[Closed] Dropper on a gravel bike ?

I ran one for a while on a cx bike I had but only when I ran flat bars as the lever wasn't big enough to fit on drops.
If there was a suitable solution I'd definitely do it!

Based on all your posts about gravel bikes, wanting a long/low/slack one with big tyres and a dropper, I think what you actually need is a rigid mountain bike.

I find that when I ride rough downhill stuff on my gravel bike, the position means my arse is slightly forward of the seat so it doesn't actually get in the way. I've ridden all sorts of stuff on it and have never wanted a dropper on it, despite expecting to.

Based on all your posts about gravel bikes, wanting a long/low/slack one with big tyres and a dropper, I think what you actually need is a rigid mountain bike.

Fair point, although I'm not sure I've ever said that I wanted any of those things, just questioning why these gravel bikes seem a lot closer to a road bike than a rigid MTB. It's obviously what people want and my starting point is that there are good reasons. I'm just not sure I understand them yet.

I think the argument against a rigid MTB would be that it's still crap on the road, it's just crap off road as well 🙂

just questioning why these gravel bikes seem a lot closer to a road bike than a rigid MTB

Because they are being used for riding on a road (a gravel road). They are not intended for bike parks, they are not intended for rooty / rocky/ 1 foot deep muddy single track.

I do not find riding on gravel roads a lot different than on tarmac roads. Going pretty much the same speed and pretty much in a straight line with a few gentle turns - pretty much same as on tarmac roads.
Why would I need a dropper post for riding on the road?

Specialized put one on their top end diverge. I’d have one on mine too, if it weren’t more of a commuter. Would have one on the road bike as well, to aid fast cornering & descending

As above I find I’m in front of my saddle going down rough & rocky descents on my gravel/ adventure bike, I’m wanting to keep on top of my front wheel as it’s a steepish head angle.
Yesterday I did a race/ not a race which had 3 rocky descents went down slightly slower than a mountain bike but not by much and was then much quicker than the mountain bikes on the level.
https://flic.kr/p/2hruZMT

just questioning why these gravel bikes seem a lot closer to a road bike than a rigid MTB.

Because the terrain they are mostly intended for is a lot closer to road than technical trails?

I find that when I ride rough downhill stuff on my gravel bike, the position means my arse is slightly forward of the seat so it doesn’t actually get in the way.

This, particularly as I'll be in the drops on anything technical for better control and stability. Bear in mind too that you're less likely to go over the bars on a cross bike because the front end is rigid and so you don't get fork dive and the ensuing weight transfer.

Finally, one of the amusing things about riding a cross / gravel bike on more technical trails is that it's essentially not particularly suitable for them. Call it 'Three Peaks syndrome. You could make the bike more suitable, but at some point what you have is a drop-barred, rigid mountain bike rather than a gravel/cross bike. Which is fine if that's what you want, but at that point, it's no longer a gravel/cross bike.

But if you are heading down tracks to see where they go, wouldn’t you often find yourself wanting one? Or does not having one give you the excuse you need to get of and walk those bits

more or less this...road and/or shared paths then gravel i know 80-90% of ride is a chill then that "ooh i'll check that out" turns into can't quite get feet in contact with ground because it is all too slopey and "oh my god" wrong bike for this ... not so much an excuse as a I was prepared to give a go!.. as to dropper not bothered yet but tempted ..if riding gravel races maybe yes just to give some edge with easy power on the sealed tough

Rode Swinley Red on my CX bike yesterday. Can't say I felt the need for a dropper. Saddle is 2cm lower than my road bike and an Aliante saddle so shorter than the Arione I normally ride. Spent a lot of time off and back behind the saddle and avoided some of the larger drop-offs. But all good. I also ride almost exclusively on the drops, so bottom is up slightly.

Do you set your saddle as per a road bike?

I put a dropper on my cross bike- not from any need or anything, just because I'm so used to it that the "riding without a dropper" skillset is pretty much gone. Of all the things i missed going from proper bike to cross bike, the dropper was the biggest

I think the argument against a rigid MTB would be that it’s still crap on the road, it’s just crap off road as well

My experience says not. If you get a frame with steep angles and build up a rigid MTB with narrower bars and a reasonably stretched position, somewhere between road and XC MTB, it'll be far better than a 'normal' MTB on road.

