[Closed] Uppy Downy Seat Posts - has it transformed your riding?

and not to open up the "I can ride world cup DH with my seat post right up"

Yes means I can ride faster/harder along more of the trails I ride. Makes me more likely to do a longer ride without stopping etc.

Great invention

I wouldn't say transformed (because i'm not a journalist) but I do use it quite a bit.

I bought a cheap Joplin from CRC and it doesn't have much play and works fine. One problem I have had is that I wanted to swap bars so went to undo the screw holding the lever clamp on and it wouldnt loosen. The nut bit is just press fit in the back of the mount and it has come loose, meaning that when I try to undo it, it just spins. Very annoying and in order to remove it I had to damage the clamp. Even more annoying was when CRC said, without even seeing it, that it was because I'd cross threaded it in the first place. This isn't the case, it's just bad design.

So if you want cheap to try out if it suits you, buy a sale Joplin 3, but if you want good quality workmanship look elsewhere.

+1 mikewsmith, they just need to sort out reliability and servicing issues.

'Transformed' no - but it has made some sections more fun. I was one of the 'never drop' luddites until recently but not any more. Sometimes just dropping an inch is all thats needed and it was'nt the dropping that was a pain but getting it back to the right height after was - the reverb rocks - so much so I have 2 now 😳

When I was a nipper, I used to take spanners with me so I could drop the sofa on my Grifter.

If I didn't, I would be up-ended and booted up the arse by the seat.

It was also a nightmare pedaling the beast with it down, it weighed as much as me!

Always thought they'd come up with a saddle dropper, like an office chair.

This has stayed with me regardless of various , adjustable geometry this/that on different bikes, and I wouldn't want to keep getting off to adjust saddle height to suit the terrain.

The best inventions are born out of necessity.

My Command post is really good.

I guess so, not stopping at the top of a steep drop is very convenient, keeping a constant flow is more enjoyable, my local trails are very varied so perfect for adjustable post. I'm getting a bit of play and clamp creak on the reverb, I think I've done it up too tight or not used friction paste. My bar setup still doesn't feel 100% right yet - more tweaking at the w/e.

Around here (Dalby) we wouldn't ride without them. Fast flowing trails are much more fun if you are not being pitched forward by your saddle. They are expensive, but we see them as essential. More essential than fancy wheels or expensive groupsets, that's for sure.

It transformed my riding; I don't have to stop at the top and then again at the bottom of every techie bit while other people mess with seat heights.

It's good to see, in the first few posts at least, that people are acknowledging the benefit as being less about being able to move your weight further back and more about being able to lower and centre your weight on the bike.

I always used to drop my post for anything other than climbing, so while it hasn't transformed my riding style (because my routinely dropping the post started a long time ago), it has made life so much easier and riding a lot more enjoyable as a result.

Above, high speed mixed with high seatposts. Very entertaining.

Massive difference for me, having long legs and a short body gives me a pretty high centre of gravity, not much fun on steep descents. I like the saddle out of the way for anything technical, it makes riding undulating trails so much more enjoyable.

Gravity dropper with remote for me, has been fine for 18 months so far.
There is some play if you wiggle the seat around with your hand, but I never do that whilst riding. 🙄 Defo go for the remote option!

I certainly wouldn't say they are indispensible, bit like rear suspension, but I much prefer riding with them...if you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.

Definitely miss my Joplins given both are currently bust.

I drop my post all the way for anything other then up -

Having never tried one, is there enough range for dropping really low and then having reasonably high, as I ride a small frame where I need quite abit of post sticking out for climbing? but also like my saddle right out the way

IE - is there enough range?

i thought it did - but in hindsight it didnt...

it made things easier ie, quick drop on the remote and awayyyy the lads descending made easier....but i got lazy and ended up using it for everything other than climbing on sections that really didnt require it....almost felt like i was throwing a trials/skills bike down stuff sometimes....i had a few problems with my GD (and the fact it was ugly as hell)....it spoiled two huge rides for me also, when i was in the middle of a 40miler literally half way it packed up....sorted it out and it did the bloody same 3 weeks later on the same ride 🙁 ...i lost faith after that and sold it!

