Drops vs Hoods (Page 2)

As cooutdoors correctly stated, my avatar is my TTX after a super quick fit but before a lot of tweaking (my knee angle is now within an acceptabe range). My position on my Madone is here:
http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/show-album.asp?...

As you can see, I'm definitely "stretched out" but that is the position that I've always ridden. The bike is perfectly comfortable in every hand position and I could ride the aerobars 100% of the time if I wanted in perfect comfort. I did a training ride on it a couple weeks ago of 113 miles with 11,000 feet of climbing.

I can definitely feel that my hip angle is reduced compared to riding on the drops. But again I'm so used to that position it feels perfect for me. Honestly, I don't ride the drops much because I have the descents on my routes so dialed in that I'm usually on the aerobars.


All my rides have quite a lot of climbing so I ride in every position and the bike feels perfect. I would never change anything for a ride based on terrain. I did recently slide my seat forward 3mm but that was just to neutral. It's taken me a few rides to get used to it but I think I'm there and that steepens my seat angle slightly and narrows my shoulder angle slightly.

Tomorrow I'm riding 85 miles/~8,000 feet of climbing with a group so I'll be off the aerobars for most of the ride and the bike will feel perfect.

Help me with the Anatomy.  What are Drops?  What are Hoods?

Along the lines of the og post... on a road bike w/ no clip ons would it be more aero in the drops or w/ your forearms laying paralled on the hoods? I ride one of those 2 ways unless warming up/warmind down or going up a steep hill. I feel lower in the drops but wonder how much air I am catching w/ my arms open so wide & the air going straight into my chest? Thanks.

BTW, as stated above I am either in drops or paralled on hoods when training or racing. Training rides are the same position as a race.