Dropper posts - must have or just another fad?

oodboo

I really want a dropper post for my enduro but can't afford one at the moment. However the more I ride my bike wanting one and thinking how much better it would be the less I actually want one. I'm quite happy to stop at the top and get off to put my seat down. I gives me a chance to have a quick rest and reset before hitting to trail.

This is how I see it:
A) With - keep riding, don't stop, just flick a switch and go. Get to the bottom, switch again and ride on.
Without - stop for a bit rest/banter, get in the right order for your groups ability (fastest up front etc). Stop again at the bottom, mock the slowest (or offer tips).

As a sociable rider not looking to be the fastest round the woods option B seems a bit better to me.

So, what are your arguments for and against?

felix.london

For that sort of riding sounds like you wouldn't really benefit from one.

I hate stopping! That's why I love the dropper post. I used to prefer to ride with the seat at the wrong height rather than stop at the bottom of a fast descent and lose all momentum just to put the bloody seat up a bit.

After the forks it's the best upgrade I've put on the bike..by a long shot.

bluechair84

I think your bang on. If you have long climbs, then decent descents, a dropper is wasted on you because it isn't much hassle to get off and drop at the top. But if your climbing and descending more regularly for shorter periods, a dropper makes far more sense. Surprisingly, even the gravity enduros have short sections where you need to pedal your arse off (at Hamsterly at least) so in timed descents, the dropper really helps there too.

Raymondavalon

I found mine invaluable for the mixed type of riding I was doing on a 140 All Mountain, especially the steep descents.
They can be finicky and do require periodic maintenance, but my dropper was used a lot, looked after and never skipped a beat. Let's not mention the "weight penalty" that droppers bring to the table, but that didn't bother me as both the AM bike and my good self are no lightweights.

It's not about droppers being a "must be" or a "fad", it's about personal choice and I rated mine as one of the best investments for my riding

oodboo

I feel like I tick all the right boxes for the type of riding/type of bike etc to have one but just not convinced that it would make much difference. I think I would just be using it because it's there.

Bluechair84 mentioned Hamsterley, I ride there a lot as it's my closest trail centre and usually do the back route taking the transmission line and section 13, etc. (I've took the day off work to go there next Tuesday). I reckon this is the sort of place a dropper would be of value but I'm still not convinced. Even my local woods is a mixture of short climbs and decents.

supersonic

I actually like the feel of the seatpost up my aris on some descents (oo er!). I think you can control the bike via the saddle to an extent with your legs. And am not the only one, not many DH riders ride with the saddle slammed, look at peaty:



No dropper either. So really is personal preference. Try one, if you like it, buy it!

Briggo

supersonic wrote:

Try one, if you like it, buy it!

So, can you list the places that'll allow you to try it before buying please.

supersonic

I don't know everybody's shops or friends! Ask.

1mancity2

I have one on the Reign and it was invaluable, don't like stopping on trails and try to keep it going if I can, but I ride more DH stuff now and my seat is allways down so dropper post is only needed for the ride back to the truck.

Thewaylander

supersonic wrote:

I actually like the feel of the seatpost up my aris on some descents (oo er!). I think you can control the bike via the saddle to an extent with your legs. And am not the only one, not many DH riders ride with the saddle slammed, look at peaty:



No dropper either. So really is personal preference. Try one, if you like it, buy it!

Yeh but you should see him riding, thats still between his knees when he is stood up.. that man is tall!!!!!

supersonic

6ft 3 - looks pretty high still!

Briggo

C'mon dude you must know you know everything!

My point is all these recommendations of try this and try that, for the majority of people just doesn't work for numerous reasons, i.e. shops don't allow proper tests/trials of bikes or parts (not just up and down the pavement outside) or know no one to borrow one or a suitable one that'll fit etc etc.

Unfortunately we as the general public don't have companies sending us things to test

supersonic

Lol, but before I was a really famous journalist (!) I was a pretty determined tester - sure, many shops will not let you try/test cheaper stuff, but when stuff is going on for this money it is worth asking whether they can ask their supplier to get a demo in. If they don't even try, ruffle your £250 and say you are off to the next shop ;-)

Doesn't always work, but worth a shot. I have even had the shops staff lend me stuff!

bartimaeus

If you can get along to a demo day you'll likely find a number of test bikes with dropper posts. I don't have one yet - but I've now tried a few. If I do get one I'll get one with a remote as the benefit for me would be on those sections that alternate climbing and descending... and on these sections not only do I not want to stop, but I don't really want to be fiddling under my seat as I approach a 'feature' :oops:

Northwind

Wouldn't say essential, but very very useful if you're the sort of rider that'll use it. Which I am- so when I'm riding my rigid-forked XC hardtail, I still fit my gravity dropper to it- riding without suspension is fun but riding without the dropper just feels daft

Even some people who don't think they'll use it find they do- I loaned one to a mate who said "I never drop my seatpost so there's no point"- now he drops his seatpost all the time, and thinks he was mad not to. But then another mate sold his after a month of not using it.

bomberesque

I think they're great but hideously overpriced. In the days when the gravity dropper and Joplin were the two available choices, I had really thought that a couple more players in the market would bring the prices down but that hasn't really happened. I live in hope but that hope is dwindling.

