[Closed] Dropper posts

Fair enough if it doesn't suit but im surprised: where do you ride/what sort of riding do you do? Prior to getting the dropper equipped bike, did you ever lower your saddle on similar rides?

It'll take a while to get used to using it, especially on a new bike. Worth getting used to though as it is very handy (unless you just ride canal tow paths)

I spent a month or so not quite seeing the point, but now I couldn't live without one (okay, slight hyperbole). Then again, a guy I ride with sometimes has done just that after sticking with it for several months. He found he would drop to a middle position for trails and then never adjust it until he was riding home again. He does pretty much only ride on the same trails, locally,all the time, though. Suppose it just depends on where you ride.

Most of my riding is at Afan.

I have the saddle at the usual position to help support me whilst pedaling both up and downhill.

Never used to drop the post very much before I had a dropper, only in extreme cases, and then I found it was too low to ride through the rest of the trail, so I would stop and put it back to the normal ( extended) ride height.

It looks quite neat to be honest, has internal cable routing, works well. But it seems as though I'm carrying around a bit of kit that barely gets used.

I might give it a few more tries to see if I learn to use it more.

I have generally liked the support of the extended saddle whilst pedalling, so it would only be used for tackling steep descent stuff etc.
Regards

Denis

You might find you need to change technique a touch as well to get the most out of the dropper. Instead of thinking "back" on steep hills think "low". A dropper only really comes into it's own though when the down is steep enough you don't have to do much pedalling.

It's not just about dropping it too. I have mine 25mm down for general riding. I can drop it out the way for tech downs or pop it up to max for a better pedalling position on the ups.

If you previously didn't drop your post much (like I didn't) I think there [i]is[/i] a period of adjustment.
You steadily develop a different (and better) technique.

It's not just about 'managing' stuff, it's about enjoyment too. Much more opportunity to pump, jump, carve, etc.

I'll give it a little longer and see if I can adapt to the dropper, glad to know that I wasn't the only one not to get on with it straightaway.
Regards

Denis

Get rid of it quickly before you get accustomed to it. I would love to not see the point of them, life would be a little simpler and less expansive that way.

Denis99 - Member

I have the saddle at the usual position to help support me whilst pedaling both up and downhill.

A dropper might well allow you a bit more extension to help climbing, and then out of the way for descending.

But yes, steeper stuff and allowing you to move round the bike unimpeded is the real benefit.

If you always have your seat at the same height, your riding position is compromised in some way, at some point during the ride - FACT

(unless your ride is flat/non-technical)

You're probably used to having to push your hips way back behind the saddle on steep stuff. Now you've got the dropper, try staying much more central and just dropping your whole body downwards, bending your arms and legs. Way more control.

Yes, I have been used to getting my hips back over the saddle for any steeper stuff, but I will give using the dropper and lower my body with my knees a trial.

Thanks for all the advice.

Just an update, I looked at some YouTube videos to get a better idea of how to use the dropper.

Been out twice now using the dropper slightly dropped on the descents, and extended on the climbs.

I seem to have adjusted to using the dropper, find it much better now.

Thanks for the advice.