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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 22, 2016 - 12:34pm PT
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OK, since it's for an MTB, it's only kind of climbing related.
I got a new Santa Cruz 5010 last year, which I love. The frame is much bigger than my old hardtail bike though, and on steep descents I find myself much higher than I'd like to be and no ability to drop down behind my seat without physically lowering the seatpost. I think a dropper seatpost would be a great Xmas gift (since my wife is tired of trying to buy me something that I'll actually like), but the things are expensive. If I'm going to drop a few bills, I'd love to hear what people think of theirs. Thanks (and happy Thanksgiving).
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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Nov 22, 2016 - 12:37pm PT
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I have a KS Lev 150mm on my Blur LT and it has been great. The lever doubles as a grip clamp as well.
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rbob
climber
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Nov 22, 2016 - 12:42pm PT
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I have the new Fox Transfer dropper... continuous adjustment - super smooth and works great so far. No complaints at all, and it makes a *huge* difference on descents.
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Nov 22, 2016 - 01:10pm PT
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Thomson.
Made in the US. Killer support and functionality. I had one(2) for 3 years. They inspect and recharge or replace the unit after 2 years of use. They replaced my first one even it functioned fine.
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cragnshag
Social climber
san joser
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Nov 22, 2016 - 01:56pm PT
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Once you get one, and learn to use it frequently, you will never go back to non-dropper.
What's a couple hundred bucks? You will spend more than that fixing a broken arm or collarbone. The dropper will so dramatically lower your CG, you will crash less, and be closer to the ground when you do crash.
I've had good results using the LEV.
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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Nov 22, 2016 - 02:20pm PT
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Gravity dropper.
Mid range price. Works great for an old gal like me!
Because my bike is such a small frame with a short tube I only get up or down.
Susan
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 22, 2016 - 03:11pm PT
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Thanks for the replies so far. Re:
What's a couple hundred bucks? You will spend more than that fixing a broken arm or collarbone. I totally agree. I'm a pretty conservative DHer, but lots of dropper posts are in the $400 range. Still cheaper than medical bills, but it's hard to gauge their worth when you're skimming them online.
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Prod
Trad climber
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Nov 22, 2016 - 04:57pm PT
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I have a Reverb with internal housing (The lines run through the frame). Comes with a 2 year warranty. And your new one is warranted as well. I'm on my 3rd one.
Get a Limiting height collar if you get a reverb. Total bullshit name for a clamp that you can put on the seat post if it fails when you are on the trail. The collar allows you to raise the seat to a normal riding height and clamp it in place for your ride back to the car.
I also keep a rigid seat post in by tool kit.
With all that hassle a dropper post is way WAY WAY worth it.
Prod.
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sDawg
climber
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Nov 22, 2016 - 07:32pm PT
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Total game-changer. It keeps me on the bike when I would walk downhill without it and my pedaling position is higher and more efficient. Also, I really do like the continuous adjustment (rather than 2 or 3 pre-set height options) for rolling terrain where I switch from pedaling to being behind the seat frequently.
Since it seems like maintenance is the major issue and a big differentiator, I asked the bike shop I had recently rented from. I assumed that they prioritized durability for bikes that get ridden on a daily basis. On their recommendation, I got the Giant Contact. I'm happy with it, but have only had it a few months and a few rides so durability is still untested.
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zBrown
Ice climber
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Nov 22, 2016 - 08:19pm PT
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geez I can't find my knees
Didn't even know they existed.
$10.00 (American) - Musical score not that great!
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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FTOR
Sport climber
CA
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Nov 23, 2016 - 09:13am PT
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i'm in the camp that once you ride with one there's no going back, as a pro guide once told me when they first came out, they're game changers. i have 2 ks levs, one the smaller 27.2 mm. have had no problems with either, but like any mtn bike component, they do require periodic maintenance.
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Matt's
climber
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Nov 23, 2016 - 10:06am PT
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another vote to just putting a quick release for the seatpost. The dropper seatposts are heavy and stop working pretty quickly.
With the way mountain biking is going, I wouldn't be surprised if the industry gets to the point where they are selling electric motorcycles to everyone...
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 23, 2016 - 10:24am PT
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I appreciate the replies everyone. I'd be more inclined to just lower manually, but my bike didn't come with a lever and I've been too lazy to install one. Also, there's a nice aesthetic by not having to stop, raise/lower, etc., particularly with the guys I ride with. They'd be a speck on the horizon by the time I'm ready to ride again.
