one piece crank
1pc Cranky
Yes, 100% for droppers.
27.5+ dying??
- Thread starter rick81721
- Start date
Yes, 100% for droppers.
xc62701
Well-Known Member
But what if you can move around effectively without a dropper? Then it has no purpose.
one piece crank
1pc Cranky
Then You may not need it. But maybe you don’t ride conditions that require it?
tonyride
Don't piss off the red guy
This is the main reason why I got a Bucksaw. I got a 26" set of wheels and a 27.5+ set, no 29" though and I don't have the urge to get it.
Obviously we have all ridden standard post for a long time and adapted to it. I often used it (and still do), for stability and such. That being said, the way you can position yourself with your seat dropped is unmatched, specially for certain corners, downhills (the steeper and more technical is where it shines) and anytime your wheels leave the ground and especially when hitting a jump. Like I said, it took me 3-6 months to adapt.
It would appear the racers are the ones that have the most resistance too it, for whatever reason.
xc62701
Well-Known Member
Yes, being the racer type I have become comfortable riding almost any terrain with a standard post. If the saddle is not where it usually is it feels weird as hell. With the saddle being where it is helps control the bike. I have found some super steep awkward spots where I could see the use of a dropper but I don’t want to put something on my bike for the 0.000001% chance I’ll need it. Like I said I’m still willing to learn but haven’t been convinced yet.
Look at it as a raiser post... It will eventually be down like a bmx setup in cases where you are not pedaling under hard effort while seated. Consider the impact of the intermediate heights. When you legs are locking up after hours and hours of riding a very slightly lower position may actuate your muscles differently and thus offer some relief.
Mastering is doesn't come in a week or a month, but once you get it, its very weird not having one.
xc62701
Well-Known Member
Their sponsors want them to sell posts too...
Another benefit is that ejecting from the bike is generally easier with the seat down.
Ian F
Well-Known Member
Eh... yes and no. Racers won't run a part that adds weight to their bike unless they believe it will help them win. And not all of them need them - Nino or MVP can clear 20 foot doubles on a XC bike with a fixed post with more speed and style than I could on a DJ bike. Droppers do seem more common among the women racers - probably because their shorter stature makes moving around a 29er XC bike more difficult.
one piece crank
1pc Cranky
The common, "well I am like schurter" approach. 😉
Ian F
Well-Known Member
I am far from being like Shurter. Maybe other folks on this forum are, but I sure as hell ain't one of them.
ChrisG
Unapologetic Lifer for Rock and Roll
Just to add another perspective on the utility of the dropper: Everyone first learned to shove their weight backwards when descending steep terrain, dropping in, riding roll-downs, etc. What sometimes gets lost in the discussion is that the bicycle needs weight on the front wheel for two vital activities: Braking and Steering.
When the saddle is in the way, in traditional fixed-post fashion, weight distribution becomes a delicate dance between too far forward and too far back. Proficient riders learn to maintain this delicate balance well enough to comfortably/safely ride highly technical/steep terrain, so there's less sense of need for any other solution.
What the dropper does, it allows the rider to move their weight downward, thus lowering the center of gravity and reducing the amount of need to move weight rearward. Braking and steering, not mention basic balance, are substantially enhanced, along with the ability to move the bicycle side-to-side while not having to deal with the saddle.
A common complaint is that riders "can't feel the bike" under them anymore, if the saddle isn't rattling between their upper legs. I've found that I'm at a point where I'm grazing my calves on the lowered saddle at times, given the lean angles and the amount of bike/body separation allowed by a dropped saddle. So the bike can still let me know where it is, if that's a need.
And I'll reinforce that adapting to all of this takes time, thought, and patience, as others have mentioned. I was riding for 24 years when I started using a dropper. Four years later, the dropper is absolutely essential to me.
When the saddle is in the way, in traditional fixed-post fashion, weight distribution becomes a delicate dance between too far forward and too far back. Proficient riders learn to maintain this delicate balance well enough to comfortably/safely ride highly technical/steep terrain, so there's less sense of need for any other solution.
What the dropper does, it allows the rider to move their weight downward, thus lowering the center of gravity and reducing the amount of need to move weight rearward. Braking and steering, not mention basic balance, are substantially enhanced, along with the ability to move the bicycle side-to-side while not having to deal with the saddle.
A common complaint is that riders "can't feel the bike" under them anymore, if the saddle isn't rattling between their upper legs. I've found that I'm at a point where I'm grazing my calves on the lowered saddle at times, given the lean angles and the amount of bike/body separation allowed by a dropped saddle. So the bike can still let me know where it is, if that's a need.
And I'll reinforce that adapting to all of this takes time, thought, and patience, as others have mentioned. I was riding for 24 years when I started using a dropper. Four years later, the dropper is absolutely essential to me.
Ryan, do ride a L or an XL frame? For me at 5'9", im like right on the edge, but I prefer a large frame bike...which I find the dropper is really key for helping me get back and behind/over the saddle. If I was on a medium, this wouldnt be as big of an issue. I will say...my first reason for getting a dropper was riding Fugawe...but then after that I made a trip to kingdom...few days descending there and I really got the feel for it. Mainly finding the right position...standing back, with my heels down....learning to lean the bike....But like you, I put it on my trigger and for the first couple of months (outside of steep rollers) I didnt get it either. God, now I dont ever want to ride my road bike without one...I used it in the lucky cross race probably 200 times in 45 min. The 65mm dropper on my scalpel is perfect for xc...enough to be down and out of my way descending, but I can still sit on it and pedal when its down if I have to.
pkovo
Well-Known Member
I echo what others have said about the dropper, give it a good long chance before abandoning it.
I didn't think I needed one either because I was accustomed to getting low behind the seat, so I figured not needed. Got one only because it came on a bike and it took a long time to get the hang of it, but I eventually realized pretty much exactly what ChrisG said above. The main advantage for me is I can now get low on the bike in any position rather than only when I'm back behind the seat as is the case with a fixed post. Once I got used to that, it changed the way I positioned myself on the bike quite a bit, especially through slow tech.
I didn't think I needed one either because I was accustomed to getting low behind the seat, so I figured not needed. Got one only because it came on a bike and it took a long time to get the hang of it, but I eventually realized pretty much exactly what ChrisG said above. The main advantage for me is I can now get low on the bike in any position rather than only when I'm back behind the seat as is the case with a fixed post. Once I got used to that, it changed the way I positioned myself on the bike quite a bit, especially through slow tech.
tonyride
Don't piss off the red guy
I think it was back in 2013 I ordered a 2014 Giant Trance X0 29er and it came with a dropper. Having never used a dropper before my first thought was to take it off and sell it to get some money and shave some weight off the bike. But I was too anxious to take the bike out for a ride so I rode with it still on and played with the dropper. After just 2 rides with that dropper I was sold. Soon after that most of the guys I ride with started getting them and now they swear by them. There are maybe 1 or 2 who are just dead against it still but most of us was able to see the benefits of a dropper.