ive since gone back to proper seatpost and 9/10ths of the ride up the peaks im not having to drop it on sections i would automatically have done so...there are certain areas where it would be deadly not to drop, so i do still do so for them, but they are not miles and miles of descent, usually tricky techincal super steep bits...it takes a few moments do stop and undo QR and stick back up after...

they are a great idea and in certain areas of the world they would be fantastic from start to finish on rides, but for me its a load extra weight, lack of reliability etc that made me go back to a good old alloy one...

if i had 100% faith in them and money no object then id probably get one and keep it to one side for certain rides...but as a constant ride i dont need one....

i do like the look of the rockshox one but hearing so many bad things now about them, i thought that would be the one that ended all reliability issues but clearly not.....

Never needed one on my full bouncer but moving back to an agressive hardtail... yes... to ride trails fast I think it's brilliant.

Transformed my riding... no. There is always stopping and using the QR.

Reverb - fitted perfectly, no faf, no problems.
Use it all the time (except on the commute to work)

Improves my "flow" on the trail
Improves my ability on techy / jumpy / bermy / nadgery stuff
Improves my speed
Improves my confidence

Yup, that pretty much a transformation then.

I dont have one but but I'm constantly apologizing to my dropper friends about having to stop whilst I put mine back up.

IE - is there enough range?

I had a KS i900 with a 5 inch drop, now I've got a GD which is 4 inch. I like the GD a lot but I do sometimes wish it had the 5 inch drop.

I think if you like to ride reasonably aggressively they are a fantastic invention. Probably the best thing I've bought fort bike, despite the cost/reliability issues.

It means my legs don't hurt so much and I'm a bit quicker uphill because I can put the saddle up for those bits.

grum - thats my worry, I think I need about 6 inches 😯

also not made in 27.2 which would fit my Kobe.
Can't see me needing one on the Remedy as only ride that on big mountain days out when its a long climb then a long descent.

it was'nt the dropping that was a pain but getting it back to the right height after wa

Just what I was going to say.

The most useful function for me is raising the seat for a climb - when I might have just done it with saddle uncomfortably low instead.

Especially good on undulating terrain then, probably got the best use out of it at CyB actually.

Definitely going to get one again - just not sure when or which.

No. Definitely not. I have no problems with the uppy downy x-hilo post I have, it has a remote and works very well it is just that I don't sit down that much so can run my seat lower anyway. The only time I sit down for a long time is long boring smooth bits. (Say road or forest track). Other than that I run my post low enough to not be in the way for descents but not so low that it is impossible to pedal.

I do stand and pedal alot and its not the most efficient way to go but I don't do biking to be effiecient but to have fun. And an uppy downy post is not fun for three reasons. 1. Heavy, 3. Expensive, 3. Another thing to break.

I would rather be out of the saddle when it gets technical up or down so the saddle can be lower anyway. Uppy downy posts are only useful for me on the boring bits and who cares about them?

Don't bother buying one without a remote (if they still exist). Mine came with the remote kit not installed, and it took me a few months to get round to fitting it.

Without the remote, they're nearly as much faff as a qr, imo, if only because dropping them on the go is a bit of a nusiance.

I don't sit down that much so can run my seat lower anyway. The only time I sit down for a long time is long boring smooth bits. (Say road or forest track). Other than that I run my post low enough to not be in the way for descents but not so low that it is impossible to pedal.

I do wonder whether a hite rite would still be the best solution for most people, if somebody had the willingness to put it back in production? Low weight, cost, and durability. Does the seatpost need to be going up and down like a yo-yo?

+1reverb Worked straight out of the box. Allows me to find that sweet spot along the trail and helps on the ups. Weight not really an issue.

