Track handlebars - hand position

Im thinking about getting some (namely the Charge Bowl bars), but im not sure of what positions are practical to ride in (I ride with a front brake)

Depends on the traffic and road. I usually ride on the hoods, quite far from the brake when the road is clear and the traffic is predictable. But when the traffic is bad or unpredictable, I ride on the top of the bars. I verrarely, if ever, use the drops on the road. Hope that helps

Very much down to the type of riding you're doing.
I've looked at these bars before. As I ride my fixed mainly on quiet roads, I use the flats of the drops alot. But as I'm not racing (and have short arms) I like the drop to be quite shallow.
If I was in traffic alot, I'd consider something with a flater top section.

i reckons that bars with no road brakes have 3 positions; on the flat at the top, on the forward facing bits as the bars curl round and then on the bottom of the drops.

Stick some road levers on there and you get an extra one on the hoods of the levers.

i use all of these depending on the terrain and how long im riding as my hands get a bit sore after about 30 minutes in the same position so i try to vary it.

I dont run a brake and have Deda Pista bars. I ride on the tops most of the time for comfort. When i am climbing or sprinting i use either the curve or the flat of the drops. I generally mix it up a bit though.

On the track you ride on the drops.
And occasionally on the tops when cooling down or warming up, you don't have a brake so it's not an issue to have hoods. Riding in a hoods position on the track is dangerous as your hands can slip down (as there's no actual hoods to hold them) Although you do see roadies doing this.

If you are riding on the road then use road bars, with hoods. you get more hand positions and two of them are covering the brake, or if you want only one position, use mountain bike bars like commuters do.

Edit: those charge bowl things you mention look like a copy of the kind of bars used in the 30s, on the track. I expect most people who have them ride around the stem where they put the brake(s) anyway, rendering the "drop" part superfluous.
Idiotic.

Don't be silly RPM.. road bars.. on the road?! Pfft

Agree, RPM. If the drops are not going to be used then better off just having risers/flats as they are more comfortable than holding the tops of a track bar as the flat part of a track bar is way too narrow which would completely cramp up the shoulders, affect breathing, give discomfort etc,. as well as being safer as bike control is better.

Still, as I said earlier, they don't look so cool which is the most important bit to some.

The Charge Bowl aren't track bar, in fact the 'drop' is very shallow to the point that it's just a normal hand position, it's pretty much idea for riding around London, especially with that handlebar, you're likely to be on the drop nearly 90% of the time;

Edit: those charge bowl things you mention look like a copy of the kind of bars used in the 30s, on the track.

These look similar to me. The guy on the right seems to be using the forerunner to midge bars :)

I expect most people who have them ride around the stem where they put the brake(s) anyway, rendering the "drop" part superfluous.
Idiotic.

Might as well cut them down.

(+ further to my statment that the Charge Bowls would suit me. I run a TT brake lever on my left (euro style) drop, not on the top by the stem.)

Agree, RPM. If the drops are not going to be used then better off just having risers/flats as they are more comfortable than holding the tops of a track bar as the flat part of a track bar is way too narrow which would completely cramp up the shoulders, affect breathing, give discomfort etc,. as well as being safer as bike control is better.

Still, as I said earlier, they don't look so cool which is the most important bit to some.

If people think riding deep drop bars with their hands around the tops, by the stem, looks cool, then they are very sadly mistaken!

I like to see them try doing that for 10 miles straight!

I like to see them try doing that for 10 miles straight!

I think that is the point. People with these setups probably don't actually ride that far so it doesn't matter.
Saying that, I use flat bars for 30+ mile rides and find one hand position just about bearable. Comfort wise I prefer riding in drops but for some reason it does my neck no favours the following day, probably due to my over sized head :-)