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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Nov 23, 2016 - 10:32am PT
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With the way mountain biking is going, I wouldn't be surprised if the industry gets to the point where they are selling electric motorcycles to everyone...
Ah, no, since all the new good MTB trail development (at least around Moab) is "non motorized" and enforcement, or at least MTB ethical riding has kept it such.
Susan.
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hamersorethumb
Trad climber
Menlo Park, CA
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Nov 23, 2016 - 12:15pm PT
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I'll add my vote for a KS Lev. I installed it myself and love it, I can't imagine riding without it now.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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Nov 23, 2016 - 05:17pm PT
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Like
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 29, 2016 - 03:18pm PT
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^^^
Yes, those are great but tech can be a lot of fun. One more question: what length are you guys using? Everyone says to get the 150 mm. However, my bike is just medium sized frame and I'm only 5'7". I'd rather than getting anything heavier than necessary.
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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Nov 29, 2016 - 03:47pm PT
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If your frame accommodates 150mm, go for it. It just gives you more options for getting low on the steep, and the weight difference won't be noticeable (IMHO).
My Santa Cruz is a medium as well, and now issues.
Edit
Yep, no issues
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 29, 2016 - 05:31pm PT
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Thanks guys. The wife is letting me pick my Xmas present, so I've got my sights set.
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cragnshag
Social climber
san joser
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Nov 29, 2016 - 05:46pm PT
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A QR should be used with a dropper seat post. If your dropper fails, the QR allows it to be used as a regular seat post to get you home.
QR is not needed- it's just extra weight if you have a dropper. For as seldom as a seat dropper breaks and as short as most mtb rides are (less than 15 miles), it's not a problem to just stand up and pedal (or manually raise the seat if low on air).
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Matt's
climber
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Nov 29, 2016 - 06:41pm PT
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Matt
I view it sort of like hexes to slcd in climbing -all do the job but sometimes the right tool is needed for the job at hand.
are you insane? The SLCD revolutionized trad climbing. The dropper seatpost just lets you lower your seatpost a few seconds faster than a quick release. It's impact on the cycling world has been... zero.
If you want to go down the metaphor route- the dropper seatpost is the omega pacific link cam of the cycling world--- theoretically better and more convenient than normal cams, but in reality a pain and likely to break at the worst moment.
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cragnshag
Social climber
san joser
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Nov 29, 2016 - 09:00pm PT
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It's impact on the cycling world has been... zero.
Far from zero for those of us who like to ride fast. Changing your seat height with a QR generally requires one to get off the bike to do it right and at the very least you need to be on relatively easy terrain to do it on the fly because you have to take one hand off the handlebar. Try doing that while hurtling through a rock garden or frantically downshifting just before charging up a 25% grade change.
Dropper: After about 6 months you get used to the shifting up/down and it becomes automatic. All the easier if you are running a 1x drive train and you can use a shifter paddle-type release lever on the left.
The fastest and most talented riders at my local area all have droppers. Some even have them on their ultralight hardtail rigs so the can rally the DHs.
IMO the dropper is as big a leap in actual riding performance as the jump from v-brakes to discs. Don't believe me, go time yourself (or Strava) on a complete CC loop with steep technical or fast flowy DH with and without a dropper.
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Srbphoto
climber
Kennewick wa
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Nov 29, 2016 - 09:14pm PT
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are you insane? The SLCD revolutionized trad climbing. The dropper seatpost just lets you lower your seatpost a few seconds faster than a quick release. It's impact on the cycling world has been... zero.
also it is starting to show up on the world cup xc circuit.
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Watusi
Social climber
Newport, OR
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Nov 29, 2016 - 09:30pm PT
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Wouldn't ride without a dropper post for my Trail Bike...Don't need one for my Downhill Bike... :)
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rmuir
Social climber
From the Time Before the Rocks Cooled.
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Nov 30, 2016 - 07:35am PT
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I, too, would recommend a KS Lev. I've got it on my Lapierre AM.
The only weakness that I could find is the plastic (nylon) gizmo that attaches the trigger to the handlebar. Far too easy to over-tighten…
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| Messages 1 - 28 of total 28 in this topic |
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