I have the dropper post higher than where it would be if it was a fixed post. For me the fixed post position was always a compromise between climbs or descends.
With the dropper I can be at the best seat height for best leg extension. Even at Allaire the post gets used almost as much as the shifter.
Agree, it's the best thing for mtb in years.
This is a worthy consideration for anyone doing big distances for sure. For my personal uses I’ve found that I can match my road Bike’s saddle height, but also ride at various intermediate heights that seem to offer more bike control and leg comfort as I fatigue.
Experimenting with heights between all the way up and all the way down offers different bike control worth noting.
In the lower/dropped position you increase the bike/body separation which I find allows the suspension to better do its job.
I’ve been Riding a hybrid bike all week here in FL and I find that every time i come to a stop I’m reaching for that dropper button. I can see the advantages of a dropper on every style of bike.
I’m also teaching my 7 year old daughter to use a dropper on her bike already. She stops and starts with the post down and it’s allowing her to improve her handing. It’s a joy to watch.
As for tire sizes.. with some exception, I’m finding 27+ still very relevant. I ride a Bronson setup 27x2.6” and a trail 429 w/ 29x2.6”. For my use I find the extra weight to be a fair tradeoff for increased traction. I’d encourage riders to try bigger volume rubber to see what impact it has on traction and control. Be sure to note that as volume increases, psi should decrease for the same relative ride feel.
As for 27x2.8, I find that it’s ideal for non-xc racer types on hardtails, great for ebikes, nice when used as a front when paired with a 2.6” in the rear. So I don’t think it’s dead at all.