Got one on my bigger bike but not on my hardtail… yet 🙂

Only had it a month and am very impressed (Reverb). I wasn't planning to buy just yet but entry for the Macavalanche twisted my arm. My local forest is very up and down, if I ride like a mincer I can get away with saddle at full height for everything but don't expect to manage or enjoy the gnarly bits. Drop the saddle an inch and it becomes rideable but the gnar can still be difficult and the climbs are an extra biatch… or stop at least 10 times to mess with saddle height to enjoy the gnar and power the climbs. You can imagine the joys of the "Reverb" for this… it works, saddle glides up to full height for the climbs and drops for the gnar… awesome. I really missed it last night when I had my hardtail out. I dropped the saddle completely for one section of gnar and rode the rest with my saddle dropped an inch… had I had the Reverb on I would have used it plenty (damn the 27.2 on my hardtail).

Big days in the hills it's not so important as they tend to be big climbs followed by big descents… but it's nice to raise the saddle on the flatter smooth parts of the big descents to get a wee rest before the next section of gnar… so I think they are still useful here.

For trail centre riding with your buddies or enduro racing they are ace, brilliant for keeping momentum up and maximising pedalling efficiency when you can.

Raising and lowering with a quick release feels so much more random now… did I get the height right, is my saddle squint, will my post slide down because I didn't get the QR quite tight enough?

I wouldn't say transformed my riding, but I think they do improve the experience and are worth the weight if they suit where and how you ride.

Not transformed but it just means I don't have to stop, lower the seat, ride, stop, raise the seat anymore.

I maybe do drop it for fast flowy stuff whereas before I'd have just left it.

Transformed, no. Made it a bit less faff, yes. Worth it? Considering I picked up the Joplin on here for £35, paid a fiver for some new oil, 2Pure sent me some new seals for nowt... yes, well worth it.

I've had my Reverb for 5 months now and pretty much agree with Messiah. I think they are really very useful and well worth the money and weight. Their value does seem to depend on where and what you ride though.

The only negative I've found with mine is that I seem to have lost some standing-up pedaling stamina as on bits that I would have been out of the saddle grunting up before I now jut pop the seat up and twiddle.

transform it no as you could always drop your seat manually
Do you drop your seat on rides?If yes get one if not dont get one.
I can ride downhill with my seat up if required but to me it is as pointless as riding uphill with my seat down low.
yes I could do either but it is not optimal so why would I?
Ride changing No
Handy and useful Yes
The weight penalty is about 200g over say a Thopson post which is hardly massive on overall bike weight tbh

Can you drop the saddle a bit for normal DHs with the lever, but then drop it all the way using the QR for some jumps where you want the saddle completely down? Seems that the gubbins would prevent the saddle going as low as it would on a normal post.

Seems that the gubbins would prevent the saddle going as low as it would on a normal post.

ahhh i saw your thread title yesterday and avoided it thinking it was going to be lots of people arguing over which bike parts are better.. knowing everyone enjoys different things and values different aspects of the bikes performance.

i'm fully expecting this thread to descend into people fighting, as with anything on STW. but i'm happy to see some balanced opinions and people staying pretty on topic so far 🙂

G.R.F - you asked a different question, no?

Now tell me 'where your username comes from'!

Or is this the more serious 'proper' rider cult that allegedly exists here amongst the nob ends?

Um, probably that this thread title would attract those that had actually used uppy-downy seatposts - and most of those people seem to get on well with them. You've got an enormous chip on your shoulder haven't you.......

Seems that the gubbins would prevent the saddle going as low as it would on a normal post.

This is true but the saddle will still drop enough, check out the height of DH riders setups.

[img] [/img]

Mine goes down a good bit further than this on my Reign

For me they really help to get the most from momentum, after a descent you can be flying up the next climb with your saddle at optimum height, instead of stopping to raise your post and losing flow.

it's all very nonchalant and cool on here to say 'no way did this invention [u]transform[/u] my riding'

when i get one i know for a fact that i'm gonna be banging on to anyone who listens about how freakin great they are and how much of an improvement they are over the old days. i'll be riding along a flat section with my seat up and spot a wee run up a banking with a drop back on to the trail which i'd usually ignore or roll, but with my ride-changing dropper post i'll just flick the lever and gun it. or something like that.

i can't wait to get one, just a bit poor at the moment. rode the ciaran path a couple of weekends back and all i kept thinking was i wish i had one...

peachos, pretty much bang on there. They make even more sense on trails you don't know.

