PDXBikeCommuter.org

I would highly recommend that you use wide, upright handlebars, rather than drop-style racing/touring bars. The needs of a commuter are very different from those of a racer or a Cycle Oregon participant. Do you think Formula One drivers take their racing vehicles grocery shopping? Yes, you can commute on a racing bike, but again, unless you are already an experienced racer, would you want to? If you’re going to ride in (automotive) traffic – which you’re at least contemplating, if you’re reading this blog – the two major factors you need to be concerned about are vision and visibility. By vision, I mean your ability to see; by visibility, I mean your ability to be seen. Dropped handlebars reduce your vision by making it more difficult to keep your gaze up and forward, and they (slightly) reduce your visibility by forcing you into a lower posture. Their only real benefit – and the reason they are widely used – is aerodynamics: that lower posture reduces your frontal area, and thus, your coefficient of drag. Again, if you like these sort of bars and are experienced with them, have at it. If you’re an infrequent cyclist and new to commuting…go with the more upright posture. (Incidentally, there is also an ergonomic advantage, as you will not be putting so much pressure on your hands and wrists, nor putting a crick in your neck while trying to keep your head up.)