This is what I did with my Salsa El Mariachi and I hold a few road PRs on it, to my surprise. Of course overall it's slower than road but I'd happily ride road on it all day. It's actually preferable on steep mountain lanes because gears, brakes, flat bars and big tyres.

I have 660mm bars with a 15 degree sweep, and Ergon grips, and it's extremely comfortable. Far more so than my actual XC bike which has a more racy setup, despite having the same angles. It's still great off-road too, provided you don't go too fast on the rough descents!

It really is the one bike I'd happily do everything on. Here in South Wales there are rough tracks across the mountains that link up with lots of road and some steep singletrack or green lanes - it does it all.

Your best current option for such a bike would be a Big Brother Big Bro at the lower end of the price scale or a Shand Bahookie at the higher end.

I think it really depends on what your definition of gravel is.

I have what I call a gravel bike - Genesis Fugio 650b road plus. It goes through phases of having a dropper post hooked up to the redundant LH shifter and phases of not having it fitted. Dirty Reiver the dropper came off and wouldn't be needed. Dukes Weekender it went on and 50/50 as to whether it was needed or not but I felt it was a benefit to me (other more skilled riders may think otherwise). Local riding it goes on because we dont really have 'true' gravel round here and it's likely I'll be trying to ride it down stuff I'd ride the mtb on, and again I feel I benefit from having the dropper.

But, the bike does run 47mm WTB Senderos so my gravel bike is probably just another mans off road dropped bar bike without a fancy name 😂

While I wouldn't question anyone who wanted one, I can only think of a handful of times I've even considered having one. In the main, it's because the top tube is at a more "traditional" height meaning any drop would be minimal. It's also only 18 months or so since I fitted a dropper post to one of my MTBs (one already had it), I've only just acquired a new fatbike that has one already fitted (my last didn't) and my main bikepacking hardtail doesn't have one either. In short, I've never been at the stage where I thought a dropper was mandatory. Look at what folk were riding before they were available.

My only road bike is a travel bike and I do longish road rides on it to get the miles in.

I like to link bits with sections of bridleway, sometimes these have steep bits or mild tech.

I really miss my dropper on these bits.

M o n s t e r c r o s s

Loved that stuff on a Vagabond with 2.1s. Never used a dropper but was running seatpost lower than normal while recovering from injury. I could see the attraction.

st4nley pls what’s that bicycle? Looks the biz

Thanks. Quite a mix of opinions, but it sounds as though it would be worth at least having the option. I notice that even those frames with routing for a dropper still tend to stick with a 27.2mm seatpost which does somewhat limit options and some come with drops that are so short (50mm!!) that you have to wonder if it’s really worth it. Nukeproof did do the digger with a 120mm dropper and 31.6mm seatpost, but it seems to have disappeared from the lineup this year, which tells you something about how popular that was I guess.

I’ve got a 50mm drop on my gravel bike. I mostly use it to commute and for long days out on road s and trails. The dropper isn’t really needed like it is on my mtb but it’s just nice when on some of the more challenging trails. Even find myself using it on fast twisty road descents as getting lower on the bike feels better.

With the other stuff I questioned (slacker head angles, bigger tyres etc) I can see that there is a danger of designing a gravel bike to cope with the worst trail that you might encounter and in the process compromising it for the rest of the time. So it probably is better to optimise it for the 90% of your ride and just accept that you may have to walk some bits. But with a dropper I’m struggling to see why you wouldn’t have one “just in case”. Even if you don’t think you’ll need it, is there any reason (beyond cost and a tiny weight penalty) not to?

Had a chat with an MTB coach today who uses one on his commuter and really loves it. I genuinely respect his opinion on bikes so if it wasn't quite expensive (and maybe not possible with my frame) then I'd give it a go.

I've never actually owned a dropper post, mind, so I'm also a bit worried that it'd not be all it's cracked up to be.

