Distributor i-ride.co.uk was showing lots of shiny things, but pride of place was reserved for a working version of Thomson’s new Elite dropper post.
The seatpost is cable-operated, with a cam-actuation to ease cable pressure. The handlebar mount is small and neat and should be relatively easy to find room for. (It does have a rather knee-punching shape though, so watch where you put it). Complete weight is likely to be around 450g.
The post itself offers 5in of drop and is infinitely adjustable. It uses an internal hydraulic cartridge with a fixed pressure and incorporates a second ‘check valve’ that stops the feature of some other posts where the saddle lifts up when you try to lift your dropped-post bike by the saddle. There are internal Norglide bearing surfaces as well as a ‘self-adjusting’ system to keep the post free of side-to-side play.
We asked why the cable goes in at the top of the post, to which the Thomson rep told us that if it went in at the base collar, it would then need an internal lever to get to the up/down switch inside, which would add friction and more complication. There is, however, a stealth version in the works for later this year.
The post only comes in 30.9 and 31.6 at the moment, though there was also talk of a 27.2 version and, interestingly, a road bike version. The road version would allow a drop for descents, but also allow a shallower drop for cobbled sections where you still need to hover and pedal… That’s probably for next year though.
The Thomson dropper is going to be here around April and should retail for around £350.
More details here: bikethomson.com
And finally, also at the i-ride booth, how about some bright Northwave winter boots to cheer up your commute? Not out until autumn, but they should get you seen and keep your feet warm…
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nice to see another competitor entering this market … sad to see they’re choosing not to compete on price
I mean; 350 quid? REALLY?
£350 lol
Sorry. Did you just write £350? If you did then that could be the funniest thing I’ve ever read.
Only £50 (16%) more than a reverb though. It’ll be interesting to see if the price drops, Reverb’s are pretty much half their RRP now.
As above. £350 for cable actuation at the clamp? Rearrange these 3 words: game, the, behind.
cable operated is a total non starter, on every dropper i have tried the cable is the Achilles heel, they all have problems sooner or later. the fully sealed reverb is the only reliable dropper i’e ever tried.
Their website states it will be available “Available April 1, 2013”
Maybe the price announcement is related to the significance of the release date?
The cable links to the top of the post rather than what I assumed all new posts would do (bottom of post/stealth). I looked at the technicals on the website and can’t see anything new or ahead of competition.
My Reverb cost £170 and is without doubt the single best purchase I have made for a bike.
I would just like to say that I am glad to hear that people the price tag as ridiculous. Don’t pay it, they can’t charge it, easy as pie.
“£350 for cable actuation at the clamp?”
Fox is that too?
KS Lev is same money but collar cable entry?
If it works flawlessly then it might be worth the money but given none of these posts seem to be tested in UK winter conditions before release i doubt it. Perhaps hope should work with one of the uk suspension specialists to design a dropper for the uk?
” and incorporates a second ‘check valve’ that stops the feature of some other posts where the saddle from lifts up when you try to lift your dropped post bike by the saddle.”
In English?
Should read something like ”and incorporates a second ‘check valve’ that stops the post extending when lifting the bike by the saddle, which is a feature with some other dropper post models”. My Reverb extends back to full height if I lift the bike by the saddle when dropped, it returns back to the dropped position when you let go of the saddle.
It’s shiny, it’s got thompson written on it, it doesn’t matter what they charge, shops won’t be able to keep them in stock! Check back here in 12 months time and someone will be claiming it’s either the best or worst purchase they’ve ever made! When, in reality, it’s a seatpost, it goes up and down and now you’ve nothing to do when you’re waiting for your mate at the top/bottom of a hill.
jonomc – never a truer word spoken.
After a ridiculous amount of research, I went with Fox last year. Shop tech told me “about $400” but charged me CDN$525 (about 330 British Pound). I convinced him $425 was acceptable. The Fox post is brilliant. 3-position is all anyone needs. Set it and forget it. You get what you pay for…unless you buy Crank Brothers. Then you get pretty.
I adjusted the height of my saddle the other day and it cost me nowt, bugger all. Might even adjust it again in a couple of months, or I might just get on with riding.
350 quid. Mental.