Talk to me about drops

[nolemom]

It took me the better part of the first year of riding a road bike to get comfortable in the drops. I knew in my head that I would have more control in the drops, but it didn't feel that way. Try to practice it when you are in a non-threatening situation and continue to give it a try off and on. It definitely is tiring at first if you don't have strong core muscles, but you will get used to it.

[Norse]

Ditto the reasons everyone else gave. It did take me awhile though to feel comfortable using them. The first year of my current road bike, I probably spent only 5% of the time in the drops. As I progressed, it seemed more and more natural to use them. Now it's almost 50-50 drops vs. hoods, although every now and then I will ride for a little bit on the bar tops, just to sit up for a moment and give my body yet another position - I only do this when it looks certain that I won't need to brake. Of course, that's the time when a squirrel decides to dart out in front of me.