+1 for Flared drops.

The more I ride the new drop bar setup, the more I notice and appreciate the differences. Riding flared drops makes riding so much more engaging. The multiple hand positions allow me to sit up and relax on the roads, and then i drop down to where my hands spend 80% of there time, in the drops, and its like somebody bumped the nitrous button.

Here are some of the benefits I've noticed since making the switch:

My wrists and arms are better positioned to absorb impacts.

Greater range of motion in the cockpit (i can move body around a lot more than with a standard setup, makes the bike feel more "flickable")

I feel like I am riding IN the bike rather than on top of it, especially with the big wheels.

Braking is much better due to the fact that i can very easily use one or two fingers to brake and not lose any sense of bike control.

I have multiple hand positions for climbing and cruising on the flats.

As most things in life, there are some drawbacks too:

A more forward hand position puts more weight on the front wheel and I can feel myself being pushed forward under heaving breaking on steep descents.

Your brake choices are limited to v-brakes or mechincal disks. I run avid bb7's with 7" rotors and I stop real quick. If anything I feel like the brakes have more power compared to a typical bar and lever setup so I don't see this has a disadvantage. If you are addicted to hydros though, you are out of luck without some major modding and fabrication.

Definitley not as light as a carbon bar but a few grams doesn't bother me too much.

Shifting gears is not as convenient with bar ends shifters. Not an issue with a SS setup or STI shifters. I kind of like this factor though because it reminds of riding single speed in that you have to pay more attention to the trail which increases the fluidity and quality of the ride.


The Latest Developments in the Grand Exploration

I am going to film the ride and edit the footage into a nice little documentary of my personal and natural explorations of the intermountain west.

Anybody want to buy me one of these?

Now if I can just graduate first.

Cheers,

WC