Maybe just me:

I find I have better balance and control on my mtb when I'm out of the saddle. On my gravel bike this is not the case - when I'm standing my weight is thrown too far forward, I'm much more in control when I'm in the saddle.

I'd like to get a dropper on there for the few occasions it would be useful, but I cannot really justify the cost.

But with a dropper I’m struggling to see why you wouldn’t have one “just in case”. Even if you don’t think you’ll need it, is there any reason (beyond cost and a tiny weight penalty) not to?

Main reason
I don't THINK I won't need it, I KNOW I won't need it. I ride gravel roads and a very small amount of easy singletrack. There is no "just in case" as for all the 20 - 30 mile loops I ride there is not a single metre where I would use a dropper.

Moot reasons based on main reason
Weight - my bike weighs 6.4kg. You don't get to that weight by having a 4-500 gram seat post.
Something to go wrong - my bike is as maintenance free as it can be other than not having a belt drive (no gears, no brakes, no freewheel)

All the reasons why you want a low saddle on an mtb are still there on a drop bar bike, plus your hands are probably lower, and you've got less suspension (tyres fork, shock, or all 3).

All the "do I need a dropper post?" threads will have someone saying that just being able to drop the saddle an inch or two on twisty single track helps them use their body weight better, so I'd say for for most people taking most gravel bikes on anything more than fireroads, a dropper post will be a nice thing to have. At the far end of the spectrum you'll have people who only bought a gravel bike so they could have a road bike with bigger tyres and full on weight weenies like kerley.

I've ridden and fair bit of the local steep, nadgery stuff on my monstercross type thing, and I've sometimes dropped the saddle for it (QR). On one occasion I didn't, I managed to unclip my HRM chest strap with the back of the saddle on a steep roll-in. If it's slow and steep, you've got to be off the back, even further than on a mtb due to steeper angles, lower hands (in the drops).

I'd quite like a (short) dropper post on my CX/Grave/Adventure/$TrendyMarketingTerm bike. I do ride it places where at least an XC hardtail would be more suitable, however the fact that that comprises a couple of miles of a twenty mile mostly road loop (or I set out on a road ride, got bored / tired and took an unplanned interesting looking turn / shortcut) mean that overall the CX bike is a better compromise.

I think more for the "drop the saddle an inch on singletrack" than the "drop the saddle right out the way for a gnarr descent" moments.

There's a fairly well trodden path to take the ratchet out the left hand shifter to use a redundant 2x lever to actuate a dropper post. At least with Sram shifters.

I think more for the “drop the saddle an inch on singletrack” than the “drop the saddle right out the way for a gnarr descent” moments.

I hadn't thought of that and it would explain why there are a few gravel/adventure/whatever bikes out there with short (50-60mm) dropper posts.

There’s a fairly well trodden path to take the ratchet out the left hand shifter to use a redundant 2x lever to actuate a dropper post. At least with Sram shifters.

And I see Shimano's "new" gravel specific groupset (GRX) has this as an option built in, which makes me wonder why so few of these bikes come with cable routing for a (stealth) dropper.

Got one on my gravel bike cos it came with one. Don't use it much and could manage without but it's handy when you're at the limit of gravel riding, just gives a bit more confidence when it gets steep and a bit nadgery

I tried a cheap KS on my Rove ST to see if it was a good idea, it was.
I soon changed to a PNW with a remote that's easy to swap for a rigid for bike packing.
I certainly don't need it on a big gravel loop, though it's nice on fast downhills. I've also ridden some stupidly technical singletrack on it just to see if I can (yes) that would be almost impossible without dropping your seat.
Most people would certainly choose a different bike rather than see what they can do on the wrong bike & a dropper opens up more possibilities.

@kiwijohn Presumably you don't have routing for a stealth dropper on that frame, so did you just use an external dropper? I've been assuming that you'd need a frame with stealth routing to run a dropper with a remote, but I guess the Pine 27.2 external dropper would work with any bike that had cables routed along the top tube.

gravel roads don't really exist round my way.

