[Closed] Leaving yer saddle height untouched throughout all of your riding

You'll probably be surprised to find your tyres still have traction with further leaning and importantly the correct footwork, if you lean the bike and not so much yourself, which is much easier to do... with the seat out of the way 😉

Something I was somewhat amazed at when I was taught this, and I didn't even get the bike over as far as it could probably go and it would still maintain grip as was demonstrated to me.

So if I'm getting round the corners at the limit of my tyres' traction (or just without braking) with a full-height post, what advantage will I notice when I drop my saddle?

So you're loading every corner are you, by pumping the bike into the ground to massively increase grip?

[i]Don't forget to ignore every pro downhill racer, every pro enduro racer and everyone riding pump tracks, because clearly none of that is relevant to other forms of MTBing... [/i]

Aah, I didn't realise that you were their spokesman, you should have said. The last time I rode a pump track it was on my cross bike, fixed saddle, drop bars, yet I managed perfectly well.

I'll have to discount the last 20 odd years of riding and racing; I've obviously been doing it all wrong...

Some of us manage perfectly well, the other folk seem to need dropper posts.

im going to get a dropper post next month as im having trouble having enough post to ride xc then still have enough frame to hide the post in to go ride pumptracks clearing tables and doubles with a high saddle is really uneasing i did it on my hardtail but but only as i couldent be assed to stop with allenkeys in the middle of a ride.

aracer - Member

So if I'm getting round the corners at the limit of my tyres' traction (or just without braking) with a full-height post, what advantage will I notice when I drop my saddle?

Seems to be a genuine question so... The more you can move around, the more you can weight the bike/move your weight to improve traction.

Youv'e got a foreskin? Bit old fashioned innit?

it's what keeps my brain safe.. I don't really want to get drawn into the helmet debate again though..

Not everyone struggles to move round their bike with saddle up though. Can appreciate some folk need the room thoigh

"i couldent be assed to stop with allenkeys in the middle of a ride"
QR levered collar?

Interesting that folk who need to drop their saddles seem a bit threatened by those who don't...

Interesting the amount of bollox in this thread

james - i dident have a qr as my post at the time kept sliping and genraly i dont like qr collars so when the dropper comes my current qr will be ditched

Never bothered and doubt I will 🙂

I've never bother dropping my saddle and it's been fine for my riding. I've always hated the feel of the saddle being at the wrong height, something a dropper post which would return to full height would resolve. I bought wor lass one 2nd hand off here and it's definitely worked for her. It doesn't interrupt the flow of riding by having to get off and alter a qr.
Each to their own.

As per several post above, I 'hold' the bike saddle with my thighs when descending (if I dont need to get behind the saddle). Are drop post user still able to do this, or do the choose not to? Is it an advantage not to, tried lower my saddle all the way a couple of times & it felt very unsettling. Im just left wondering if I'm missing something

trail_rat - Member

Not everyone struggles to move round their bike with saddle up though

It's not about struggling though... A dropped post lets you move around more easily, sure, but it also lets you move more, and get your body into places and shapes that are impossible with the saddle up.

Whether or not you're bothered, or would use or benefit from that capability, is a different question of course. I'm not daft enough to tell other people I've never met what the best ways for them to ride are but the thread does seem to have a few folks who are.

Kind of curious about the "hold the saddle with the thighs" thing... Now I'll sometimes use the saddle to control the bike a little, with one leg or the other (this works fine with the saddle dropped) but I'm not sure what the benefit is of gripping it with your legs? When would you do that, and what does it do for you?

Hmmm, mate of mine sometimes does using the QR...I tried to follow his lead but to be honest it just felt all wrong like something was missing.

Still, each to theirs though...

I drop it all the time. You can still rest the saddle on your leg in corners but the rest of the time, if anything, I ride bow-legged so the bike can move around beneath me.

Last time I didn't bother to drop the saddle I went over a jump at llandegla and the saddle hit me in the balls and I nearly went over the bars. I will stick to dropping it if that's ok with the OP. It is better for me and I find descending more fun when I can go faster with the saddle down.

