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Saddle when descending even the steep stuff? I never drop my saddle on my HT trail bike, I see it as a bit of a challenge with the seat up.
I usually drop hither, thither, somewhere and here. But never there.
me.
HT doesn't have a QR so got used to it. On the 5 I never think to drop it !
drop where ?
Maybe the stuff you are riding is not that steep then OP? As surely there comes a point where gravity/physics take over if you not hanging off the rear wheel?
you can hang over the wheel without dropping the post though
you can hang over the wheel without dropping the post though
True...bit awkward though.
can get over the saddle without it and I often don't bother. Does make it a bit easier/more secure though.
it's getting back over an un-dropped saddle that usually catches one out.
True...bit awkward though.
agreed 😛
in fact I thought that on the chute at McMoab !!
I have a hole in my thigh where a seat rail tore me open after ripping out of the seat. That was going over the bars on some steep stuff on AbbaZabba. I have recently fitted a Joplin and I'm gonna use it.
Drop it on the Soul on stuff like Jacobs Ladder and The Beast, but not a lot apart from that. Maybe Cavedale too.
Jamie, What's steep for you? Some stuff I ride is pretty steep but not to the point of being stupid. I have ridden the red DH at Fort William, Ben Lomand etc on my HT with the seat up and for the best part was fine. Of course there are times I become a bit unstuck and have tumbles but who doesn't? I do drop it on my FS now and again though.
"bit of a challenge with the seat up"
Indeed it is when the terrain gets steep or rough. But if racing or time trialling or whatever, I have no inclination to stop and mess about with it so just have to gulp and do it.
Trail riding yes, I drop mine 3" for every decent length descent. It just makes the bike that much easier to manoeuvre through fast corners, roll-downs and little drops without fear of being bumped off by the saddle.
On the hardtail with carbon seatpost fitted, no - never. But then I'd use the FS for real hooligan stuff.
Depends how long and how steep really, on the CRC marathon in september i did it after going across the top of the mountain as the drop down was very rocky and slippy plus i was bloomin knackered and could barely get back on the bike without falling off again!
Never feel the need to drop mine,if I decide it's too steep for me then I still wouldn't ride it with the saddle down.
Always for any decent length of DH. I cant really cope with it if its up my arse even if the trail isn very steep I like to get all over the bike.
I'm with coatsey, I use a bolt-up collar and I can't be arsed with it. When I've done it, I can see the benefit but I just don't. Then again, I'm sh1t down technical stuff so maybe I should. There's no way I'm going to bolt .5kg of post-dropper onto the bike tho' (weight weenie, but you should see me climb).
Depends on the bike, on my Anthem I never do as it's a twin bolt clamp, on my 456 I do if I can be bothered, but has to be steep as I'm too lazy most of the time!
It's not getting over the rear wheel that's a problem, it's getting back on again that I struggle with. Especially if my shorts hook up on the seat as well. Nightmare.
Always messing about with saddle height, might get a dropper eventually, but they're expensive. Especially as if I get one and I like it, I'll need one on the other two bikes as well. Also, it plays merry hell with your matching finishing kit!
Quite a lot to be honest on both my HT and my FS
I started running the seat slightly lower all the time - a little harder on the climbs but hardly ever need to drop it now.
never drop it!
me - hardly feel the need ever to drop the post - only once in the last few years and that was on my first slippy wet descent of cavedale in the peak - now i can ride it 'up' ok... i do mince and go slow n steady ! Plus re shorts snagging - i mostly use tights / 3/4s and i dont snag - sometimes i do catch my endura baggies... most 'proper ' rides i go for the lycra...
to date / hellvellyn - rosthwaite / seathwaite / top o'skiddaw / walna scar / garburn / cadair idris / snowdon / the ben alll done this year with post up...
i do appreciate seeing all the threads re joplins etc - ones i have seen on the trail have been 'tempermental'... i am intrigued by them but maybe its just another 'rad fad' (TM) to go with the image... and my baggy shorts...
paul
Always drop mine. If you don't need to drop it on steep stuff, it's either not steep, or you're not going fast enough 😀
My saddle never moves.
