Let’s take a look at the dropper posts that all run on mountain bikes these days.
한국어 : (Link) / english : (Link)
Table of Contents
What is a DROPPER POSTS?
DROPPER POSTS is a device that allows you to adjust the height of a bicycle saddle “quickly and easily”.
For bikes without DROPPER POSTS, to adjust the height of the saddle,
- stop the bike
- get off the bike
- Remove tool from bag or pocket (unless qr style seat clamp)
- Loosen the seat clamp.
- Lower or raise the saddle.
- Check that it is adjusted to the correct height.
- Tighten the seat clamp.
- run again
I explained the procedure in some detail, but you can adjust the height of the saddle only after going through this procedure.
However, DROPPER POSTS allow you to lower or raise the saddle by manipulating a lever on the handlebar (some by adjusting a lever on the saddle).
It’s incredibly comfortable.
Why do you need DROPPER POSTS?
When riding a bicycle in the mountains, you need a saddle that is set appropriately for your body type for normal uphill riding.
However, when running downhill, if the saddle is set high, it becomes unstable.
Downhill can be divided into two types.
One is a “gentle, fast-paced downhill”
The other is “slowly descending slopes with steep or poor road surfaces”.
Downhill with good surface and fast speed
On smooth, high-speed descents, a saddle that is 50 to 80 mm lower than your preferred saddle is just right.
If it is lower than that, more attention is paid to proper weight distribution to the saddle and pedals in cornering, and it becomes difficult to properly distribute weight to the front and rear wheels when cornering.
Steep slopes or slow descents on poor road surfaces
On steep descents, it is always best to have the saddle as low as possible.
Since you have to go down in a “weight back” position, your arms are fully extended and your hips are as far back as possible.
Can I ride a mountain without a dropper seatpost?
In the days when there was no dropper seatpost, I raised it to my proper saddle height in the cycling section to the entrance of the mountain, then lowered it by about 30mm on the mountain to compromise between uphill and downhill.
Both the uphill and downhill courses were ridden with unsatisfactory settings.
Someone raised it every time the uphill and downhill changed, and then lowered it again.
It was very, very cumbersome.
If you ride carefully, you can ride the mountain without a variable seat post, but on the downhill, the fear outweighs the fun, and on the uphill, the halfway saddle height causes you to stand and pedal.
DROPPER POSTS TYPE – HOW IT WORKS
DROPPER POSTS can be divided into “Hydraulic”, “Mechanical” and “Wireless”.
The very early DROPPER POSTS were only fixed at a fixed height purely mechanically.
However, as a product called “Reverb” of “Rockshox” came out hydraulically, a product that operated very smoothly and was fixed at any height came out.
And then there are tons of mechanical seatposts pouring in as cheap seatposts.
hydraulic
The hydraulic type is literally oil-filled in the hose and operated by pressing the oil pump, like a hydraulic brake.
So, when disassembling and assembling, there is the hassle of having to do “bleeding” again.
And over time, air bubbles form and the feel of the lever changes, which is inconvenient.
mechanical
The mechanical type is a structure that operates by pulling a wire like a transmission.
This method is easy for general users to apply because even when disassembling and assembling, only wires need to be hung.
wireless
In fact, I’ve never used wireless before.
It is very expensive and is known as a product with very high satisfaction (if you don’t think about the price).
If you use wireless, you can just use a fixed light seatpost on days when you don’t need to raise and lower the saddle.
It is also possible to ride with a variable seat post only on the day you go to the mountain.
DROPPER POSTS TYPE – INSTALLATION METHOD
You should check whether it is compatible with the DROPPER POSTS frame.
You need to check if the frame supports the “internal” method.
Frame with no internal dropper post support
It is not possible to install an internal type seat post on the old general frame.
This is because the frame must have a hole in it.
If such internal seatpost is not compatible,
The cable should be pulled out.
internal compatible frame
Both “internal type” / “general type” DROPPER POSTS can be used for internally compatible frames. You can pull the cable out (although there will be no device to hold the cable)
Cables can also be hidden inside the frame.
conclusion
These days, mountain bikes dropper posts are almost essential.
It is a very meaningless part and weight increase if you only ride on the road, but if you ride in the mountains, DROPPER POSTS are an indispensable part.
Besides, the price has become very cheap.
In the case of the “Gravity Dropper” (Link) seatpost I first bought, it was made and sold by an overseas individual, but the price was $300. The movement was also very uncomfortable. (Besides, the cable was easily bent.)
And for the price of $500 for the RockShox Reverb it gave me the best satisfaction.
The product of “brand x”(Link) really shows the extreme cost performance and the operation is negotiable.
The “down low” (Link) case also shows pretty good behavior.
However, the mechanical type of these days is a way to replace the whole cartridge when it is broken.
However, since it’s a decent price, I have no complaints.
If you haven’t used it yet, please try it.