On Oct 6, 2012, at 8:45 PM, rw1911 wrote: > Can anyone comment with their real-world experience using both (all > three) bars?
My experience is that the shallower drop bars are really uncomfortable to ride in the drops. I have big hands (and long arms at 6'3" or 6'4") and they get sort of pinched in the curve, resulting in numbness and pain. IMHO if a reasonably deep drop (150 mm- the old Cinellis were 160 mm IIRC) is uncomfortably low when riding in the hooks, then your handlebar is too low to begin with. You should be able to ride for an hour at a time comfortably in the drops. Of course, the modern trend is to set the bars to be pretty aero when riding on the hoods- this has been the case especially since Ergo and STI were introduced because the big hoods are so much more comfortable than the old non-aero hoods were. But that makes even a shallow drop pretty low once you get down into the drops. I think that's why we're seeing such short drop bars and "ergo bends" to reduce the hand pinching. The last comfortable bar for me was the 46 cm Nitto 175, of which I have only three or four left and I have read that no more are being made. Being a big guy I found the Randonneurs too narrow at the hoods, but my wife (5'10") loves them. I think they are her favorite bars. They have a certain classic look to them, too. Tim -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
