I don’t like dropper posts; I’ve tried them and they’re not for me.
I think dropper posts are a useful line in the sand, if you want/need one, you're probably as well with an MTB as you're likely in the sort of terrain where bigger tyres and flat bars are beneficial?
I think dropper posts are a useful line in the sand, if you want/need one, you’re probably as well with an MTB as you’re likely in the sort of terrain where bigger tyres and flat bars are beneficial?
That was my opinion of 50mm+ tyres.
Outside of some very niche use cases like the Tour Divide in the USA where you're going to ride on rocky mountain singletrack for 3 days then a straight flat road for 3 days the usefulness of drop bars diminishes massively. It's not that they can't do technical riding, they're just not optimal. And unless you've got to ride 1000miles to get to the fun bit the flat bars make more sense.
I think dropper posts are a useful line in the sand
Ha! And for me it's (currently) front suspension. When I bought my Topstone I avoided the Lefty version as being too "similar" to my hardtail. Those cheap droppers at Wiggle keep catching my eye, though I suspect you're right.
gravel bike is never going to be the most efficient bike for longer distances off-road unless the ‘off-road’ is basically no rougher than a lot of country lanes.
This sums it up for me. Gravel bikes, designed primarily around long stretches of hard packed gravel, perfect around the new forest etc.
This isn't enough for people and so a lot of this thread is complaints that gravel bikes aren't as good as an MTB off-road.
Course they're not, they're not designed for that, just like a road bike doesn't belong at a trail centre.
I don't get the proliferation of gravel bikes with suspension and dropper posts. It's just the futile quest for the holy grail of bikes - one bike to do everything.
That's never going to happen, accept the compromise and the n+1 that comes with it....or just become a full time roadie.
Ha! And for me it’s (currently) front suspension.
Yep, that's my line in the sand too - I wouldn't have my gravel bike without a dropper though. Definitely helps me move my weight around when it's dropped slightly, something I couldn't do when the saddle's at maximum height for climbing/roadie-ing efficiency. I don't need the whole 150mm of drop I've got but it was what I spare at the time I built it up.
Current debate with my own gravel bike is tyres: frequently thinking about changing my 700x50 G-One Ultrabites for something 29x2.2/2.4 for added comfort and ability, but I feel constrained by wanting/needing full length guards. I expect if/when I swap to wider tyres it'll be the final nail in the coffin for my hardtail.
Those cheap droppers at Wiggle keep catching my eye
Oh? Any 27.2mm ones I should be aware of?
I have been thinking one with an under-saddle lever could suit me quite well.
Yeah, but let’s face it, in a world of blurred lines, the Topstone Lefty is about as fuzzy as the memories of an early 20s night out.
🙂
When I bought my Topstone I avoided the Lefty version as being too “similar” to my hardtail.
Yep, i sold my HT as a result, but don't miss it for the type of riding I do on the Lefty. Although I do ride the Diverge more than the Topstone, better for all that windfarm gravel and road there and back.. 🙂
That’s never going to happen, accept the compromise and the n+1 that comes with it
Or just actually really accept the compromise and ride the same bike everywhere.
Oh? Any 27.2mm ones I should be aware of?
A week or so ago they were only £49.99 with remote lever and cable. Bought one for Mrs.S. Wish I'd bought two now!
@chakapingthey have 27.2 but internal routing only.
A week or so ago they were only £49.99 with remote lever and cable. Bought one for Mrs.S. Wish I’d bought two now!
Thanks both.
I'm gonna hang on for a cheap under saddle lever one at some point. May have to wait for someone to develop the product obvs.
I like the idea of being able to swap the post on quickly for specific rides.
@chakaping - https://www.tradeinn.com/bikeinn/en/xlc-dropper-sp-t09-telescopic-seatpost/136825528/p?
Any good to you?
That’s never going to happen, accept the compromise and the n+1 that comes with it….or just become a full time roadie.
But what happens after you've bought your aero bike to hit that sweet, smooth tarmac, been for a ride and realised that the smooth tarmac is actually quite lumpy, scarred and full of holes, especially when riding away from main roads? Do you buy something a little less stiff and aero? Maybe an endurance road bike? Maybe an endurance road bike with wider tyres? Or perhaps a road biased gravel bike? 😀
Interesting stuff! When I returned to MTBing in 2009 I lasted about 18 months before concluding that that a dropper was essential, not because my local riding is particularly gnarly but because I prefer riding a bike with the saddle down and only put it up when I need to (because my legs are getting more tired standing than sitting). One day I shall have some time to ride whimsically across the countryside seeing where I end up but right now I’m typing this in a soft play (I’ve got tired of the slides being too small and dangerously fast at my size) which rather sums it up…
Hence the singlespeed hardtail being the current weapon of choice, in that smiles vs miles, or a bit of pain for some gain, (insert rhyme of choice), approach to riding that I’m currently forced into.
