commuting handlebars?

[divingbiker]

My commuting bike, an old Trek hybrid, has flat bars with twist grip shifters. I had bar ends on it for a while, but the bars are too wide and I felt like I didn't have enough control, so I took them off. I'm experiencing a lot of wrist pain with the bars/twist grips so my new commuting bike (that's supposed to be here in a couple of weeks) will have albatross bars and bar end shifters. I'm hoping that the position of my hands with the new bars will make the wrist pain go away.

I would be way too nervous riding drop bars in DC traffic, but I see a lot of people doing it.

[7rider]

My commuting bike, an old Trek hybrid, has flat bars with twist grip shifters. I had bar ends on it for a while, but the bars are too wide and I felt like I didn't have enough control, so I took them off. I'm experiencing a lot of wrist pain with the bars/twist grips so my new commuting bike (that's supposed to be here in a couple of weeks) will have albatross bars and bar end shifters. I'm hoping that the position of my hands with the new bars will make the wrist pain go away.

I would be way too nervous riding drop bars in DC traffic, but I see a lot of people doing it.

You didn't get your bike yet?? I'm waiting to see pix!

Yeah, I think dropped bar riders in a metro area may be on fixies, but that's just a guess. I prefer the flat bars in a metro area, and would only go with drops if they had the brake handles on top, a la cyclocross bikes.

[alimey]

Loved the narrowness of drop bars - but didn't feel upright & in control enough on the hoods or the drops. Couldn't stomach the costs of moving to flat bars (new shifters, new cables, new front derailleur, new brakes) - so I bought a pair of bullhorns & mounted the sti levers sort of underneath.

I LOVE this setup - nippy & narrow, but feels very strong & in control. Easy to get out of the saddle, easy to change gear & brake. Also in addition to having your hands on the 'horns' you can also put them on the horizontal bits next to the stem - for example when climbing.

Cheap conversion too!

[kiwi girl]

I love the drop bars on my road bike for recreational riding, but I have flat bars on my commuter. I feel a lto more comofortable with the upright position in traffic. Also I use a courier bag for commuting and I don't like the way it feels if I am in a lower position on drop bars

[Grog]

Doesn't the upright vs. aero position depend more on the geometry of the bike? I'd guess a recreational touring bike or specifically commuting bike with drop bars would give a good enough position (upright) to have good visibility, no?

I'm interested in the topic since I'm planning on getting my first real commuter bike this summer.

[mountainchick]

I commute on my road bike, but thats because its the only bike I have. So drops for me.

[Geonz]

I'm a flat bar woman, wherever I ride. Welp, except the Gazelle that has those old-fashioned curvy ones.