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Where did they all go. Haven't had a dropper for years, rarely need one and don't want the cabling or a remote.
Just want a dropper with a handle under the saddle. Used to have a decathlon one, which was perfectly adequate.
Now don't seem to be any, other than very cheap amazon jobs?
Is there no demand for them or is it just that all remote version also have a manual trigger that I'm not aware of?
Cheers
Is there no demand for them
everyone realised that taking your hand off the bar to fiddle with something, unsighted, under the saddle just as your about to enter an exciting section of trail wasnt a great idea.
I’m sure there are still a couple out there. No doubt someone will be along shortly to some what’s what
I used to ride a hardtail commuting daily so knew exactly where I needed to drop the saddle and exactly where I didn't. A manual dropper would have been perfect, less cluttered bars, one less cable and fewer cable ties on the frame. Used to imagine they'd be cheaper too, but doubt much to be saved. Not bothered looking since covid then finance squeeze.
Ks Dropzone available in lever
I never minded having the lever under the saddle (had two lever Joplins ...so unreliable) as riding locally i always knew when to drop and the trails weren't that long that i would need to pop the saddle back up mid trail.
Still, have only got remote ones now including 2 Dropzones that have lasted for years with minimal servicing and one i got secondhand for £50 in 2013!
As with some of the others on here. I only need it when away from usual riding spots eg trail centres, where I'd largely have it down for all descending.
Looks like second hand will be the way to go.
Just want a dropper with a handle under the saddle
I think they fell out of favour because it looked to other people like you were playing with yourself.
It would be easy enough to convert a remote one by just hanging the cable out the back with a knob attached. Just pull on the knob to adjust the post.
Any wireless dropper and put the remote in your pocket, mounted to the post itself, bottle cage mount or mudguard eyelet if you want a challenge?
I have one of these:
Wireless would be an expensive way of doing it and dangling cable hack not ideal.
Surprised there's not lots of old ones on eBay either. Will just have to put a wanted request out.
The one up there no good? 👆👆
Not sure why they’re more expensive without a cable and lever though!
Wireless would be an expensive way of doing it
I suspect any way of doing it would be more expensive than getting one with a cable remote. New ones are £50 and used ones much, much less. You've got to really want something that is inherently worse (apart from a very few marginal cases). Maybe try one with a remote, you never know, you might actually like it. Most people do. 🙂
Now that I've found that they're hens teeth, then remote might have to be done. Frame not drilled for as stealth, so will be a bit fugly.
Just surprised as the last lever one I bought was only about £50 from decathlon years ago, so just assumed there would be even cheaper ones knocking about.
Externally routed dropped are only fugly if you stop and study them. When riding, they're the same as stealth ones 🙂
KS ones on AliExpress...
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004159784653.html
£50 inc postage
Thanks for that. Never bought anything from AliExpress, just assumed it was all fake, but will look into it..
Frame not drilled for as stealth, so will be a bit fugly.
If you can give up a bottle cage mount, it is possible to route a cable through a bottle boss. I've done it before.
Obviously check first before ordering you can get a cable through to the down tube bottle bosses and they aren't blind holes. With patience you can tread an outer through.
Under saddle lever droppers are great on some bikes, my single speed and also my rigid winter hack. Obviously not as slick as a remote but most people can ride one handed briefly.
Thanks for that. Never bought anything from AliExpress, just assumed it was all fake, but will look into it..
Some is (a lot is!) But I've bought stuff before and it's been ok.
I'd be surprised if these KS posts were fake, as it's a Chinese (I assume) brand anyway, and I bought a KS Eten post for about £50 in the UK a few years ago, so not ridiculously cheap.
I have one of the Decathlon 31.6x100 droppers, barely used because I hated the lever, that you're welcome to in exchange for the price of postage and a beer. DM me if interested.
I've got a KS one, unused, in my shed. Horrible idea - who wants to feel like LL Cool J whenever they need to lower their post?
Anyway, as an over 50s rider, I'd never get on or off my bike without dropping my saddle.
Thanks dcarley, PM sent.