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Danny Hart (with a Reverb for added relevance to the thread, and lots of post showing)
What position is that dropper in? 😆
You're thinking of it all wrong it's not when do I drop my post more when do i put it up.
Downhillers don't slam their saddles - correct!
But they do have their saddles way lower than pedalling height. It's not often you get the measurements but Jared Graves mentioned in a fairly recent bike check that 125mm drop works well for him as it puts the saddle at the same height he had on his downhill bike.
Saddle heights on DH bikes are deceptive because when unsagged the BB is much higher than when riding and the top tubes are almost always low, which makes the saddle look higher off the ground than it really is.
I bet all those riders pictured have their saddle at least 5" higher on an XC or trail bike.
If dropper posts were called raiser posts maybe the naysayers would understand them better? 😉
That's my point cheif. 🙂
All those saddles look really low to me. Wouldn't fancy seated pedalling on any of themThing is, they don't.
Why do I get the impression that some people have been convinced that dropper posts are now a "must" rather than a convenience?
Changing seat height as much/more than changing gear on a multi-geared bike?!?! What? Over-thinking it?
As said, I own a dropper on one bike, but have and do manage to ride rough terrain better than many people, without constantly adjusting the seat height. I use my legs.
"Pedalling height" is fine most of the time. Toppling doesn't occur unless really steep.
Ps. Having the seat fully slammed down for DH reduces the available leverage points for moving the bike around.
No idea why you get that impression. I don't think anyone has ever said it. Of course you can ride with your saddle a non optimal height. Just like you can ride with your suspension poorly adjusted or the wrong tyre pressures. You can find a compromise mid setting that works and stick with it.Why do I get the impression that some people have been convinced that dropper posts are now a "must"?
One thing I'd add is that I miss the dropper a lot more on flats than when clipped in. On a modernish geometry bike I struggle to get my weight where I want it and have my heels down with the saddle up; being clipped in allows a slightly different technique (but I still prefer to drop it down).
I have been running one for about 5 years now. When I got my XC bike I did the just deal with it approach, did reasonably well at it and could navigate my way down stuff in races. Then through a bit of a swap around ended up with a spare dropper and fitted it to the XC bike, transformed it in the more technical stuff. I could prance around with the saddle up working around that or just drop it and raise it again. Guess which I'd pick...
On the trail today I probably varied the seat 8-10 times in 2km as the trail went up, down, along and had a couple of steep sections. If I'm flying it makes a huge difference as to getting some solid pedal strokes in while sitting. Much better for the legs than the more impressive looking stand/grind option.
All this probably coincided with an attempt to improve my technique to the more central position approach which definitely suits a dropper and has helped bring my riding along a lot.
The BB to saddle height on those dh bikes are all probably lower than on my bike with the dropper fully down. The amount of stem showing is irrelevant. And watching the guys perform their weight is really far back behind the saddle and over the back wheel or even behind the back wheel axel. It's all about weight distribution. That is the whole point. Saying a dropper is a convenience is like saying slacker geometry for a dh bike is a convenience. You don't see an xc bikes on the world dh circuit. I doubt it would be possible for anyone to ride an xc bike down a World Cup dh course.
I rode down pretty much anything before with my seat raised as I do now with a dropper. The 'how' I ride is different. I now approach the truly steep and techy stuff with more smoothness, speed and control than I did previously. Mainly because I can maintain a lower CoG in the centre of the bike.
If something can make it feel better - why not!
Edit.Chiefgroove & mikew +1's.
Worth a read
http://m.pinkbike.com/news/zeps-how-to-mythbusters-position-balance-steeps-heavy-braking-2016.html
Interesting replies so thanks for them all.
My post has multiple points but isn't infinitely adjustable.
Yes, I dropped my post on 2/3 (literally, 2 out of 3) but we rested / regrouped there anyway.
I'm absolutely going to persevere and I think I'll end up adjusting the height more. I suspect though, it's not suited as much to my typical riding now as it would have been a decade ago in Devon.
Changing seat height as much/more than changing gear on a multi-geared bike?!?! What? Over-thinking it?
I do it without thinking.
Downhillers slam their saddles
Thing is, they don't.
Danny Hart (with a Reverb for added relevance to the thread, and lots of post showing)
I can't slam the saddle on my Demo or the rear tyres hits the scale when it bottoms out.
I used to piss about dropping my post all the time, do a dropper saves me a lot of faffing. I really hate riding anything remotely fun with the saddle up because it just feels like it's in the way.
Thing is, they don't.
They aren't at full height either though, and they're pointed at the sky.
A XC/Trail/Enduro/AM bike does not ride just one type of terrain like a DH bike does, and certainly doesn't get ridden UP hills.
That is basically what Jedi said to me years ago when he got me out of the habit of hanging off the back when it got steep. You are sacrificing a lot of your control & front wheel traction and most of the time it's simply not necessary.Worth a read
http://m.pinkbike.com/news/zeps-how-to-mythbusters-position-balance-steeps-heavy-braking-2016.html
hmm never really thought about hanging off the back, more just that the seat was in the way.
moving weight side to side, or anywhere in 3 dimensions is easier with a lower seat, that isn't at full "roadie" height? you can suck up and absorb bumps with it lower too.
Can't believe all the different ways that dropper's are being used..just thought they were for making it easier putting the bike in the car boot!
Yes, if you ride smooth, long climbs, then a single descent, stick with a plain old quick release.
If your trails go up, down and around continuously there is a huge benefit to using one. For cornering, for drops, for jumps and logs, for skinned or anything else you might fall off...
Obviously it's possible to ride strep stuff with a high saddle, World Cup Xcode races are pretty gnarly and steep these days. However, for most of us with more modest skills, the dropper post will improve more than it will hinder due to its weight.
Obviously it's possible to ride strep stuff with a high saddle, World Cup Xcode races are pretty gnarly and steep these days. However, for most of us with more modest skills, the dropper post will improve more than it will hinder due to its weight.
and droppers were starting to make an appearence there too. It's the difference between managing and going flat out
Absolutely essential kit to me these days. Would really feel like going backwards not having one on a ride now.
My fatbike still hasn't got one but it will eventually. As mentioned, they become totally intuitive on the trail. Brilliant invention.
One of the best things is being able to sit down on your bike when you stop for a chat and a drink. 🙂
best bit of kit in modern mtb
My bikes are more fun to ride with a dropper post fitted. Surely that's the most important thing?
tjaard - MemberYes, if you ride smooth, long climbs, then a single descent, stick with a plain old quick release.
it's probably over-kill for many, but a go-go-gadget seatpost means your saddle always goes up to the same height - handy even for those who aren't frequent droppers...
(yes, you can get a seatpost with markers on, but the markers last about 5mins in my experience)
After not seeing the point since their release, I got a dropper in 2013, the last of my group.
It took about three rides for the light to come on. Curiously, I use it the least on big mountain rides. But with everything else, it gives more space to move on the bike.
Not having one now would be really sucky.