Hi Ken, you where saying:
-=> Quoting Bill Piehler to Barry Austern <=-
> This is one of the reasons I don't like to ride a racing bike on the
> road, which has handle bars which force you to look down onto the
> road, rather then ahead......look  at the accident that happened at the
> Tour de France, where riders ploughed into stupid spectators stepping
> right into the road to take pictures......
KP>While I do have a hybrid that I ride when the weather is bad, most of my 
6000
KP>miles a year is done on a road (i.e. racing) bike or a sports/touring bike
KP>with drop handlebars.  You are not "forced" to look down onto the road.
hmmmm wonder, why most of the bikes in parts of the world, where bikes
are used seriously for commuting, haven't got drop handlebars?
KP>Racers _may_ drop their heads and look at the road to improve their
KP>aerodynamic profile and get a little extra speed, they are not forced to 
o
KP>so.  And, of course, there aren't supposed to be obstacles (or stupid
KP>spectators) in the roadway.  Be assured that racers can see what's in the
KP>road ahead.  It may not always possible when you are going 30 mph to avoid 
a
KP>"stupid spectator" who insists on stepping in front of you any more than 
t
KP>is possible for a car to avoid a stupid pedestrian that steps in front of 
it.
There seem to be far to many spectators inside the barriers, where they
are not supposed to be. But it's a hard and tough race and the different
road and weather conditions as well as the odd obstacle has to be expected
by the riders.
KP>The straight handlebars of MTB and hybrids may be O.K. for short rides 
(and I
KP>consider 30 miles to be short).  But they are a pain for long rides like
KP>metric and English centuries.  And most of the Tour stages are over 100
KP>miles.  The "short" Tour stages are time trials; where areodymanic 
efficiency
KP>will make the difference between a win and bringing up the rear.
OK, don't like them straight handlebars of MTB or drop handlebars myself
and if I remember rightly, some of the bikes in all kinds of races are now
having drop handlebars in combination with handles on top, to rest the
arms on, and I would say the  neck and back as well:) So there must
be some riders, that aren't happy with drop handle bars only.
But then I'm more for touring and commuting rather then racing. ;-)
Look out for that rattler crossing the road on your next century...hehe
Cya...Bill:)
 * OLX 2.1 TD * Email: Bill.Piehler@softtech.brisnet.org.au
--- Maximus/2 3.01
---------------