I'd say if you find yourself adjusting your saddle height a lot then you are a candidate, especially if you adjust it enough to wear the post out within a season. Further, if you often find yourself halfway down a hill thinking "hmm, wish I'd put the saddle down at the top" then you are a model candidate

and if you do decide to get one, spring for the remote up front, reaching for your nuts half way down a descent that just reminded you that you have a dropper seatpost is neither amusing or safe

SS's suggestion of borrowing one is a good one, if you can find someone willing to let you have their post for a day (no, you can't have mine, I'm using it!)

apreading

I have found that as I am getting more adventurous, I want the seat down more often but I then end up climbing out of the saddle constantly which aggravates a slight problem I have with the tendons in one knee. I find myself really wanting one, but they are just silly money - cant understand why someone hasnt come in with a much cheaper version and swept the market.

styxd

I actually like the feel of the seatpost up my aris on some descents (oo er!). I think you can control the bike via the saddle to an extent with your legs. And am not the only one, not many DH riders ride with the saddle slammed, look at peaty

No pro downhillers ride with their saddle at optimum pedalling height though!

Dropper posts are a great idea. But they are too expensive and the manufacturers are idiots who cant design things properly, since msot of them seem to break after a few weeks.

paul.skibum

Your poll needs:

d) would like one but they dont fit my bike

Old frame, narrow gauge seat post, no one makes a dropper.

To be honest if I ride with others it doesnt bother me but on my solo jaunts the ability to drop and raise without stopping would be good. Still not sure I could justify the cost though.

ashleydwsmith

Personally I think they are great.

I love the fact I can just ride straight into some of my techy stepp trails, but what I also love is that I can hit the DH bits then when it levels out raise it back up so I'm not standing when I don't need to be.

bennett_346

Personally don't need one at all. Though i'm not so naive that i can't see why others do.

Mojo_666

If you never had one you don't need one, but if you have you won't be without one again.

allthegearnoidea

i if i was riding a big burly full bouncer then id possibly look at one, but as i ride a 140mm hardtail for pretty much everything and Never adjust the saddle i have no need, that and the 27.2 ones are Fugly things! i ride a Medium frame and bang on 6ft am in that borderline of M-L frame sizes, but on my bike i can sit on the back tyre whilst riding if i have to and still have full controll, so personally i see no point in one for me,
a few of the guys i ride with have them and are Always going on about them, i can see the advantages, but they all ride big bouncers, admittedly, over the same terrain i'm on with my saddle Up! but if having your saddle up is a confidence issue when going down then they are a godsend,

YeehaaMcgee

Isn't there another thread asking this exact same question, with a poll, created today?
Or am I tripping balls again?
I got a Joplin 4 to try out, since I needed a new seatpost urgently, and CRC had an offer on them, making them almost reasonably priced. And Sheepsteeth harassed me into it.
Although I could imagine the benefits of one, it never really struck me how useful they were until I started riding with it.
Now, I wouldn't say that all my bikes need one, but it's definitely a desirable addition - especially on a do-it-all bike.

bennett_346

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Isn't there another thread asking this exact same question, with a poll, created today?

There's about three to my knowledge...

snotty badger

I use to be constantly raising and dropping my seat post, now i don't bother- I've just learnt to get on with it at normal height.

Droppers seem too expensive and heavy at the moment. And I couldn't be done with more cables and levers on the bike too!

pilch

Some bikes yes, some bikes no... I wouldn't put one on my HT's as the geometry/riding position is more XC/race orientated, the riding position is already 'in the bike' and they ride perfectly in the majority of situations.

My FS 29er is more 'sit up' trail/all mountain orientated with a 120mm fork up front and a slight rise on the bars, I would say it is essential on this bike to get the best out of it, the riding position and CofG 'feels' high.

I found I was constantly on and off the bike adjusting the seatpost to get the right feel, not just for steep techy stuff but also for pedaly trail centre stuff.

Lowering the seat on the fly transforms the handling and front end grip then up for the climbs, I definitely prefer the remote option though.

supersonic

Mojo_666 wrote:

If you never had one you don't need one, but if you have you won't be without one again.

I have had one, it went. As have many others I know.

plugp7

I read in another forum that seatpost dropper is a poor excuse for someone who has not yet grasped cockpit technique!!! Interesting point.
Not my opinion I might add, me, I just can't be arsed and can find better uses for £250 or so.

bartiebat

Mojo_666 wrote:

If you never had one you don't need one, but if you have you won't be without one again.

1000% true. You don't realise how much you need one until you've got one.

It's not a case of I'm going down, drop the seat, I'm going up, up it. It's the fractions of cm's you constantly jiggle as you're going along that you never realised would help so much. My riding has completely transformed itself since investing in one.

cooldad

plugp7 wrote:

I read in another forum that seatpost dropper is a poor excuse for someone who has not yet grasped cockpit technique!!! Interesting point.
Not my opinion I might add, me, I just can't be arsed and can find better uses for £250 or so.

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

plugp7 wrote:

I read in another forum that seatpost dropper is a poor excuse for someone who has not yet grasped cockpit technique!!! Interesting point.

It's not an interesting point, it's utter nonsense.