-=> Quoting Bill Piehler to Ken Peck <=-
 BP> 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
 KP> 6000 miles a year is done on a road (i.e. racing) bike or a
 KP> sports/touring bike with drop handlebars.  You are not "forced" to look
 KP> down onto the road.
 BP> hmmmm wonder, why most of the bikes in parts of the world, where bikes
 BP> are used seriously for commuting, haven't got drop handlebars?
Typical "utility" trips are under five miles.  Unless it is very windy (which
it can be around here) the drop handle bars are not any particular advantage. 
I would note that touring bikes have drop handle bars . . . but then tours
are typically much more than five miles.
 BP> OK, don't like them straight handlebars of MTB or drop handlebars
 BP> myself and if I remember rightly, some of the bikes in all kinds of
 BP> races are now having drop handlebars in combination with handles on
 BP> top, to rest the arms on, and I would say the  neck and back as well:)
 BP> So there must be some riders, that aren't happy with drop handle bars
 BP> only.  But then I'm more for touring and commuting rather then racing.
The "handles on top, to rest the arms on" are "aerobars" and their purpose is
to improve the aerodynamic position of the rider on the bike.  They are
typically used in special types of races (i.e., time trials).  They are not
normally used on long stage races or criteriums.  I see some people using
those aerobars in inappropriate situations, where they are actually
dangerous, as you don't have as good control for quick maneuvering.
    ===  ==== =   _@
    Ken Peck +  _ \<._
    =========  (_)/ (_)   Kenneth_Peck@clr.com
... I am not infallible.  I may be mistaken about that, too.
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