considering how many pros ride on the top tube on fast descents I’d say there is a very good reason why race bikes could take advantage of a dropper post. However, for your average road cyclists there just isn’t as great need for them. Of course believe in having as many options as possible when it comes to road bikes which is why I like gravel bikes. You don’t lose mounts as you go up in price and all gravel bikes give you the option for dropper posts. I’m starting to see that on endurance road bikes.
always wanted disc brakes on my road bike, glad they finally caught up. the dropper I don't have as much use for at this point in time since it's mostly flat but!! if it was more affordable its definitely a gadget i would want.
I thought i didn't need a dropper until i bought another bike that already had one, and i use it a lot. I can shift my bodyweight back and i'm able to go down steeper trails
l have picked up the perfect gravel bike for me.. 2023 Surly Ghost Grappler.. Local shop had a frame and they did build me a nice bike.. Well built and very comfortable.. Love the 27.5 plus size 2.8..... faster the my Surly ECR.. l am liking the drop bars because of all my road bike and gravel bike riding... Riding Position for me is nice even though I am a upright rider.. Spacers and the Surly Truck Stop bar keeps me where l like it... I also love the Moloko bar.. I have it on My ECR and love it... Dropper post? well comes with the Trek Full Stache and l hardly ever use it and also on the Ghost Grappler, Never Use... l guess it is good for getting on the bike
After riding MTB for a few years, I miss a dropper post when riding my road bike when coming down steep road descents. It's really spooky on steep descents to have my center of gravity so high and forward. I have to slide back on the saddle.
I am shopping for a bike, but it's been a while and I have had 2 TKR. My problem is flexion isn't yet back to normal so by the time I can bend my knee at the top I am at full extension at the bottom, which makes dismounting, etc a bit scary. My local bike shop suggested a dropper post might be a good solution, where I could have it low when mounting and dismounting and then quickly get to the height I need for travel.
I have a dropper post on my Fatbike, but I have yet to really get the benefit of it. Most of my riding would fall into the Gravel category, with a more technical descend thrown in here and there. Sure, I use it from time to time, but so far I´m still in the "It´s not the gamechanger I thought it would be" phase.
I've used a dropper on my gravel road bike and liked it, but found that the position my hands and upper body were in were kind of the limiting factor on my confidence on fast or rough descents, i.e. even with the seat and my weight lower I wasn't really feeling any more confident because I would either still feel pretty far over the front of the bike, or else too far over the back unweighting the front too much giving up traction, meaning I couldn't really descend any faster than with the seat up. I'm sure a better more aggressive (or more courageous) rider could make better use of it, but I didn't find it was adding anything to my riding. But for bikes with more upright riding positions (which includes some more 'adventure' oriented gravel bikes), dropper posts 100% are more fun and safe.
I doubt it. Dropper posts add expense, weight complication and maintenance. I am sure the bike industry will try to upsell people on them at times, but it doesn't make sense for a casual cyclist. I LOVE my dropper on my MTBs, and I'm willing to put in the extra effort on lubrication and maintenance. But don't see any reason to add them to my road, commuter or touring bikes, and those bikes don't need to be any more complicated.
I'm an xc racer and I've adjusted my technique so I can ride just as well without one. Honestly it's worth it not having one for the weight savings. And I can do all the techniques you discussed without one. It just takes some time to learn how to ride aggressively without a dropper post.
I've been considering putting a dropper post on the gravel bike I just bought. I'm 5'7" with 28.7 inseam. I was fitted with an extra small frame, which fits me perfectly. The reason I want to get a dropper post installed is for when I stop, I want to be able to place one of my feet on the ground. My concern is, It doesn't look like I have enough seat post space between my saddle and the seat post clamp. Any suggestions?
I can't ride properly without a dropper anymore. I have one on all of my many mountain bikes and am putting one on my new gravel bike after realizing I need one for steeper trails near me.
There are some out there that also have some suspension in them, but these are meant to be rigid and just have the advantage of getting out of the way when not needed.
I mean no offense, but honestly I think your opinion here is coming from your limited experience riding paved and gravel roads. There is no paved road steep enough to get a benefit from a dropper post. If you’re using your gravel bike like. A XC bike sure, go for it, but I’ve done some pretty hairy mining roads on my gravel bike and managed just fine.
Experienced road racer here. While I wouldn’t race with it due to weight, the aero gain on the road is actually amazing with a dropper. It’s honestly stupid fun.
I wouldn't call my experience "limited"...while I never got as into it as mountain biking, I rode/trained enough to do a handful of centuries and half a dozen road relays of 400+ miles. Steepness isn't the only thing having the saddle out of the way helps with though, it gives you a major advantage maneuvering tight turns and would probably help you get more aero as well.
And I think you're myopic. A dropper will be standard on any bike not idiotically designed for racing. This will become more inevitable as we move away from car dependent cultures. Most bikes are not lycra junky race bikes for people afraid of doing press-ups. Have a kid on a seat? A dropper makes it easier to get a leg over. Loaded with groceries? Droppers help. Getting old? Get a dropper. We're already seeing them on e-bikes. They are the future. Racers can piss off.
