bars, that may change the choice of components available to you (derailleur and shifters have to work well together.)

If I ever build a bomber/grocery hauler I want to try bars like a kids BMX bike, so I can hang my coffee off the crossbar.

I ride drop bars, have since, well forever. But I tried flat bars when the bike shop lent me a bike to play on while mine were in the shop. My initial impression was that I felt less stable because my weight was less focused on the center of the bike, and more out on the handlebars. And my wrists got more sore. But I may be an anomoly (sp?).

If you felt less stable I'd guess the bike didn't fit you or the bar was too narrow, otherwise mountainbikes would have drop bars.

But sore wrists could definitely be a problem. Many flat bars don't have enough rear sweep for women's wrists. That's why the Nitto Moustache/Albatross/Northroad/etc can be such great bars for some people.

I have to chime in here because my boss talked me out of converting Candy to a flat bar roadie once I get a new ride. His logic is that with drop bars you still have the bar tops, and several other positions.

Being upright has nothing to do with the bars, it has to do with geometry. I can put a flat bar on a Colnago CX-1 and it's still going to be an aggressive ride. So something with a long head tube and relaxed angle will do you much more good.

As for stability there's a big move toward wider road bars ala mountain bike style. I'm considering going to a wider bar for stability because my mountain bike background makes me crave that wide bar.

Just my two cents.

You can also add bullhorns to a flat-bar bike. I did that on my commuter, and it's great to have the additional hand position, but I still get the stability and the easy-access brake levers. (Though, to be fair, I did have brake interrupters added to my road bike too!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CA_in_NC

I still LOVE your bike. It's SO purdy with all the modifications. If only I could justify another bike....:):)

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Thanks! :)