New road bike and body aches

[snip]

I'm a C group rider started about 50 and spent most of the time on
the
tops of the drops.

[snip]

Well, obviously. That's how the bars are designed to work. I put my
hands on the brake hoods more often than other positions.

Mind you, I miss the old randonneur bars, even more focussed on
keeping your hands on top of the drops.

Jeremy Parker