I absolutely love my DP's on all 3 of my MTB's especially getting on and off because of my age (75)! So much easier with the seat all the way down.
milano-sanremo 2022 road race was spectacularly won with a dropper post(just look at the final descent). it's entering road world as well
considering how many pros ride on the top tube on fast descents I’d say there is a very good reason why race bikes could take advantage of a dropper post. However, for your average road cyclists there just isn’t as great need for them. Of course believe in having as many options as possible when it comes to road bikes which is why I like gravel bikes. You don’t lose mounts as you go up in price and all gravel bikes give you the option for dropper posts. I’m starting to see that on endurance road bikes.
always wanted disc brakes on my road bike, glad they finally caught up. the dropper I don't have as much use for at this point in time since it's mostly flat but!! if it was more affordable its definitely a gadget i would want.
I thought i didn't need a dropper until i bought another bike that already had one, and i use it a lot. I can shift my bodyweight back and i'm able to go down steeper trails
I have this in my gravel and it’s fantastic on road descents to get aero.
l have picked up the perfect gravel bike for me.. 2023 Surly Ghost Grappler.. Local shop had a frame and they did build me a nice bike.. Well built and very comfortable.. Love the 27.5 plus size 2.8..... faster the my Surly ECR.. l am liking the drop bars because of all my road bike and gravel bike riding... Riding Position for me is nice even though I am a upright rider.. Spacers and the Surly Truck Stop bar keeps me where l like it... I also love the Moloko bar.. I have it on My ECR and love it... Dropper post? well comes with the Trek Full Stache and l hardly ever use it and also on the Ghost Grappler, Never Use... l guess it is good for getting on the bike
After riding MTB for a few years, I miss a dropper post when riding my road bike when coming down steep road descents. It's really spooky on steep descents to have my center of gravity so high and forward. I have to slide back on the saddle.
I am shopping for a bike, but it's been a while and I have had 2 TKR. My problem is flexion isn't yet back to normal so by the time I can bend my knee at the top I am at full extension at the bottom, which makes dismounting, etc a bit scary. My local bike shop suggested a dropper post might be a good solution, where I could have it low when mounting and dismounting and then quickly get to the height I need for travel.
I have a dropper post on my Fatbike, but I have yet to really get the benefit of it. Most of my riding would fall into the Gravel category, with a more technical descend thrown in here and there. Sure, I use it from time to time, but so far I´m still in the "It´s not the gamechanger I thought it would be" phase.
On a fat bike it makes getting on the bike SO much easier in snow, especially if you’re post-holing.
I've used a dropper on my gravel road bike and liked it, but found that the position my hands and upper body were in were kind of the limiting factor on my confidence on fast or rough descents, i.e. even with the seat and my weight lower I wasn't really feeling any more confident because I would either still feel pretty far over the front of the bike, or else too far over the back unweighting the front too much giving up traction, meaning I couldn't really descend any faster than with the seat up. I'm sure a better more aggressive (or more courageous) rider could make better use of it, but I didn't find it was adding anything to my riding. But for bikes with more upright riding positions (which includes some more 'adventure' oriented gravel bikes), dropper posts 100% are more fun and safe.
I doubt it. Dropper posts add expense, weight complication and maintenance. I am sure the bike industry will try to upsell people on them at times, but it doesn't make sense for a casual cyclist. I LOVE my dropper on my MTBs, and I'm willing to put in the extra effort on lubrication and maintenance. But don't see any reason to add them to my road, commuter or touring bikes, and those bikes don't need to be any more complicated.
I'm an xc racer and I've adjusted my technique so I can ride just as well without one. Honestly it's worth it not having one for the weight savings. And I can do all the techniques you discussed without one. It just takes some time to learn how to ride aggressively without a dropper post.
Good video but you haven't convinced me :) I'd rather have my Redshift Suspension seat post any day!
I've been considering putting a dropper post on the gravel bike I just bought. I'm 5'7" with 28.7 inseam. I was fitted with an extra small frame, which fits me perfectly. The reason I want to get a dropper post installed is for when I stop, I want to be able to place one of my feet on the ground. My concern is, It doesn't look like I have enough seat post space between my saddle and the seat post clamp. Any suggestions?
I can't ride properly without a dropper anymore. I have one on all of my many mountain bikes and am putting one on my new gravel bike after realizing I need one for steeper trails near me.
does it also work as a suspension or is it like on or off only?
There are some out there that also have some suspension in them, but these are meant to be rigid and just have the advantage of getting out of the way when not needed.
I mean no offense, but honestly I think your opinion here is coming from your limited experience riding paved and gravel roads. There is no paved road steep enough to get a benefit from a dropper post. If you’re using your gravel bike like. A XC bike sure, go for it, but I’ve done some pretty hairy mining roads on my gravel bike and managed just fine.
Experienced road racer here. While I wouldn’t race with it due to weight, the aero gain on the road is actually amazing with a dropper. It’s honestly stupid fun.
I wouldn't call my experience "limited"...while I never got as into it as mountain biking, I rode/trained enough to do a handful of centuries and half a dozen road relays of 400+ miles. Steepness isn't the only thing having the saddle out of the way helps with though, it gives you a major advantage maneuvering tight turns and would probably help you get more aero as well.
And I think you're myopic. A dropper will be standard on any bike not idiotically designed for racing. This will become more inevitable as we move away from car dependent cultures. Most bikes are not lycra junky race bikes for people afraid of doing press-ups. Have a kid on a seat? A dropper makes it easier to get a leg over. Loaded with groceries? Droppers help. Getting old? Get a dropper. We're already seeing them on e-bikes. They are the future. Racers can piss off.
Not every bike needs it been riding for 50 never needed it . Bad influence you are yes.