For one who is planning on doing a bunch of road races next year, should I try to adapt to getting lower in the front on my road bike or doesn’t it matter that much? I would think it doesn’t matter all that much but the pros are pretty low. (I am not a pro)
I don’t know much about road cycling or racing, but I’d assume that you want to still get low and aero when in the drops because what if you are out there alone with no people to draft off of.
There is a benefit to a point. Even though most of the time you might be drafting off others, you are still “pushing” air, so the lower you are able to get the better (less effort for a similar speed). So lower your bar to a point that is still comfortable yet somewhat aggressive.
As an old fart, whose fitter designed the “Original Fit Kit” in 77. Comfort wins…Ashe told me, which is true, look at how Lance is upright compared to others on a road position. For most of folks riding in the 18mph range on alone ride, go comfort. I have done the drop compared to upright and have no speed difference. Now if you you ride at 20 mph plus, maybe it is better. Above my experiance.
Same rules apply.
Get as low as you can comfortably manage on the hoods and then raise it just a tad, because that’s where you’ll spend the majority of your time. But you need to be able to ride the drops, so that means either the hoods will be high or the drops will be too low. Find that middle ground, and then adapt. A shallow drop bar helps a lot, and makes it easier.