Cyclcross bikes - why do they do that?

[StreetCowboy]

As you may recall (that's a euphemism for 'sick of me mentioning it') two years ago I ditched my mountain bike for a 'cyclocross' bike.  All my riding is on the road, and I thought the cyclocross bike would be good for the rough roads around where I live.  And to be sure, it is OK; I didn't set the world alight with new Personal Bests, and on the steeper hills, my mountain bike PBs still stand.  Cycling buddies have come up with 'endurance' bikes that they say are comfortable on the rough roads, but then they cost five times as much.  My bike isn't comfortable, but it will take a good hammering and still come up smiling...

 

Anyway,  I watched a bit of cyclocross on TV to see what it was all about, since I have that sort of a bike, and I thought "For mud like that, why would you want drop handlebars?  As far as control, braking, changing gear, looking around and avoiding trouble all at the same time goes, my mountain bike, my new shopping bike, beat the cyclocross bike into the ground.  It's not as if they spend any time down on the drops on a cyclocross race (do they?)  And you can put more effort through your arms when you are on the handlebars when you're fighting your way up hills, and with a flat handlebar, you're still on the gears and the brakes if you need them.

 

So really, why do cyclocross bikes have drop handle bars?

Maybe its just for the ride from home to the circuit, but my experience of serious sport cyclists is that they drive as far as they ride for a bike event.

 

SC

[StreetCowboy]

While we’re about it, what are the disadvantages of an old-fashioned M shape handle-bar? I was going to say W but M is more representative, from the rider’s perspective.

I feel like it doesn’t put as much strain on your wrists, or the webs of your thumbs, but maybe you can’t put so much weight through your arms