I'm really hoping that these come down in price so I can actually afford one at some point! That or I'm gonna have to try build my own...

I ride a 15" frame and I'm 6' so my seatpost is rather (very) long. This means I'd a fair amount of drop as I find that without the saddle pretty low it smacks me up the arse and lurches me over the bars!

They make even more sense on trails you don't know.

This is what I really want one for. That and as peachos mentioned just dropping the saddle to play on something that looks fun whilst riding along.

it's all very nonchalant and cool on here to say 'no way did this invention transform my riding'

Personally I think it's naive to think it will transform you're riding.

A skills course, however, will. In my opinion it is the most cost effective way to 'transform' your riding.

Personally I think it's naive to think it will transform you're riding.

define 'transform your riding'. it WILL make a significant difference being able to adjust saddle height on the fly. i sometime don't bother dropping my seatpost if i know the descent is short or sometimes a short descent catches me out and i hate it. with this i wont have that problem and i'll have more fun.

what about these badboys - anyone got one?
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/SE266G03-X-Fusion+Hilo+Adjustable+Seatpost.aspx?sc=FRGLUK&cc=GBP

i'd say it has transformed my riding in as much as I have never had another component that has to be removed every month or so to be sent back under warranty...ground breaking stuff

what brand jonty?

guess!

Personally I would go so far as to say it has transformed my xc/trail riding. Most of what I do has a jump/DH bias, so I'm used to having the saddle right out of the way.

As for skills training I have had a couple of sessions and I'm looking forward to one with jedi on the 17th of June, but I very much doubt he will be teaching me to ride with the saddle wedged up my ****.

It did transform my riding. 8 years ago I went over the bars because of going down a steep hill, started slow but gained speed due to the gradient and low grip, high seat post and just couldn't ride it out as I couldn't get my rear end over the seat. Broke my scapula, a few ribs and since then have used up and down posts. I haven't owned a bike in 5+ years that didn't have a drop seat post on and I won't ever ride a bike without one again. Both my current bikes have them (Spesh Command posts). I could have avoided the crash by dropping my normal post before the descent but it was an unfamiliar trail and when you don't have that luxury your sometimes simply to lazy to stop and drop the post.

I may not be a cross country god but I am a regular motocrosser/enduro rider and can jump some serious doubles/gaps on a good day so it's not like I use my droppper post as a skill compensator either.

Now I just bomb down anything. Even if I don't drop it at the start of the descent I still often drop it on the way down when I feel I want to. They are fantastic and make your riding flow much better because at the press of a button it's down and you can maintain your speed down some very steep stuff where in the past you would either have had to stop to drop your post or taken it more slowly descending down a particular bit of the trail. Then, soon as the gradient increases you press the button again and climb. I use mine a hell of a lot on most rides, that's what it's there for.

guess!

crank bros?

top marks!

Peachos - you can google the word 'transform' as well as the next man.

To say 'it WILL make a significant difference' is a matter of personal opinion.

I have one, has it made a marked change to the way I ride, or even how I ride... no.

Would I choose to ride my HT around technical trails without it... no.

I'm adamant that if you think it will make a huge difference and you've not had any skills coaching, you should spend your money on some coaching first.

Just set your seat post lower than you usually would, stand up a bit more (Becoming stronger as a result and being able to move you body around for more balance) and you don't need one. If you like to to ride with your seat jammed up your posterior at every given opportunity maybe they are a good thing.

I would say the main benefit is being able to put your seat up rather than down as you can ride around with your seat a bit lower and the only issue is that your are not in the most efficient position for pedalling and saving energy.

I didn't have one, and thought they seemed like a really good idea because I do like to drop and raise a lot on the trails I ride. So I bought one - it was ace, so ace in fact that I bleated on to people about how ace it was at every opportunity.

Then it broke, half way round a 40k loop in wales, and broke in a very annoying way, the top would spin round freely, but only anticlockwise, so I couldn't even hold it in the middle with my knees, totally ruined my ride so I took it off and sent it back to be repaired.

It was repaired and has now sat in a box in the loft for the last 2 months. I dont trust it and I found during the time it was away that actually, using a qr lever isn't as much faf as I remember.