A few years ago i sat the Trail Cycle Leader exam then quickly followed it up with the Mountain Bike Leader exam and the instructors at the time tried to batter into me the importance of dropping the seatpost for difficult sections but i had a major disagreement with them regarding this as surely on a ride when your blatting along and you come to a downhill or drop-off section of trail you do not have the time nor stopping distance to halt and drop your post before carrying on, you have to learn how to get your arse over the back of the saddle and feel comfortable and confidant adjusting your body position as you see fit dependant on the trail conditions - where is this rant going?, i dunno really but if you feel the need to drop your saddle every time you come to a tricky section then perhaps you should learn or get taught some basic bike handling skills rather than rely on a dropper post or waste time by dropping it manually.

I've recently returned to biking after 4 odd years off the bike (past 2 months riding) and last week i was held up at kirroughtree as there was folk on full suss Lapierre's and one Giant dropping their posts on the trail before descending Talnotry hill, it's a friggin trail centre for christ sake, there is now't on that trail worthy of dropping a seatpost for, i've took kids of 10yrs old round sections of the red and black, including Talnotry Hill and Hyssing Syd and they're on 24" wheels, by the end of a session they all managed to ride everything without incident with their seatpost in the usual riding position.

Perhaps on a true wilderness ride you may need to drop your seatpost and i understand this, hell... I've done it myself descending from hills i'm unsure about but every trail centre course is designed to be ridden at speed, that is why they can be graded in such a way as red or black etc.

Personally none of my bikes have a quick release seatpost clamp and i discourage my mates to drop their seatposts - learn to ride with a saddle in the correct position as you don't know what the trail will throw at you, i guess this doesn't apply to the jumpy crowd but then again they would have the confidence and the balls to ride anything anyway.

I struggling to give good reason why i grip the saddle (a firm-ish yet relaxed 'giving' grip not a vice like one), it just how I've always ridden.

From memory, with the saddle right down (out of thigh range!) I didn't feel I knew where the bike was (position or angle wise), and felt very detached & lacking control of the bike (feel I can't angle the frame confidently) even though my feets & hands are attached. I 'do' wonder if it something I should try more, to get the hang of it?

Somafunk - I struggle with long sentences, is saddle dropping for dudes or douches?

Before I start
26" wheels
Turn my bike over to remove the wheels
Schrader

Of course you can ride with your saddle up.
Of course it's good to be able to ride something that comes out of the blue with your saddle up but
It moves, it's fine, it works well.
As above most people having issues with untested dropper posts and the crap ones. My KS has the newer internals and touch wood is going strong 2 years in.
I move around my bike to get my weight into the right position for what I am doing. Having a seat post in the way gets in the way of that.

Fair enough z1ppy, makes sense to me. Quite glad I don't have that issue though!

Just ride with it slammed, mtfu and stand up on the uphill and flat sections. Doing jumps with a seat up your arse is no fun at all.

I'm an XC rider through and through. Can't be 'arsed' having to think about changing saddles heights when it's not really needed around my area

I used to stop and lower my saddle before descents, but it just interfered with my flow, maaaan. 😉 Like someone said above, I like having a familiar reference point between my legs when I'm moving about on the bike. I am a mincer, though.

invisible post? 😕

EDIT: new page glitch

mikewsmith - Member
Before I start
26" wheels
Turn my bike over to remove the wheels
Schrader
(dropper seatpost [ed])

I wonder if there's any correlation - anybody else care to add a data point?

26"
Bike right way up to remove wheels
Presta
Full height seatpost

I wonder if there's any correlation - anybody else care to add a data point?

26"
Bike right way up to remove wheels
Presta
Full height seatpost

Lol sums it up never trusted anyone who doesn't turn their bike over 😆

I rode for many years with my seatpost at full height. I never saw any need to and never considered dropping it at all.

I was swayed by reading so many reviews from riders who had tried a dropper post and said that it really changed their riding. So I bought one, and I'm now damn near a dropper seatpost evangelist!