Saddle height is a compromise between legs getting a workout / being lazy and being able to get off the back, should I need to, but unless its near vertical, I stay sat of hover over the saddle anyway.
Don't brake on steep things and you won't go over the bars.
I've started trying more stuff with mine up, and it's yet to cause me any real problems, and it seems like a useful skill... but it's nothing like as effective as having it down, so I won't be changing over.
househusband - Member
On the hardtail with carbon seatpost fitted, no - never. But then I'd use the FS for real hooligan stuff.
He he he... You double gnar bastard!! 😆
if I don't drop the saddle while descending the seatpost usually gets bent pretty quickly..
I probably ride with my saddle completely slammed far more than at full height!
at the start of this winter I left it at full extension for about a month (unusual for me, but I was riding very familiar or fairly untechnical trails all month) and it was fine everywwhere including steep chutes and I still managed to jump doubles etc, with a little style... But any of the more fun descents/technical riding was nowhere near as much fun (or as fast) as I was forced to ride far more within my limits.
eg. on flat pedals you simply cannot get as much grip with the saddle at full extension as when it's out the way, you can't pump as well or pick the bike up and you are way less stable when it gets hairy!
...pants on a first date?
...kebab with excitement?
..aitches when talking to lower class people?
Nope, my saddle never moves.
....kids off at the pool?
Ah another blessed thread that mistakes dopping your saddle as being to allow you to get your weight back rather than down...... 🙄
saddle on my single speed doesn't move. the other one does. don;t know why it's like this - but thats the craic.
I never used to ever, because I used the saddle as a reference point. It always felt realyl really weird riding with the saddle down. I do now, but to be honest it still feels really odd on the 5, but not much at all on the Patriot.
I think a slacker angled bike suits that kind of position more. The 5 with the saddle down feels like it has a stupidly steep head angle and the handling is really strange - worse than when riding the same stuff with it up. I've started dropping it a few inches instead of all the way.
FFS STFU about angles you clueless dweeb!
What do you think the average head angle for a BMX is?
FFS STFU about angles you clueless dweeb!
Ahahaha.. clueless.. heehee!
What's BMX angles got to do with how my 26" wheel 22" top tube FS MTBs handle on steep technical descents?
If I lower my body, what happens to the steering axis relative to me?
i can ride everything without dropping my post but it more fun and easier with it dropped than with it up- GD eliminates faff. I see no need to decid eone is better than the other but I suspect Downhill riders do not have their seats as high as a xc racer.
Last I looked BMXs were pretty good for riding vert and you can't get much steeper than ****ing vert can you?
I suggest you lower your body and go and have a little lie down rather than worrying your head making up daft analogies.
If you weren't clueless you'd know the difference in stability between your 5 and patriot is NOT down to the slight difference in headangle alone! and you'd also know that each bike actually rides exactly the same no matter what height the saddle is at when riding anything technical/steep as you should be standing up! on technical/steep terrain the saddle is only needed for control, with your inner thighs.. it will however feel more comfortable to control at a certain height for each individual.
High poster all the way here...
never drop mine - mainly as I had loads of knee problems in my youth - finally found a good seat height so I never move it! never really had a problem. Can fully see the benefit of it in tricky steep stuff but I can't be arsed stopping, then stopping again to re-adjust.
I'm a confirmed dropper and I'm partial to slipping a comfort inch on a lot of stuff. I've never been confident about getting behind the saddle. I do ride a bike that's nominally too big for me, so I can get the saddle high enough. I'm cursed with long legs and a short body AND I keep my toes down most of the time so I need a silly high saddle.
Nan Bield down to Haweswater? Aye - that'll be the saddle on the frame and the rear tyre flossing my cheeks
I often drop my saddle on downhill runs and jumps. I have jumped gaps and tabletops with the saddle up and it is a hell of a lot better with the saddle down........
I suspect you non saddle droppers are either xc mincers or riding gods 😉