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Do I want an adjustable height seatpost?

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
I've been tossing around the idea of an adjustable height seatpost for my Cdale rush, which is turning into my only bike. Plus, kids are in the future, so a one-bike world is a certainty pretty soon.

Right now, I have a 350mm post which I run maxed out and feel pretty comfortable on. I'd like a 400mm post to get a little more adjustability on height. KS makes the LEV in 27.2 x 400mm, so that's pretty much the only option...which is $315-350.

Having never ridden an adjustable height seatpost before, am I better off saving the dough and "not knowing what I'm missing"? Is it worth the $300 and 300g? My options are unfortunately limited so it's either the LEV or the hilo, and that one supposedly sucks.

It's about $90 for a thomson, which would give me the extra 60mm of room to play with.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
That's pretty resounding. I like the thomson but it's not going to be out for another two weeks and it won't be available in 27.2. I also don't like the cable routing compared to the LEV.
 

rockofullr

confused
Jun 11, 2009
7,342
924
East Bay, Cali
If you ride rolling terrain and constantly switch between climbing and descending then yes.

If you ride long climbs followed by long descents then the advantage is minimal.
 

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
I have it on my Blur LTc and it is a must for the all-mountain stuff I ride.

However, on my hardtail XC 29er, I use a regular post. Besides the weight and reliability, I won't do that xtreme technical stuff on a XC bike. I don't even have a quick release.

For the winter when I can no longer ride in the untamed mountains, I will be putting a regular seatpost back on my Blur. Most Bay Area trails are pretty easy, and even if I get gnarcore, I can always lower my seat when necessary.

I also want to keep this post as long as possible, so riding year round is not a good idea.
 

Polandspring88

Superman
Mar 31, 2004
3,066
7
Broomfield, CO
Gravity dropper also came in 27.2, but they are so 3 years ago. :D

Been asking myself the same question recently. Let me know how your foray goes if you decide to take the plunge. We must ride the same trails and I'd be curious to see how it works out.
 

Jester

Monkey
Sep 13, 2001
180
0
Beverly, MA
If you ride rolling terrain and constantly switch between climbing and descending then yes.

If you ride long climbs followed by long descents then the advantage is minimal.
Did you mean the opposite? I feel like if most of your riding is on rolling trails with not a lot of sweet downhill sections than you probably could get by with out a dropper. On the other hand if you are riding a place like Kingdom Trails (VT) where there are some big climbs followed by some of the best and longest descents you might ever ride in the NE than a dropper is a must have.
 

kazlx

Patches O'Houlihan
Aug 7, 2006
6,985
1,957
Tustin, CA
Pretty sure he doesn't mean the opposite. If you are doing short climbs and descents you are moving your post all the time. If you climb for 3 hours and then descend, you probably won't make much use of an adjustable post...
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
ha, nice name kingdom trails guy. Yeah, KT is my favorite place to ride and the trails there are fairly indicative of the terrain I typically ride. Up, down, repeat. Short sprints followed by extended shallow ups or downs, followed up quick downhills.

I can see both sides...if you're riding a lot of grinds and extended downhills, stopping to lower your post isn't a big deal. It's the ups and downs in quick succession where stopping isn't really an option.

That being said, I don't think there's ever really a time when you don't want one. It's just a matter of needing one...and whether it's worth the several hundred grams extra and expense.
 

rockofullr

confused
Jun 11, 2009
7,342
924
East Bay, Cali
Pretty sure he doesn't mean the opposite. If you are doing short climbs and descents you are moving your post all the time. If you climb for 3 hours and then descend, you probably won't make much use of an adjustable post...
yup

My local trail is a long grind to the top then descending back to the parking lot. I really don't mind getting off the bike to lower my seat (I usually take a "safety break" at the top any way :D ).

On rides where I am constantly switching between a few minutes of climbing and a few minutes of descending my friends with droppers or whatever make me jealous.
 

Jester

Monkey
Sep 13, 2001
180
0
Beverly, MA
yup

My local trail is a long grind to the top then descending back to the parking lot. I really don't mind getting off the bike to lower my seat (I usually take a "safety break" at the top any way :D ).

On rides where I am constantly switching between a few minutes of climbing and a few minutes of descending my friends with droppers or whatever make me jealous.
Gotcha. I see what your saying now.
 

FlipSide

Turbo Monkey
Sep 24, 2001
1,376
804
hands down 100% the best investment i have ever put on my trail bike.
Agreed! It's so great, it almost feels like cheating! It's a real game changer...

IMO, dropper posts are really among the most significant innovations in mtb. I'd say they're up there with clipless pedals (replacing the toe-clips), disc brakes, quality suspensions and tubeless tires.
 

denjen

Certified Lift Whore
Sep 16, 2001
1,691
36
Richmond VA
Agreed! It's so great, it almost feels like cheating! It's a real game changer...

IMO, dropper posts are really among the most significant innovations in mtb. I'd say they're up there with clipless pedals (replacing the toe-clips), disc brakes, quality suspensions and tubeless tires.
This X 10

You quickly realize that the only time the post needs to be fully extended is when you are seated climbing. Almost all other times, it is dropped an inch or two just to get the saddle out of the way.
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
i couldnt ride without my KS...especially since i am using short cranks taken from another bike and the XL frame i have. i cant count how many times i use mine every ride.
 

descente

Monkey
Jul 30, 2010
430
0
Sandy Eggo
i would put one on all my bikes if it made sense...they are awesome.

sucks you have a 27.2 though, because i think the reverb is still the benchmark
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,562
24,182
media blackout
i would put one on all my bikes if it made sense...they are awesome.

sucks you have a 27.2 though, because i think the reverb is still the benchmark
kind shock makes a 27.2, and I've heard a lot of good things about there products (but no personal experience).