I'm able to move around so much better, especially to lower my center of gravity when needed. Some short, steep (near vertical) descents that used to scare the crap out of me with the saddle at full height are a piece of cake with the saddle dropped. i was amazed at the difference.

Expensive? Yes. Heavier? Yes. More complex? Yes. Worth it to me? Yes!

I just run my post on the low side all the time. I don't mind standing up and pedaling. I don't really like xc height seat posts as I find it is harder to pump and respond to the trail, a bit like running suspension with no sag. I always thought that one needed to get one's weight back but for downhill stuff weight down is what you want and this is not so easy with your seat right up as hanging off the back of your saddle tends to push your weight to the back. My theory is this is a hangover from running fully rigid and needing to have all the weight off the front wheel. Now everybody has decent front suspension it is amazing how much your front wheel can plough through with your weight more centred and down. I posted a film of some Danish xc lads doing big drops and gap jumps with their saddles right up where the sun don't shine. They don't hang off the back of the saddle.

Dyed in the wool tradutional seat post user, but mainly coz
A) can't afford a dropper
B) wouldn't want the extra weight
C) hate anything that is unreliable
D) needs loads of maintenance
Which is also most of the reasons i don't have a FS

26" wheels
Turn my bike over to remove the wheels
Presta
No dropper
& probably equally as relevant, clipped in.

I also run my saddle a tad lower than ideal, but with the nose tilted up a touch to help with steep climbs when you slide forward on it.
& I agree, you really don't need to hang over the back that much.
With 6 inches of travel front & rear, I seldom even stand any more.

I prefer to lower my saddle and inch as I feel more flexible and confident on the bike. I can and do ride saddle up on xc descents but on steeper ones I tend to lower it, sometimes two inches. It mainly helps with steep braky corners where you don't get hooked up as you both lean the bike before releasing the brakes (not explained well)

I have a giant contact switch dropper post but it's problematic. Usually stuck up or down. And it drops four inches which feels really weird. I Don't use it.

Someone above mentions managing to ride a CX bike perfectly well round a pump track without dropping their saddle.

There is a big difference between riding round a pump track and pumping a pump track.

Maybe this is a good way of defining riders that will find a dropper post useful. That and wether there wheels regularly leave the ground?

Not there is anything wrong with either riding style but it does explain why some folks don't need them. As someone who likes to lower my post a bit for off road and a lot for descents I would now be lost without mine. I have altered my riding style so much that without the ability to drop it I feel 'too tall' and lacking in grip.

That it adds FUN 🙂

As a rule I leave it alone but that's because I have it set slightly under optimum length. When around hebden or descending in the lakes I do sometimes drop it.

Here's the Danish xc lads on the local dh track.

Probably easier to have you seat right up on a smooth dh track than a trail with loads of roots and rocks that will catapult you over the bars if your weight is not low down. It is also much easier/possible to drop your heals.

Nobody's talking about pedals...

My local trails have a lot of short & steep ups and downs. Although I have a hardtail I considered a dropper post, as I do find it more comfortable to drop the seat a few cm for the downs.

However, I then switched to SPDs and it changes things. When riding flats, and going downhill you have to drop your heels to keep your feet in place (bouncing down my extra-rocky local trails may contribute to this point of view). Dropping heels like that means that my bum needs to be exactly where the raised seat is!

But when riding SPDs you don't need to apply technique to keep your feet on - they're attached. So I can keep my feet flat, stick the saddle in front of my crotch and blat down the short descents without having to stop.

If I went back to flats I'd want a dropper post to avoid stopping every 2 minutes. With SPDs my body/foot position isn't always optimal, but I don't have to stop.

Dropping heels is a good idea with SPD's as well. If you don't do it and do jumps and drops your feet are much more likely to twist and eject out of your SPD's at just the wrong moment. Trust me it's happened to me.

I ride XC so I never drop my saddle. I am faster than most people who do drop their saddles and talk about how its gnarly and has drops.

Remember you are probably riding XC which is as much about the ups and flats as the downs. If you're riding downhill or FR then of course drop your saddle.

