Hi all, want to buy a dropper post for my new Canyon Stoic 2. Been looking at a Brand X with 170mm of drop. Is it easy to do? Worried about getting cable length right etc. Looks like the sort of thing I could easily cock up.
Easier than fitting a rear mech, less easy than fitting a pedal.
If that’s out of your capability, your lbs will do it for not very much money, cos it’s pretty quick and easy to do.
I managed to bugger up 2 inner cables before I eventually managed to get it right. External routing too. But my mechanical skills are not really in existence.
Concur with the above though. Rear mechs are no fun whatsoever 🤣
.
Is it easy to do?
Yes, but slightly fiddly.
Did three of them yesterday on the rest of the family‘s bikes.
Pretty straightforward (agree with the rear mech and pedals comment), but measure and offer up carefully.
Don’t rush it and it’s a doddle.
Only one way to learn.
I tend to use the LBS for correcting my mistakes - they always like that - but have a stab myself first.
Hardest part with fitting my dropper post was drilling my frame to keep it stealth. No LBS could sort it out if I messed that part up!
How do you measure the right cable length? And what tools/stuff will I need? Vid on the internet seems to suggest lots of things i don’t have and all kinds of grease etc
Iirc, you trim the cable once it’s fitted, at the lever end, so you don’t need to measure first.
Tools: Allen key set, cable cutters.
Grease will be the same as you would use for any seatpost, dropper or fixed. Most people manage without any.
How do you measure the right cable length? And what tools/stuff will I need?
Fit the lever to the bars. Run the outer cable along where you expect it to run. Make sure you can turn the bars through the full range of movement. Cut the outer cable two inches longer than you think it should be. Fit it and cut the inner cable to match. Ride the bike and make sure it works. If the cables are too long, trim them down. Too long is better than too short.
Always take the inner out before trimming the outer. 😉
Always take the inner out before trimming the outer.
Yep.
In terms of grease, ideally you'd want to use a bit of carbon fibre paste. It allows you to use the minimum amount of torque when tightening the seat post collar.
Agree with comments above.
If internally routed and changing the outer sheath, remove old inner cable, run a tandem rear gear cable (£3) through the old sheath, remove the old sheath and thread the new sheath over the tandem gear cable, then remove the gear cable. Works a treat when changing rear mech outer sheath as well 🙂