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"I think this misunderstanding is quite telling. As has been pointed out the meaning was getting weight lower rather than lighter. If the meaning of lowering weight down into the bike went over your head them you very well might not see the advantage of a dropper post."
You can still get your weight lower without lowering the seatpost. I do understand the principle of moving around on the bike, I've been riding MTB for 27 years and motorbikes for 47. Anyway, yes, I misunderstood the post about weight.
However, as I said, I'm going to give it a try as soon as I get round to refitting it. I'm very open to being wrong and discovering that getting my weight as low as possible will make me a riding god. We'll see .....
I might understand weight distribution, but obviously not how to quote from a previous post ....
Last ride at Swinley, used hardtail, didn't miss dropper. (Though my post was gradually lowering itself, so I did wish I didn't have a busted QR clamp!)
Other rides at Swinley I follow my son over jumps and the post lower means it's sooo much easier to jump the bike. And I don't even jump high. If you jump or do drops, not having a saddle in the way just make sense.
The boy laughed at me at BPW the other day cos I didn't lower my saddle on one of the blues. It was quite pedally!
Other runs I did drop it.
I mean, some people don't feel the need for dropper posts, I just don't feel the need to have other people make decisions for me!! 😆
If I brake hard my long travel bike dives. To mitigate this, I put my weight back and keep it low. With a lower saddle, I can get my weight back and much lower.
I don't know why this is still a debate
Droppers are just better - end of!
The bike industry is routinely guilty of selling us things we don't need / stuff we don't want / stuff we never new we wanted etc
Droppers are not one of these things...We didn't suddenly start dropping seat posts because droppers became a thing. Its pretty obvious that if you want to enjoy a descent then you need the seatpost out of the way. I learned that after about half an our down the local woods as a child - now its just easier as I have a button for it. I mean that is why we ride bikes isn't it? For the decants! Even if you prefer climbing I don't understand why you would make the decants harder, more uncomfortable and more treacherous on purpose. Makes no sense?
The only reason I can come up with is that perhaps for some people, bending over double and having something stiff pressing firmly against your arse is somehow pleasurable? I'm not even joking - I literally cannot think of any other reason.
I mean that is why we ride bikes isn’t it? For the decants!
No.
There are downsides:
1) Weight
2) Reliability and servicing
3) Cost
4) This is controversial, but it's another thing to do and think about. When I use one, I am thinking 'is it time to drop? Yes/No' then reaching for the lever. It's another process, however small.
having something stiff pressing firmly against your arse
My saddle isn't pressed against my arse when I'm descending without a dropper. It's on my stomach.
I don't use one on all my bikes and I don't think I will. But for many bikes, it's essential to use the bike as it was designed.
My saddle isn’t pressed against my arse when I’m descending without a dropper. It’s on my stomach.
I think that's even more contentious than the dropper debate!
After mine lunched itself (again) one mile into a ride today I am starting to look favourably at the advantages of a normal post and a quick release...
TBH, sounds to me like OP is going with peer pressure if all his mates have eschewed droppers. Also guessing he hangs off the back when the saddle is down, this lightening the front if descending with saddle dropped is sketchy and worrying
I can see why on the fly adjustment of saddle height is less attractive if you only ever ride with people who stop and faff at the top and bottom of everything.
I guess droppers aren’t something that it’s impossible to ride a bike without, but I’d want one on any mtb of mine.
I didn't spec one on my FS when I bought it (2011) & they were just getting 'fashionable'. After much faffing aboutery I succumbed & got one, a Reverb.
It's very handy but I wouldn't say it's changed my life. I don't do trail centres & the natural bits I ride where I need the saddle down are less than when I need it up.
I'll keep it though.