I think what I'm trying to say is 'meh' they're OK, but not essential (to me)

For me, anything that makes a bike less reliable or adds more maintenance burden isn't worth it.

I run my seat at below optimum pedalling efficiency position and have no issues moving my weight around. if the trail is going to get silly then I'll just drop it fully. Get one if you think it'll help and it probably will.

Oh, and not sure where all this 'go on a training course' excitement is coming from - have we all reached the point where we can't possibly improve our riding by going out more and in more varied situations?

Apologies for my grumpiness.

Transform is a strong word, but you really do notice how much you miss it when it stops working (as they all do..).

vinnyeh - Member
I do wonder whether a hite rite would still be the best solution for most people, if somebody had the willingness to put it back in production? Low weight, cost, and durability. Does the seatpost need to be going up and down like a yo-yo?

I for one would be interested as it looks simple yet stable, it also looks like something that would retail for far less than the hydraulic versions, if someone could produce a strongly made steel version with steel office chair type lever, with either a 3 position version (not sure if that would be possible though with that hite rite design?) or two position version but with some choice for the buyer, ie: 2 inch drop, 4 inch drop, then I would be interested.

Like the guy you quoted, I mainly stand up and this is because I realised there can be value in doing so if we are talking about constant up & down trail centre/cheeky trail typical singletrack, converting my HT to SS has helped me gain the leg strength required quite a lot, I even stand up on the FS in pro pedal mode a lot now and can climb like that too, or simply revert to sitting slightly more forward on the saddle when legs are tired, but basically, I ride all the time with the saddle in the compromised (saddle down just enough, about 2 inches max, to make it slightly easier) position, I don't have any trouble keeping up with those that aren't elite racer types so I don't mind riding like this as it's not a race for me anyway.

I'm exactly the type of person the hite rite would benefit I think, I can see the value in those hydraulic droppers but I'm not great with mechanics and fear that I may have to mess about with failures, these posts are still a lot of money for the better ones. A new style of hite rite, if selling for, shall we say anywhere between £29.99 to £49.99 max if they can produce it at that price point would sell well IMHO.

peachos - Member

what about these badboys - anyone got one?
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/SE266G03-X-Fusion+Hilo+Adjustable+Seatpost.aspx?sc=FRGLUK&cc=GBP

Think you might have missed this post?

GEDA - Member
No. Definitely not. I have no problems with the uppy downy x-hilo post I have, it has a remote and works very well it is just that I don't sit down that much so can run my seat lower anyway

I've never bothered changing my seat height, but I have friends who do. The problem at present seems to be the unreliable nature of the products available; one guy I know has had three, and all have failed in some way or another, to the extent that he actually leaves an old post in the car as a back up.

We are the same height, but my legs are shorter than his, and I think the people who like to drop saddles are probably taller/longer legged than me. I've also ridden a fair bit on rigid and cyclocross bikes, so have maybe got used to not dropping the saddle. When I do it, I feel that I have less control, not more.

ah cheers MM!! seem to remember them getting decent reviews over on pinkbike too.

just couldn't ride it out as I couldn't get my rear end over the seat

If the saddle is so high you literally can't get behind it at all, it is way too high for pedalling too.

Superb, wouldn't be without one.......well apart from when it's away being repaired.......which is most of the time.

Yep loads, if you want to get all over the bike when its in the air they are very handy, they let you lower your center of gravity any keep your weight where ever you want it..
Haters be gone..

There is a big difference between thinking they are not strictly essential and being a "hater"!

It is well worth practicing getting behind a normal height saddle, even if you have a dropper post, because one day you'll forget to drop it.

Only Had it a Week or so, so certainly not a definative view, but it is great, I wouldn't call my riding "transformed" but the fact that having the seat up or down is simply a half second flick of a lever, Vs fannying about with a QR and re-setting it to the right heigh at the bottom of a descent.

it means that rather than just putting up with having a fully extended seat for shorter sections, I'll drop it as and when I feel the need.

On my reular loop the other evening I must have put it up/down 12-15 times Vs maybe 3 with the old QR, overall I was a bit faster for not having those stop/starts and not having to compromise on the descents.