I can do a reasonable road ride but get bored so like to link it up with sections of bridleway. Some of these have steep bits or a bit of tech, obviously I don't hit them like I do on an mtb but I really miss the dropper, i.e. the seat in the way is the limiting factor, not the drop bars.

In fact braking on the drop bars off road would feel much safer with my weight down low.

I'm going to fit a dropper and will probably leave it on all the time.

I looked at a Masi CXGR, which comes with stealth dropper routing. Thought it was a bit of a mad idea on a drop bar bike. Reading this thread makes me think its not so mad after all.

Suppose the downside is a sloping top tube would limit your ability to shoulder the bike and run. Depends how/what you ride, i do a couple of brisk group rides a week which are treated more like a long CX ride so we run up the hills that arent rideable, dismount and shoulder the bikes through gates and run/mount the other side. So while a couple of inches of drop might work for the downhill bits, any more would make it a pita overall.

@roverpig Yes, it's the Pine. The remote id designed to be permanently mounted below the left brake lever. I wanted it be removable so a mate printed a mount that goes next to the stem.
The cheaper Brand X comes with a remote designed for a CX bikes.

which makes me wonder why so few of these bikes come with cable routing for a (stealth) dropper

I did the Hope Pre-Peaks a couple of months ago and I found myself wishing I had a dropper on some of the wet, slippy and more technical descents ...

A few other riders also had them fitted

Of course I could have done the event on a mountain bike with a dropper fitted, but part of the challenge was to do it on a 'gravel bike', but I would have appreciated being able to move around a bit more without the saddle being in the way.
Same for riding the likes of 'Cut Gate' on the 'gravel bike' as well.

Turns out my Orange RX9 actually does have [internal] cable routing for a dropper!

When we debate Droppers on gravel bikes, a few things come to mind:

First off, it depends on your terrain. My normal gravel rides are on straight, wide, fairly smooth gravel roads. Just road riding but with some fatter tires and ever so slightly slacker head angle for control and speed through softer, rougher surfaces. No need for one there.
But for people riding rough blridleways, or linking bits of easy singletrack...

To the people saying “you don’t need it, I ride steep stuff all the time without one”, I’d point out that’s the same thing they said 13 years ago, when I got my first dropper on my mtb...

As for the choice between different bike styles, ranging from “roadbike with big tires” - “drop bar, rigid mtb” - hardtail mtb, well, that depends on your terrain and preferences.

I will say though, that for mixed rides, I can see the value in something fairly fast and gravel-road-like fitted with a dropper. My route to my kids’ school has a little plank bridge across a ditch. That steep drop onto the plank is quite intimidating on a bike with the handlebars miles below the saddle and in front of the front wheel. But, at the same time, the double track leading up to it, and the paved roads for the rest, are best on a more road like bike.

The Whyte gravel frames take a 30.9 dropper - I have never considered fitting one as I generally ride it on roads, canal towpaths and a few link BW sections that dont merit it

I cant imagine a gravel bike being any fun on steeper, rougher terrain - perhaps I'm missing out

Holy thread resurrection !

It's interesting reading my own comments from six months ago, when I started this thread. Since then I've bought a gravel bike and yes, I specifically went for one that would take a dropper and fitted one after trying a few rides without. Each to their own, but I wouldn't be without one. I even drop it for some road descents as it's just more fun with a lower CoG.

I have reduced the drop (One-Up dropper) from the original 150mm to 120mm. That's mainly because that post seems quite sensitive to clamp pressure at the top of the tube, but a lot less an inch further down (there is a joke in there somewhere). Basically I could fit a 150mm drop but it kept slipping and actually, for graver stuff I find 5" seems to be plenty (again, insert your own joke).

I cant imagine a gravel bike being any fun on steeper, rougher terrain – perhaps I’m missing out

Oh they are fun in a "am I gonna make it down intact"s phincter tightening kinda way. Much like early rigid mtbing was in the late 80's early 90's before technology made things too easy and boring.

absolutely mandatory for me

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A Genesis Fugio 30 is on my shopping list for later in the year and the dropper will be interesting to try out.