What should be the correct handle position or elevation for road bikes? ?

Question

How do I know if my handle is positioned correctly?

Answer 1

what feel the most comfortable and natural for you is the ideal and best

Answer 2

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/bikefit/

here is a link to some very useful information.  though some parts of it are subjective, this will give you a good starting point.

Answer 3

What ever position you find most comfortable for you.

Answer 4

The lowest part of the bar should be parallel to the ground

Answer 5

It is true that there is a subjective component to this setting, but the best place to start is with the end of your bars pointed along an imaginary line that intersects with the rear brake bolt.  Begin there and then you can tweak it for individual preference.

Not clear what you mean by elevation but I'll take a stab at that.  Most threadless (aheadset-type) stems are reversible and you can chose between a rise or neutral position.  Almost all beginners seem to use the rise choice, which might be initially more "comfortable" but is not as aerodynamic and not as comfortable in the long run because too much of your weight is transferred to your rear.  Look at the setups you see the pros riding.  There will always be a significant drop from the saddle height to the stem/bar height.

I"m 60 years old and ride quite comfortably with a significant drop.  One of my road bikes is set up with almost no drop and I know from keeping ride time data that I am slower on it than my other bikes.

Hope this helps.  Please post again if your question is not answered here.