If I went back to flats I'd want a dropper post to avoid stopping every 2 minutes. With SPDs my body/foot position isn't always optimal, but I don't have to stop.

Then you start moving your properly in spd's and your back in the same situation. Drop heels a lot riding clipped for better stability and body position.

also

Dyed in the wool tradutional seat post user, but mainly coz
A) can't afford a dropper

B) wouldn't want the extra weight

C) hate anything that is unreliable

D) needs loads of maintenance

Remember you are probably riding XC which is as much about the ups and flats as the downs. If you're riding downhill or FR then of course drop your saddle.

I used to stop and lower my saddle before descents, but it just interfered with my flow, maaaan. .

That's why dropper posts are so good - no need to stop for the little ups and downs.

Watching the olympics I was surprised by the seat height of most of the riders - quite low I thought. As in, probably 5-6 inches of space between their bum and the seat when stood - certainly more than I have with my seat at max extension. I'm not sure whether this was a compromise position or whether that is genuinely the most efficient pedalling position.

I used to be a "I don't need to lower my post for anything" type of rider (and I didn't really). But having subsequently been to the alps for the last umpteen years and getting a uppy downy post I now can't stand to have the thing up. You get so much more movement with it down, much easier to jump as well.

ThinkI've only ever lowered my saddle for riding once in 20+ years - descent of Snowdon. Was pretty pointless as it didn't make me feel more in control .

In my opinion if your bike fits you right,you should be able to get your bum right of the back of the saddle without dropping it.

Great post.

You can ride pretty much everything trail centre and general riding without putting the saddle down. It's just people read about doing it as there is such a mindset of 'following' in biking. I am the same as you - coming back to biking after a few years out and have been out a few rides. I am riding with my saddle in a fixed position, maybe a bit lower than the traditional XC position, but if you look not only at pro XC riders but also most top roadies their saddles are lower than you might expect.

I have found you can ride well without losing efficiency with the saddle a good bit lower than normal and thus not have to feel the need to drop it for technical stuff.

A lot of people I see dropping their posts low tend to ride the steep technical bits very slowly. If you attack them, look ahead and use a bit more flow you won't need to sit on your back tyre.

I wish there could be a discussion on this forum without the patronising and put-downs. People here get so worked up about things, and the basic point of discussion gets lost.

somafunk - Member
A few years ago i sat the Trail Cycle Leader exam then quickly followed it up with the Mountain Bike Leader exam and the instructors at the time tried to batter into me the importance of dropping the seatpost for difficult sections but i had a major disagreement with them regarding this as surely on a ride when your blatting along and you come to a downhill or drop-off section of trail you do not have the time nor stopping distance to halt and drop your post before carrying on, you have to learn how to get your arse over the back of the saddle and feel comfortable and confidant adjusting your body position as you see fit dependant on the trail conditions - where is this rant going?, i dunno really but if you feel the need to drop your saddle every time you come to a tricky section then perhaps you should learn or get taught some basic bike handling skills rather than rely on a dropper post or waste time by dropping it manually.

I've recently returned to biking after 4 odd years off the bike (past 2 months riding) and last week i was held up at kirroughtree as there was folk on full suss Lapierre's and one Giant dropping their posts on the trail before descending Talnotry hill, it's a friggin trail centre for christ sake, there is now't on that trail worthy of dropping a seatpost for, i've took kids of 10yrs old round sections of the red and black, including Talnotry Hill and Hyssing Syd and they're on 24" wheels, by the end of a session they all managed to ride everything without incident with their seatpost in the usual riding position.

Perhaps on a true wilderness ride you may need to drop your seatpost and i understand this, hell... I've done it myself descending from hills i'm unsure about but every trail centre course is designed to be ridden at speed, that is why they can be graded in such a way as red or black etc.

Personally none of my bikes have a quick release seatpost clamp and i discourage my mates to drop their seatposts - learn to ride with a saddle in the correct position as you don't know what the trail will throw at you, i guess this doesn't apply to the jumpy crowd but then again they would have the confidence and the balls to ride anything anyway.