They’re the original drops from 1988 so they’re shaped different than moder day one’s by a pretty large margin.
Personally I find it pretty hard to ride on these hoods because like the bars the hoods are original and have next to no horizontal reach so like compared to my gravel bike where I’m always on the hoods here I’m always riding on the flats or the drops.
I always did the same on my road bike (a Cannondale Cadd-8, not nearly as antique as your bike here). Last year I gave up and mounted straight handlebars. I like the steering leverage better and if I want to tuck I have aerobars mounted for that.
I love old bikes, but I think the only thing about your bike I wouldn’t like is the downtube shifters. I haven’t used them since my old Raleigh in the '80s, but I remember struggling with them and having to devote a lot of my attention to them while riding.
They work for me 🤷
They’re the original drops from 1988 so they’re shaped different than moder day one’s by a pretty large margin.
Personally I find it pretty hard to ride on these hoods because like the bars the hoods are original and have next to no horizontal reach so like compared to my gravel bike where I’m always on the hoods here I’m always riding on the flats or the drops.
Here’s a better side angle:
I always did the same on my road bike (a Cannondale Cadd-8, not nearly as antique as your bike here). Last year I gave up and mounted straight handlebars. I like the steering leverage better and if I want to tuck I have aerobars mounted for that.
I love old bikes, but I think the only thing about your bike I wouldn’t like is the downtube shifters. I haven’t used them since my old Raleigh in the '80s, but I remember struggling with them and having to devote a lot of my attention to them while riding.
oh wow, they’re original? Damn, you classy!
I hadn’t even thought about how much drop bars have changed (although the narrow fascination I totally understand)
The drop / curl looks quite different now I pay attention
good on you, what a rad bike!