i'm an older rider with multiple injuries that require me to change seat height to improve balance and comfort . it's my favorite bicycle addition in the last thirty years .
I've just recently had an external seat dropper post fitted on my 2022 Trek Marlin 8.I had this done because I have just been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both of my hips.The osteoarthritis causes me problems with mounting my bike.This piece of kit is a godsend, and makes me very happy to be able to ride again 😊
I'm just a casual rider with occasional long rides and city rides. I have a dropper post installed and I'd say it gives much more benefit than the dropper post of my office chair!
As an XC racer I don't use dropper posts. I put a dropper on my xc bike for a season but used it so infrequently that I removed it and haven't missed it since. I don't seem to loose any time on the downhills against my competition that does use the dropper so I'd rather have a lighter bike using a super light carbon post.
My gravelbike came with dropper, so I got it without wanting it. It was my first dropper. I didnt know how to use it, but I like to drop a few centimeters on long declines, and sometimes i Think variaton of saddle height gives a slightly different load on my legs, which probably is good.
On a mountain bike of any kind a dropper post will be beneficial. For MTB I absolutely agree. For pro road racers on steep descents, I never thought of that until watching this video, for safety, maybe. Beside MTB I also ride gravel. There were many debates about this. Dropper post on a gravel bike I think is nonsense. How often you ride trails (or any kind of hard terrain) on a gravel bike??? Practically never, that is not what a gravel bike is for. With a dropper post on a gravel bike you will simply be missing what a good carbon post possibly with some shock absorber/damper can offer which is a lot more important on a gravel bike.
Good point on the flex, though some gravel droppers have suspension built in like Rockshox Reverb XPLR and PNW's Coast, which would help the comfort stakes!
My issue with dropper posts is no setback. Combined with the steep seat angles of modern mountain bikes, a straight seatpost does not allow me to have my preferred pedaling position.
Droppers with setback are necessary with seat angles over 75°. To much weigth on your hands; saddle gets too high(the more forward the saddle the higher is has to be, combine this with shorter cranks(next big thing) +shorter seat tubes and one needs seatposts of 60cm and more.if u measure over 195cm. I even use a dropper on my road bike : so much faster and safer going downhill. A lot of people can not touch the ground with their feet while sitting on the saddle. Dangerous when emergency stop.
What about fixed gear bikes, should they have a dropper too? I just dont understand the dropper post, so it gets your saddle out of the way so you can move your body around?
Q: Dropper on road bike? A: Yes - for descending down alpine switchbacks! Getting your weight back and low is superb for late breaking and cornering. Also, maybe useful in everyday riding - if you need to brake hard.
I will just bin the dropper and install a Darimo or Ax lightness light carbon post. Never needed droppers nor electronic shifting. Mechanical xx1/xtr for me all day, everyday.
No, that's a lie. There's only 8 million mountain/off-road bikers. We sell 17 million bikes a year. And the majority of those 8 million would be people who don't ride hard off-road. And there's 51 million bikers total,nwith 17 million bikes sold. At best, a couple hundred thousand are needed. I ride to get around my small NC coastal town. I jump curbs, plow through ditches, some deeper than I am tall. Never needed my seat to change height while riding. And neither does 95% of bike riders. It's 8 million ways stupid, to assume the other 43 million bike riders needs something that benefits themselves, doing a niche activity. No, I don't need it. The VAST majority of people don't need it. And we really don't need to waste money, or resources putting junk we don't need on our bikes. If it benefits you, then by all means, get one. But don't stupidly tell everyone else that they need one. We don't. And for off-road bikers, a simple Google shows.... "On an average annual basis, the SFIA found that casual rider participation is up 2.4% over the past five years, and core participation is down 0.9%. Looking at the 1-year and 3-year trends, the difference is even more dramatic, with core ridership declining more steeply." (Core riders are people who ride at least 13 times a year) VERY few Casual riders have much use for this, and the number of core riders is dropping pretty fast. No, not every bike needs this. Not even 10% of the bikes sold need this.
Dropper posts, yes or no? Do you agree with Tom?
I like to ride whitout one not needed
@@Paganiproductions84facts bro, maybe an old man needs one lol
Yes! How many riders have gone over the handlebars because they hit the seat and bounce up?
i'm an older rider with multiple injuries that require me to change seat height to improve balance and comfort . it's my favorite bicycle addition in the last thirty years .
I've just recently had an external seat dropper post fitted on my 2022 Trek Marlin 8.I had this done because I have just been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both of my hips.The osteoarthritis causes me problems with mounting my bike.This piece of kit is a godsend, and makes me very happy to be able to ride again 😊
I'm just a casual rider with occasional long rides and city rides. I have a dropper post installed and I'd say it gives much more benefit than the dropper post of my office chair!
As an XC racer I don't use dropper posts. I put a dropper on my xc bike for a season but used it so infrequently that I removed it and haven't missed it since. I don't seem to loose any time on the downhills against my competition that does use the dropper so I'd rather have a lighter bike using a super light carbon post.
XC racers do seem to be a hold out, comes down to preference I suppose!