I imagine a singlespeed gravel bike would be a foolish thing around here because no-one has the strength to to climb our steeper bridleways on a bike that has useful road gearing. Would probably work well for Northants though (everything I thought was a big hill when a child now looks like a moderate incline!)
Any good to you?
Cheers, that would be spot on - if I hadn't spent all my money on Chiggle bargains already 😀
Not an urgent need for me ATM anyway.
Or just actually really accept the compromise and ride the same bike everywhere.
That’s where I am at now tbh. Don’t have the cash or space for more than one. Therefore I pick the one that covers the most bases. Road riding is a necessary evil for me so I go HT with around 130mm travel and then rigid and back. Occasionally think a short travel full sus would be best. In the HT phase at the moment. Least number of compromises for most amount of fun for me.
What have you decided OP?
FWIW, I think it just comes down to whether you want a gravel bike or an XC bike – and then you fine tune the riding and routes to suit the bike.
Nothing decided yet 🙂 first going to check out the bridleways and tow paths in the area since I haven't ridden them for a few years - from memory it feels like a gravel would be fine though and would help spice up the otherwise flat trails, so that will probably be the route I take.
All I've really settled on is that the Sommet's days are probably numbered if I can actually find a buyer for it in the current market. If it sells then use that cash to get a gravel bike. Then in the future a trail/downcountry 29er for everything else, since sadly my riding ability is no longer gnar enough for big bikes!
Or maybe I'll decide the local off road isn't worth it and go rogue with a road bike again..
If going with an XC bike and riding a lot of flat/road I’d say sod fashion and go with a narrow-ish bar (680-710mm) and either a 2x setup or a 38t chainring.
Didn't mention this when bleating about my various bikes. I'm big and have wide shoulders so have 800mm bars on both my proper MTB's. Same came on the Whippet but it felt a bit wrong. My XC Cube had the bars cut down to 740mm and that feels spot on for gentler terrain.
@jj55 @chiefgrooveguru I rode the Lost Lanes Central #26 on my 65” geared singlespeed last week. Bloody hell the wind nearly broke me. I added another 10 miles on due to riding to and from the start.
https://flic.kr/p/2pm14yq
The wold-esque hills aren’t like the south wales valleys I’m used to.
If going with an XC bike and riding a lot of flat/road I’d say sod fashion and go with a narrow-ish bar (680-710mm)
Still way too wide for me. I ride road and gravel with riser bars and they are 580mm wide as that puts my arms in a better position which doesn't really feel different to drop bar width and while I am sitting slightly more upright the stopwatch shows the difference in my average times between risers and drops is negligible.
Managed to get out for an explore today. This was about as rough as it gets just for a couple of short sections. Probably be fine on a gravel bike then!
Surprisingly the Sommet actually didn't suck nearly as much as I thought it would on the flat/pedally bits and towpaths. It's just the linking road sections and "climbs" it really wasn't much fun on. So still a bit undecided tbh! Not sure I'm ready to sell it yet, could probably just build it up lighter with less draggy tyres and it'd be fine.
definitely fine on a gravel bike .......
I’ve been curious about having some kind of rigid off-road bike for years
I've ended up with a Cotic Cascade, which is basically a rigid MTB. I decided against drop bars because I was mostly going to be riding it on local moors with (very) occasional commuting duties and I struggle to get comfortable on the drops.
I've fitted it with Jones Bars which work really well for me, lots of control on singletrack and plenty of hand positions for longer rides. My tyre choice is compromised everywhere at this time of year, but when it had DHF/DHRs on it was a hoot.
Managed to get out for an explore today. This was about as rough as it gets just for a couple of short sections. Probably be fine on a gravel bike then!
Prime gravel bike territory. You could even try to bunnyhop that little stick 😀
These are a bloody bargain in the sale - and really good bikes.
Boardman ADV 8.9 Mens Adventure Bike - S, M, L, XL Frames | Halfords UK
That does look great, haven't seen anything else under a grand with hydraulic brakes or GRX. I've got my frame up for sale so will see if anyone bites. Wrong time of the year I guess but we'll see, can't get them from CRC/wiggle in a medium any more so that's slightly in my favour 🙂
