Quote Originally Posted by ZenBiker View Post
Some very good reasons have been mentioned. If someone chooses flat bars after trying both, great. On the other hand I know people who just automatically assume drop bars are uncomfortable based on their childhood experience 10, 20, 30 years ago or on seeing racers and thinking their riding position looked like a lot of work. They have decided they'll never use drop bars, which is too bad since they might like them if they gave them a try. I know I was skeptical when I started looking at road bikes two years ago, but the drop bars on my Ruby are angled so that I have a good view of the road when on the hoods and are very comfortable. I love being able to change positions on longer rides. I also ride a commuter bike with flat bars and like that just fine around town. Whatever works, just hope folks choose based on test rides not assumptions!
I often suspect that the flat bars are based upon often wrongful assumptions, as well. And my experience with flat bars on a mountain bike was painful. I ended up with bar ends to have some variety in hand position, but it was still not comfortable. That factored in heavily for my own disinterest in cycling for years. I love my drop bars and spend almost no time with my hands on the tops...mostly in the hoods or in the drops.