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comfort and control ... you make substantial changes to their shape in pursuit of aero gains at your peril
TT bikes wouldn't exist if comfort and control were always more important than aero
Regardless for a bar like the above in the drops the comfort in the hand would be the same. You just (maybe) lose out on riding on the hoods.
I am just surprised that no one seems to have done it, that's all
frankenbike-
You just (maybe) lose out on riding on the hoods.
On the hoods is the primary position on a modern road bike.
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am just surprised that no one seems to have done it
Done what? If you mean eliminate quite a lot of the bar and brake lever structure in exchange for limiting riding position to in the drops, what you end up with is a lo pro. If you keep the whole of the bar but just fit vestigial brake levers in a place where they are out of the wind, see A. R. Engers
gbj_tester
Then you need to think a bit more. The brake lever and hood is a major comfort and control interface, you make substantial changes to their shape in pursuit of aero gains at your peril. Ignore gear levers, they are already electric on all high end bikes and aerodynamically insignificant. Ignore cables too, as the switch to hydraulic brakes joins the switch to electric shifters in eliminating the last impediment to full enclosure, the unwillingness of Bowden cable to play nicely with tight corners.