tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post212279036390130772..comments2024-03-28T08:40:23.164-05:00Comments on Guitar Ted Productions: Musings On Drop BarsGuitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-7077815036723084342014-01-07T12:41:47.275-05:002014-01-07T12:41:47.275-05:00Do you have a link to your post that covers more d...Do you have a link to your post that covers more detail information on how to set up drop bars properly? I thought that I saw it on your website but I cannot find it. I see some info but not enough to know what stem length, reach, rise, etc to start with.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />JoeNewb Bikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14851407569941550995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-60917625810194014362011-06-24T12:56:17.932-05:002011-06-24T12:56:17.932-05:00I can't ride 'normal' drops anymore, e...I can't ride 'normal' drops anymore, either. They feel freaky in the drops, and unsteady at low speed. It feels like low-speed turning (big bar movement) changes my wrist angle relative to the bar more than flared drops do. <br /><br />I just rode a Woodchipper setup with friends, and got one for myself. I'm pretty enthusiastic to compare the setup to my Midge and WTB bars. (I started calling the classic Dirt Drop the "Cunningham Bar" if anyone wants to get on board with that).Philip Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12398341478513330159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-30861298781041072542011-04-06T21:11:51.624-05:002011-04-06T21:11:51.624-05:00Your post is perfect. It describes with precision ...Your post is perfect. It describes with precision how mechanics at race-oriented shops are expected to eschew opinions.<br /><br />We need more people to scream about what constitutes a good bicycle setup for 3-25 miles of riding per day. I would like to see all bicycles as Simple Machines. <br /><br />I am a mechanic at a wise shop that 'gets it,' but will happily work on anything. I ride what most people see as a 'hoopty.'Pixy Stoneskipperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17608375991424828477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-63513827787223815672011-03-30T15:51:20.343-05:002011-03-30T15:51:20.343-05:00@ralph: Thanks for the comments. As far as I know,...@ralph: Thanks for the comments. As far as I know, there are no carbon fiber versions of these flared drops. Maybe someday. <br /><br />@shiggy: Here! Here!Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-86233624376731809882011-03-30T14:37:09.040-05:002011-03-30T14:37:09.040-05:00Totally agree, GT. The short reach, shallow drop b...Totally agree, GT. The short reach, shallow drop bars are more usable for most riders. Can still set them up for a "fast" position in the hooks. Many of the off road models can be too wide for regular road use, though. I narrowed a Midge bar by ~3cm for my road bike, using the Bike Friday method.<br /><br />Brifters (STI/DoubleTap) work great on a vertically flared bar. I find it EASIER to shift and Shimano seems to agree as they have shaped the STI lever to mimic this.<br /><br />So, here's to the Adventure Bike as the Sports Coupe/GT/Rally Car of cycling!shiggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03419871554502532350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-68282718315280334442011-03-30T11:00:27.980-05:002011-03-30T11:00:27.980-05:00I also rarely use the drops on my fancy bike. I do...I also rarely use the drops on my fancy bike. I do like them for down hill and into the wind though. Currently using FSA K wings for the flat surfaces on the top. Arthitic thumb joints, the flats and carbon help a lot. The woodchipper is an intriguing look see. Any out there similar in carbon with flat tops? My lament on Dave's site is teh marketing engine doesn't seem to be set up to sell people on a practical everyday bike for most casual riders that doesn't weigh a ton. We should beable to get a decent relatively light bike that can be used in all seasons an most road ways. They seem to be few and far between. <br /><br />My fancy bike is really fast, campy wheels, special steel frame, all the rest. Too bad I'm not fit emough for it to be fast.....Ralphhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09384390989166582629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-7240979595586382512011-03-29T18:59:36.967-05:002011-03-29T18:59:36.967-05:00@tcxjon: Actually, it isn't really any differe...@tcxjon: Actually, it isn't really any different than with ordinary drop bars. The levers stay pretty vertical on Woodchippers, and even on bars where the slope is greater to the drops, the SRAM levers would be easily operated. <br /><br />I know of several riders that use SRAM on flared drops and they all say it works great.Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-22265485738235340892011-03-29T18:16:33.443-05:002011-03-29T18:16:33.443-05:00How does the woodchipper bar or the ragely work wi...How does the woodchipper bar or the ragely work with sram shift/brake levers.Isn't the angle kind of weird?tcxjonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01727045210314267070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-84068788477584823152011-03-29T16:07:40.849-05:002011-03-29T16:07:40.849-05:00@galaxysearchlights: Oh, to be sure, we all did ge...@galaxysearchlights: Oh, to be sure, we all did get stung by marketing here and there. But you and I are on "the other side of that" now, and what I am referring to today are the folks that aren't, or are not interested in pushing through the marketing. (Or maybe those that just walked into the door for the first time).<br /><br />Those folks and how drop bar bikes are marketed to them- That's what I am referring to. <br /><br />But to your point- yes, I have been suckered in by marketing in the past. It just isn't pertinent to my point in the blog today.Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-46509768446272515442011-03-29T16:01:48.529-05:002011-03-29T16:01:48.529-05:00Equipment can't buy love but it can buy accept...Equipment can't buy love but it can buy acceptance.<br />We are all victims of marketing to some degree.<br />We all went through the learning curve. Just take a look at the photos from your early years of cycling.<br />The beauty of this sport is the room to grow and develop. Nobody starts out "died in the wool".... that all,,,, I need to go shave my legs now.<br />P.S. giddyup!galaxysearchlightshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05988797100653937585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-26328425177769509432011-03-29T10:04:16.597-05:002011-03-29T10:04:16.597-05:00Amen brother... We are of the same opinion here, a...Amen brother... We are of the same opinion here, and that's why you'll find Woodchippers on two of my three drop bar bikes, and a Bell Lap on the third. <br /><br />Sometimes you have to give a little to get a lot.MGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00377768960221628840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-87139615589457836192011-03-29T09:42:43.771-05:002011-03-29T09:42:43.771-05:00I get that flared drops might not be the best &quo...I get that flared drops might not be the best "close quarters racing" set up, but keep in mind, those are not the folks I am writing about today either. Completely different user group in mind. Racers probably are just fine with racing bikes, if ya catch my drift.Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-54108478946793993192011-03-29T09:22:09.223-05:002011-03-29T09:22:09.223-05:00i really like the fsa compacts. the drop is reall...i really like the fsa compacts. the drop is really shallow, the ends are slightly flared and the platform on top is very comfortable. i'm surprised more bikes don't come with them.andersonreedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01714180312043065178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-24522207719319822812011-03-29T08:58:43.736-05:002011-03-29T08:58:43.736-05:00Cyclocross bikes to the rescue. I've put many...Cyclocross bikes to the rescue. I've put many people on cross bikes that originally came into the shop for a road bike. A cross bike with slick 28-32c tires and a positive rise stem.The Breathing Roomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13054883303896809243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-12289497337026156402011-03-29T08:36:09.590-05:002011-03-29T08:36:09.590-05:00The woodchipper is fantastic, The Luxy is fantasti...The woodchipper is fantastic, The Luxy is fantastic, the Nitto Noodle is great. Riding in a group ride with the Luxy is dangerous. I have "hooked" some of my riding partners. Maybe that is one reason Lance Armstrong does not ride a flare drop bar. <br />ariArihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13083766829086663770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-84100501599094476612011-03-29T08:24:00.189-05:002011-03-29T08:24:00.189-05:00It's articles like this that help to change th...It's articles like this that help to change the concepts of sport cycling. Great write up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-89319680365550746362011-03-29T07:53:06.180-05:002011-03-29T07:53:06.180-05:00"odd ball mechanic" well, we agree on t..."odd ball mechanic" well, we agree on that for sure. i got a little "odd" in me too which i think makes us both think outside thebox a little. the only reason i can think of roades bikes not having flare is for the "racers" in a tight packmaybe not getting bars tangled so easliy. otherwise i see no reason for the non-flare. I never have understood why the drop is so deep either. i guess ith my belly in the way i will never understand why people use them on a road bikes when they are so low.Captain Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00056590636681164934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-29798875825214967522011-03-29T07:33:04.968-05:002011-03-29T07:33:04.968-05:00Mark but I want to go faster and I really think th...Mark but I want to go faster and I really think that the carbon stem/handlebars is the final upgrade that will make me go fast right????? Please say yes!<br /><br />Great write up Sir - bang on and as Mr. Farrow said be careful :)<br /><br />BTW - I love my Ragley Luxy's and even found myself in the drops yesterday battling a fun little head wind on the way home!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10435961166281655365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-41101736254188054052011-03-29T07:26:55.862-05:002011-03-29T07:26:55.862-05:00if I had a road bike, I'd put a woodchipper on...if I had a road bike, I'd put a woodchipper on it. try it Jason, I bet you'll like it.Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05407531765977027115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-18162436230462422102011-03-29T07:10:04.472-05:002011-03-29T07:10:04.472-05:00Lots of this is me. I hardly find myself in the dr...Lots of this is me. I hardly find myself in the drops. And surely my bar tape is worn on the hoods. It's probably a fit thing or just a question their set up, but I use them so rarely, I question why I have drops on my road and cx bike at all and would opt for a flat bar if brake set up was easier.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10931403291668582311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-34754243342903043092011-03-29T06:04:16.869-05:002011-03-29T06:04:16.869-05:00"...equipment can't buy you 'love'..."...equipment can't buy you 'love'". Sage words, but don't let "The Industry" hear them...lest they hang you as a witch!!!<br />CharlieCharlie Farrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18088177414554441110noreply@blogger.com