I wouldn't mind an extra inch of drop (mine is 4") just to get the seat that touch lower but so far I'm very pleased...

I haven't had a single faceplant since getting one. I used to be a faceplanting specialist.

Just to balance the 'mine is always broken' brigade, myself and my wife have had a total of 7 dropper posts between us over a 5+ year period and had no problems so far apart from the very first one I bought many years ago that developed a bit of side to side play (replaced under warranty). It's been one of the most reliable parts on our bikes. We have had far more problems with hydraulic brakes and suspension forks than with our seatposts.

There's a hell of a lot you can do to eliminate going over the 'bars, and you really should do the same stuff regardless of where your saddle is set.

Great for trail centres where there are plenty of downs and ups

glenp - Member

There's a hell of a lot you can do to eliminate going over the 'bars, and you really should do the same stuff regardless of where your saddle is set.

There's a hell of a lot you can do to eliminate going over the 'bars, and you really should do the same stuff regardless of where your saddle is set.

How do you 'do the same stuff' if your saddle is in the way?

I think those that think saddle height doesn't matter are short with long upper bodies. And I suspect they're right (for them).

There's a hell of a lot you can do to eliminate going over the 'bars, and you really should do the same stuff regardless of where your saddle is set

ok, i'm going to leave my seat high and lower my COG or be all nice & loose in the knees whilst the seat is up my ass. please tell me how i can do this oh masterful one...

I'm liking mine a lot.

Cheers IR Bandito. 🙂

There's a hell of a lot you can do to eliminate going over the 'bars, and you really should do the same stuff regardless of where your saddle is set.

This and a couple of other peoples previous comments read a bit like your accusing those of us who dare to vary our seat heights of being cack handed fools who constantly pitch themselves over the bars mistified by the most basic of bike handling tasks, whilst I'm sure that's not your intention, it does make you sound a little conceited.

Not everyone want to spend all of their time perched on top of a full height saddle which while one [I]Could[/I] ride with it fully up all the time, many people generally get more from their riding by being able to adjust the bike to suit the task at hand a little better, that is what this thread was discussing...

ok, i'm going to leave my seat high and lower my COG or be all nice & loose in the knees whilst the seat is up my ass. please tell me how i can do this oh masterful one...

I never said seat up was the [i]same[/i] as seat down, only that there are lots of little details that can mitigate against going over the 'bars. Heels down and head up for a start - you can and should do that stuff whether you have the saddle high or low, and even with a "pedaling" saddle you shouldn't be going over the 'bars all the time.

I don't think you need to give it all the nasty sarcasm. But go for it if it makes you feel better.

ok, i'm going to leave my seat high and lower my COG or be all nice & loose in the knees whilst the seat is up my ass. please tell me how i can do this oh masterful one

lets keep this about your personal experiences of uppy downy seat posts 😀

some really useful posts on here, terrain of choice and riding style seem to be the biggest factors other than price. price is such a huge factor with this product though... hence me not wanting that to be part of the opening question, just after your own experiences of the product.

cheers for all the comments guys! muchos appreciated-os x

ok, i'm going to leave my seat high and lower my COG or be all nice & loose in the knees whilst the seat is up my ass. please tell me how i can do this oh masterful one...

I just meant that it did not follow that riding with a normal saddle means going over the 'bars all the time.

That's all.

lets keep this about your personal experiences of uppy downy seat posts

I know a few people that really like them, but not quite to the extreme of being essential. A nice-to-have for those that I have met.

Always struck me an interesting idea, but for me personally at the moment the'te too heavy and look gopping. As soon a slinky weight weenie version is invented that doesn't look like a blue peter build made of bog rolls I'll get one for my big bike.

I think I got one 5 years ago? Whenever GDs came out.

I really think it's body shape (height in particular) rather than anything else that determines how useful they are.

What transformed my riding was using my QR to put the seat down for everything but the long boring flat/ascending bits. But if you don't really like the benefits of a low saddle on anything interesting (not just steep bits) then I can see why you wouldn't appreciate a dropper post.