Saw a comment on a dropper review recently where there was a suggestion that a dropper can be too long. It can drop to a point where it's then uncomfortable on the knees to rise back up from that position.
Never used more than a 185mm myself so not noticed this. Has anyone else or is this particular reviewer just a bit of an odd ball?
My current thinking would be to get the longest post possible for the frame and reduce the travel as required so that the collar sites flush with the top of the seat tube.
However, if there is such a thing as too low, I'll reconsider.
It can drop to a point where it’s then uncomfortable on the knees to rise back up from that position.
Erm... What?! 🤣
I've gone from 150mm to 200mm to 210mm to 240mm and the 240mm is friggin awesome. It's really out of the way, and of course if I don't want it that low I can always use the amazing feature of not dropping it so much... 😁
I didn't think you were meant to sit on it when dropped all the way?
Never too low. Look at bmxs, street trials bikes, dirt jumpers etc. Saddles on these bikes can be too low to even pedal while seated because your legs are folded to the max causing knees to rise above hips.
Sounds more like a strength/mobility issue.
Eh? I don't understand the question and I can't imagine how it would be a problem. If you struggle to lift your arse over 180mm with both feet on the pedals you're probably incapable of riding a bike anyway.
I love my 240mm. When it's down it's all the way out of the way.
In other helpful buying advice, do not choose a dropper with an overly powerful spring action or you could be propelled from your bike in an ejector-seat style and find yourself several metres in the air, which could result in loss of control and/or you banging your head on low-flying birds/electricity cables etc.
molgripsFull
I didn’t think you were meant to sit on it when dropped all the way?
No, but when you sit on it to drop it down, you then need to stand up. I can't see why it would be a huge issue, I have a 213mm post which is fine, can't imagine an extra inch causing that much discomfort (steady)
Saw a comment on a dropper review recently where there was a suggestion that a dropper can be too long. It can drop to a point where it’s then uncomfortable on the knees to rise back up from that position.
I do find that occasionally. When your legs are tired, it can be tough getting back up with it dropped fully. It's really just a matter of getting used to only dropping as far as you need rather than slamming it every time. Compared with wanting more dropper travel on rough descents, it's a pretty easy problem to live with.
Probably depends how long your legs are. A 240mm drop is effectively a lot lower for someone with a 27" inseam than someone with 36"
No, but when you sit on it to drop it down, you then need to stand up.
I’ve always thought that a dropper that dropped without you having to sit in it would be an awesome idea. Someone needs to get inventing.
They do exist, but it's pretty niche.
But yeah, no idea what that review's trying to say. I have 240mm drop in my fatbike now ffs. I mean, OK, pushing it down all the way is a bigger movement but you don't have to every time and the amount of effort to push it down 2/3ds of the way is exactly the same as my old post was, because it's exactly the same.
I’ve always thought that a dropper that dropped without you having to sit in it would be an awesome idea. Someone needs to get inventing.
every “dropper” at the moment is actually a riser - bloody frauds!
I ride a hardtail with a 425mm seat tube and a 200mm dropper and I’d happily have it go lower. But it doesn’t have to be dropped all the way every time, that’s one of the great things about it. It can have 50mm, 100mm 177mm or 200mm drop but the old 125mm dropper it came with can never have a 200mm drop.
It’s really just a matter of getting used to only dropping as far as you need rather than slamming it every time.
Isn't that just what you do? Why on earth would anyone slam the dropper every time? It's like complaining that a gas burner on a hob is too hot at fully open as if there are no interim options between fully off and fully on.
Most pro Downhill riders don't have their saddle slammed as low as possible. So I would say there is an optimum height for the down position on a dropper, that might not be 'as low as possible ' in every case.
In other helpful buying advice, do not choose a dropper with an overly powerful spring action or you could be propelled from your bike in an ejector-seat style and find yourself several metres in the air, which could result in loss of control and/or you banging your head on low-flying birds/electricity cables etc.
As a fairly recent user of a Gravity Dropper, which had an, er, 'enthusiastic' return spring, there can be the risk of a whack in the knackers if you're not careful...
Why on earth would anyone slam the dropper every time?
If you started out using GravityDroppers back in the day, that's what you had to do, the early ones only had fully up and fully down. Later they had an intermediate position, but that was really hard to actually use out on the trail and made the snappage problem worse.
200mm drop on one bike and 240mm on another.
I'd buy a 200 dropper again, but the 240mm is longer than I need.
I'm 6"4 with 36" inside leg. Not sure if that is of any relevance.
The extra 40mm only makes a difference if I've got something super wrong on something as steep as can ever ride on a black in a bike park. If I'm in a position where the seat needs to be that low, I have got it properly wrong.
I did occasionally get my saddle in my chest with a 170mm dropper, it's not happened with the 200mm, but I've had a son and weeks in the Alps and Whistler are off the cards for me now.
Yep I recognise that issue.
6ft, but with normal sized legs and I find 170mm there's a moment where if you're not in a high gear so you can't push on the front pedal, and your back leg gets cocked back and is useless. Then you can't get out of that position. You can't pedal forwards as your back leg is already folded as far as it goes, and can't back pedal because there's no strength in your back leg from that position.
It's not a massive issue, but it's definitely an inconvenience if you get caught out.
I suspect it's less of an issue the shorter your cranks are because then your back foot is effectively further forward. Ditto seat angles, and probably by your legs mechanics too.
My old bike had 27.5 wheels and a 170mm dropper, new bike is a 29er with a 185mm post. Like the extra drop but I do find my waist pack and arse contacting with the rear wheel now and again. I'm only 1.75m tall for reference.
I find my dropper, fully down is too low - so I don’t put it all the way down.
I like it just above knee height when down - I think.
I mean I know when I’m riding but not when I’m sat thinking about it.
Anyway - yes I think it can be too long but I don’t think that really matters provided you can get the raised height somewhere about right.
Too short? Definitely it could be.
150-170mm for me (6 foot but with dumpy legs)
As a fairly recent user of a Gravity Dropper, which had an, er, ‘enthusiastic’ return spring, there can be the risk of a whack in the knackers if you’re not careful…
Remind me to show you the Specialized Command dropper (I think) on the Levo, it has the subtle recoil action of a Lee Enfield 303, truly terrifying. You quickly learn to control the extension by semi-weighting the saddle as it rises - allowing even a smidgeon of free play invites a brutal smack in the knackers. Don't ask how I know etc 🙁