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I'm really liking the look of the new DT dropper for my spark
https://www.dtswiss.com/en/suspension/dropper-post
anyone have one yet? relatively light, simple mechanical operation and looks to be just enough drop. Before anyone says you need something silly like 10"s I currently ride all but the steepest stuff on my local runs (and the odd trip to QE / Afan) without adjusting my saddle - I jyst want the ability to drop a little for really steep stuff.
It's a slippery slope though. You start with an 'xc' amount of drop, then you realise how much better the bike is on descents, tech, jumps...and then you want more drop.
I would recommend the maximum amount you can fit for your frame. One-ups are not much heavier than the dt and are easy to maintain/ get parts for etc.
It’s a slippery slope though. You start with an ‘xc’ amount of drop, then you realise how much better the bike is on descents, tech, jumps…and then you want more drop.
Yep. I started out with a 3" GravityDropper when they first came out. Massive improvement. Then when they brought out a 4" version, I got one of those. Bit better, but didn't seem like a huge improvement. Until I tried to go back and kept smashing my nuts on the back of the saddle. Then I got a 5" Reverb. Same thing, seemed like a minor improvement until I tried to go back. Then I got a 6" Brand-X. Actually seemed like too much drop, didn't like it until I started smashing my nuts when I used the bike with the 5" post. Just upgraded my Anthem to a 6" post as well. A 60mm dropper just seems pointless to me now.
They're still prety rare out there but Fishface cycles got some in and their XC team riders are on them, maybe drop them a line?
I suppose it depends how you ride, I'm not doing gnarly super steep stuff - the steepest / roughest I get are the descents at afan - I'm not exactly slow with the saddle fully up on a 100mm hardtail so I reckon I can cope without a massive dropper.
I did have a reverb when they first came out, and found I could never quite get it at the right height and kept fiddling about with it - I like the simplicity of full up for pedal efficiency and slightly down for rougher stuff.
Good tip on fishfacecycles - not heard of them before