Nice to have the option though
The best invention for mountain bikes since front suspension ❤❤
My gravelbike came with dropper, so I got it without wanting it. It was my first dropper. I didnt know how to use it, but I like to drop a few centimeters on long declines, and sometimes i Think variaton of saddle height gives a slightly different load on my legs, which probably is good.
Just ridden the 3 peaks cyclocross today. Surprised I didn’t see any droppers. I reckon it would be a massive advantage. Maybe one for next time!
I think dropper are not allowed on 3 peak cx
Looks totally like Hank from GCN 😂
'Mum can we get hank from GCN'
'we already have Hank at home'
Hank at home:
On a mountain bike of any kind a dropper post will be beneficial. For MTB I absolutely agree. For pro road racers on steep descents, I never thought of that until watching this video, for safety, maybe. Beside MTB I also ride gravel. There were many debates about this. Dropper post on a gravel bike I think is nonsense. How often you ride trails (or any kind of hard terrain) on a gravel bike??? Practically never, that is not what a gravel bike is for. With a dropper post on a gravel bike you will simply be missing what a good carbon post possibly with some shock absorber/damper can offer which is a lot more important on a gravel bike.
Good point on the flex, though some gravel droppers have suspension built in like Rockshox Reverb XPLR and PNW's Coast, which would help the comfort stakes!
My issue with dropper posts is no setback. Combined with the steep seat angles of modern mountain bikes, a straight seatpost does not allow me to have my preferred pedaling position.
Droppers with setback are necessary with seat angles over 75°. To much weigth on your hands; saddle gets too high(the more forward the saddle the higher is has to be, combine this with shorter cranks(next big thing) +shorter seat tubes and one needs seatposts of 60cm and more.if u measure over 195cm. I even use a dropper on my road bike : so much faster and safer going downhill. A lot of people can not touch the ground with their feet while sitting on the saddle. Dangerous when emergency stop.
There are some droppers with setback available, but you're right if you prefer a more traditional further back seated position
I like the pnw coast suspension dropper. Great for hardtails!
What about fixed gear bikes, should they have a dropper too? I just dont understand the dropper post, so it gets your saddle out of the way so you can move your body around?
Yeah that’s exactly it.
Or gets you lower and more aero if you descending.
Fixie is probably a case of it being a bad idea.
Exactly, gets your seatpost out of the way so you can move around the bike easier
Q: Dropper on road bike?
A: Yes - for descending down alpine switchbacks!
Getting your weight back and low is superb for late breaking and cornering.
Also, maybe useful in everyday riding - if you need to brake hard.
I put a dropper post on every bike I own for the last few years. Great on my cargo bike and on my e-bike.
I have a dropper on my bike. Only use it at the traffic lights. It’s not very useful to me.
But you do use it, so it has it's uses!
I never had a dropper post. Do they bounce?
Some do! Intentionally or not!
Thoughts on dropper posts? 📝👇
I have never used one or felt a need for one. yet all of my rides are 90's hardtails. lol
I think they are great not just on MTB but some gravel bikes and city bikes as well. Basically on any bike short of lightweight road bike.
I will just bin the dropper and install a Darimo or Ax lightness light carbon post. Never needed droppers nor electronic shifting. Mechanical xx1/xtr for me all day, everyday.
I don’t have one on my hardtail mtb, one thing on the list
Great upgrade for a hardtail!
Im not putting a dropped on my bmx or my hard tail. I like keeping it simple.
If i had a downhill or enduro maybe.
I thought Hank had switched channels for a moment!
Who's Hank? 😉
Is that Hank from GCN, behaving like GCN is already sold?🤭🤭🤭
Dropper on my Revolt and I want it off. Waste of time and just adds weight.
There is a weight penalty for sure!
facts
No need on my road bike where I live.
There's definitely some areas where they make less sense if it's flat!
No, that's a lie.
There's only 8 million mountain/off-road bikers. We sell 17 million bikes a year. And the majority of those 8 million would be people who don't ride hard off-road.
And there's 51 million bikers total,nwith 17 million bikes sold.
At best, a couple hundred thousand are needed.
I ride to get around my small NC coastal town. I jump curbs, plow through ditches, some deeper than I am tall. Never needed my seat to change height while riding. And neither does 95% of bike riders.
It's 8 million ways stupid, to assume the other 43 million bike riders needs something that benefits themselves, doing a niche activity.
No, I don't need it. The VAST majority of people don't need it.
And we really don't need to waste money, or resources putting junk we don't need on our bikes.
If it benefits you, then by all means, get one.
But don't stupidly tell everyone else that they need one. We don't.
And for off-road bikers, a simple Google shows....
"On an average annual basis, the SFIA found that casual rider participation is up 2.4% over the past five years, and core participation is down 0.9%. Looking at the 1-year and 3-year trends, the difference is even more dramatic, with core ridership declining more steeply."
(Core riders are people who ride at least 13 times a year)
VERY few Casual riders have much use for this, and the number of core riders is dropping pretty fast.
No, not every bike needs this. Not even 10% of the bikes sold need this.
Nonsense. It is a gimmik nobody needs.
FIRST
Another 1,000,000 BikeRadar gold stars are coming your way! As always, thanks for watching ⭐️