Fitted a new dropper to my wife's bike and she doesn't rate it - it's either up or down with no way of locking in between. Thought this was weird (never used one like this myself) and there was a problem with it but apparently not, it's a giant contact switch core that features 'Fully extended or fully compressed positions.' Guess I missed this, or they could have added 'with no inbetween!'
Anyone used one like this and is it actually ok when you get used to it? It feels very clunky tbh, like something from 2010, no idea what the thinking is with the design.
I only have my post either fully up or fully down - I want it to be at pedaling height or completely out of the way. Why do i want it to stop in the middle?
I only have my post either fully up or fully down - I want it to be at pedaling height or completely out of the way. Why do i want it to stop in the middle?
Quite to the contrary, I have mine in many positions - pedally techy flow sections (or climbs), drop it an inch or two. Downhills where I don't need it slammed, but might want to sit occassionally, have it half way down. That's just a couple of scenarios, but I definitely use most of it's length. I definitely do this much more on the ebike than exercise bike though
Why do i want it to stop in the middle?
I do if climbing really really steep stuff on the ebike
Im sorry - I’ve never come across this. But it would be a showstopper for me. I ride e-bikes mostly, and for steep techy climbs, I rely totally on the seat being in various positions. Fully up doesn't work for steep, technical ebike climbs - which was a complete surprise to me. For fireroads and DH runs, then full up and full down is fine. But for stuff in the middle, my post is all over the place.
The OG Gravity Droppers were deemed to be just fine and they only had two positions. Some folk did modify (drill) them for an in-between option.
The OG Gravity Droppers were deemed to be just fine before anything better was available and even then, some folk did modify (drill) them for an in-between option.
FTFY 😉
The original dropper post was the GravityDropper, which came in 3" and 4" versions. Initially fully up or fully down, but later they also had a 1" drop setting (they were mechanical and locked by a pin in a hole in the post, so were limited to wherever those holes were drilled.)
They were much better than a fixed post, but having infinite adjustment is much better. I have mine fully up for road climbs, about an inch down for pedaling on the flat, down about 4" for easy descents, and down 6" for steep descents. I cannot understand the fully up or down idea.
I only have my post either fully up or fully down - I want it to be at pedaling height or completely out of the way. Why do i want it to stop in the middle?
My niche reason is so it's level with the bars when taking photos of the bike.
Some new ideas to try on the next ride I reckon. Is this a common e-bike thing then?
I use mine dropped a little bit a good amount. But then again I also have my saddle height quite high in comparison to a lot of people who didn't come from a road background. My perception is a lot of MTBers who either never raced or never rode road have their max saddle height quite low comparatively. My knee would let me know in short order if I did the same. But that does mean I welcome a position just a little lower for pedally more techy stuff.
Mostly at the extremes, but for undulating pedally stuff I do like to drop it a little. I wouldn't like not having the option.
Some new ideas to try on the next ride I reckon. Is this a common e-bike thing then?
Definitely more so on the ebike as your legs don't need to be at optimal power, but still do it on my other bikes to a degree. I think generally on my ebikes, even at full extension, I don't quite have my post quite as high as my other bikes
I'm another one who uses lots of positions. There's many a time on longer descents with easier sections I'm just a few cm down. Easy to 'rest' while pedalling, but just stand up to get some clearance and moving around.
I only have my post either fully up or fully down - I want it to be at pedaling height or completely out of the way. Why do i want it to stop in the middle?
What do you mean by "at pedalling height"?
As various people have said, there's loads of different pedalling heights, depending on the gnadge level
****ing forum. Lost my edit.
this a common e-bike thing then?
Not just ebike. Very much a thing on real bikes too amongst people who like to ride as high a percentage of the ride as possible.
Why do i want it to stop in the middle?
I do if climbing really really steep stuff on the ebike
÷1
Yeah not specific to ebike at all.
I frequently set my saddle about 1 inch below 'classic' pedalling height for climbing, or those really rough bits especially on a hardtail where your sort of sat down but also sort of hovering above the saddle.
What do you mean by "at pedalling height"?
The optimum height for maximum power on climbs. This is too high for riding off road.
Nadgery tech climb I might have it about 2-3 inches down. I'll be giving up power but gaining a means of weighting the back wheel to prevent it slipping, while still having clearance to stand up properly when required.
Sometimes on easier/flatter tech, especially on undulating southern england woodland trails, it might be in a middle position but that is solely because I either lacked the time or couldnt be bothered to do the full squat needed to fully drop 210mm.
At no point when descending do I think sitting down would be a good idea.
If there was a significant cost, weight, or reliability benefit to a dropper that was all or nothing, I'd happily take it.
My perception is a lot of MTBers who either never raced or never rode road have their max saddle height quite low comparatively.
I think there might be a change based on how long you've been riding for.
Theres probably been 7+ years now that a new mountain bike would come with a dropper as default. If you got into MTB on one of these as an adult, a dropper is the norm.
For those who have been around longer, you either were on team XC (or with a road background) where you learnt the seat up technique and maybe occasionally manually dropped your seat if it really needed it.
Or you were team DH - you rode everywhere with your seat down (or pushed) and maybe occasionally manually raised your seat for a big non technical climb.
I came from the road. When I satrted mtb I didnt have a dropper. If my seat was manually dropped about an inch below proper pedalling height I had no power at all when seated. Standing pedalling was fine. Just very specific muscle groups that I had developed.
Not just ebike. Very much a thing on real bikes too amongst people who like to ride as high a percentage of the ride as possible.
Like me. Except i'll be honest and admit in 30ish years of mtb it has simply never occurred to me that having my saddle lower would help with tech climbs. I've either cleaned a section with it fully up or i'm off the seat in the "hover" position OR i fail to make it. Quite how this little gem of info has past me by considering how much time i have wasted reading mtb magazines or waffling on this forum is anyones guess. Can't wait to try it now.
The optimum height for maximum power on climbs.
You reckon... I'd be extremely surprised if he has his saddle on his MTB set for maximum power on climbs
This is too high for riding off road.
Exactly.
I've only ever used Rock Shox Reverbs - manual and AXS - Push lever/button and sit on saddle so it drops - release button/lever and the post stops dropping, so I can drop it any distance. Same with raising it...can go fully down or fully up, but releasing the button/lever and it stops moving.
Not just ebike. Very much a thing on real bikes too amongst people who like to ride as high a percentage of the ride as possible.
huh, never needed to myself (have a post at half-ish mast), but great option for folks who need it i guess.
in 30ish years of mtb it has simply never occurred to me that having my saddle lower would help with tech climbs.
The other one that surprises people is moving up one, or even two, gears.
the 3 point gravity dropper was great and pretty close to how I use infinite position droppers now
all the way or all the way down isnt ideal but it probably covers 95% of my dropper post use and its absolutely better than just a QR seat collar!
he 3 point gravity dropper was great
Drilling an extra hole in the inner post turned out to be a weak point.
That is sub-optimal...
