View Full Version : Gravity dropper seatposts
http://www.gravitydropper.com/index.html
Anybody use one of these ? Anyone stocking them here ?
Seriously considering getting the TURBO one, seem to spend my life adjusting the seat post on my freeride bike and want to get a bit more flow between the ups and downs.
Opinions please
the happy fairy just got one, he seems happy enough with it. I just ordered one of the crank brothers ones from crc will try it out over the weekend and let you know how it is
Here we go, I remember when these were mocked with vigor not too long ago.
barry_kellett99
06-18-2008, 08:14 AM
I test rode a Santa Cruz Nomad which just happened to have a Cane Creek dropper post on it.
I didn't like it, not one bit - The bit that goes into the main post, I suppose you could call it the stanchion cos it looks like suspension fork leg, moves slightly rotationally. So the saddle has a few mm of movement from side to side if you have the saddle nose between your legs when standing up for example.
Also - It doesnt drop that much. Maybe I am just used to trying to ride everything with the saddle up at normal height and dropping it as far as it will go for new ultra scary stuff til I get used to it, but the range of adjustment for the money it would cost didnt do it for me.
Quillo
06-18-2008, 09:28 AM
Excellent, if a tad expensive, piece of kit.
Have had one with a 3" drop for six months or so and it works really well.
I suppose if you're one of these people that are good enough to ride up hill and down without adjusting your saddle height, they are kinda pointless.
However, if you like your saddle high for the climbs and low for the steep downhill stuff then then get one. You'll wonder how you managed without it it :)
Best price seems to be direct from http://www.gravitydropper.com/, particularly with the dollar where it is at the moment.
The_Happy_Fairy
06-18-2008, 11:24 AM
Have had the gravity dropper turbo for a couple of weeks, it is the dogs bollix, I don’t know how I survived without one. It drops 4 inches and has a one inch setting as well. 4 inches is plenty of drop, for me anyway. Still have the QR so can still drop it further but to date haven’t needed to. The only time I was thinking I could do with a bit more was bating down Alan’s trail, got down fine with the 4 inches though, and anyway you seldom come across stuff that steep. The one inch setting is handy on technical climbs and fast, but not to steep descents, it is a bit hard to get into the 1 inch setting though when you baiting along.
Where is really comes into its own is on trails that change gradient a lot. I don’t mind putting my saddle down manually at the top of big DH, that’s no hassle, what is a pain is if you have it down and you come across and bit of a flat bit or a short climb. Or those trails that go up and down a lot, especially in trail centres, and xc race course and other such crazy places. With this gadget you can give it socks all the time.
They are not cheep, but then if you look at the prices of some other stuff its not too bad. The is some rotational movement, or whatever its called, but I don’t even notice it. It is heavy, but then so am I. Some of the reviews say that they don’t survive mucky winters, but sure we will see.
I have been at this crack for a long time and the only things they have managed to invent for bicycles which have a bigger affect on my happy buzz are disk brakes and suspension.
Having said that that’s me, I do most of my riding on my 30 odd pound 6inch travel
all mountain / freeride / pick your label of choice / bike. Don’t need these things for DH, don’t really need them for xc, although I have used it on my xc bike and its deadly, but you won’t gain that much time on the descents in most xc races, unless your brutal, or racing in a part of the world where xc races are overly techniqual (not saying a word), so if you’re a serious racer its not that much of an advantage and does add about a pound to your bike. If your just going out and riding your bike though and what to get the most out of every bit of trail you come across then this gadget is for you.
Cool, great reports lads.
Im seriously considering one for the mega and for riding in general on the blur 4x which is a kind of an everything bike.
id be interested to hear how you get on with the crank brothers one al...
Basil Fawlty
06-18-2008, 12:31 PM
Ordered it last week (4 " version), should be here soon.
Oh dear, now this may be a worthy invention, and Seans approval counts for more than my tut tutting, but it saddens me. Fiddling with our seat height just adds to the sense of anticipation about what awaits, time for a bit of banter and a laugh. OK, so Sean and Alan may be at the bottom, waiting for all the seatpost fiddlers, but are they any happier, really?
barry_kellett99
06-18-2008, 12:52 PM
Do the Cane Creek ones have different heights you can drop?
I reckon the one i used must have been at the lesser moving end of the scale.
I dont think it is any use to me or the trails I ride, but from what I have heard about the Megavalanche, it sounds essential.
Quillo
06-18-2008, 12:55 PM
id be interested to hear how you get on with the crank brothers one al...
The Joplin appears to be a bit more sensitive to the elements....
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/components/seat-post-seat-pin/product/joplin-seatpost-31947
Under it's earlier guise as the curiously named Maverick Speedball:
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/controls/Seatpost/maverick/speedball/PRD_415522_141crx.aspx
Gravity dropper:
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/controls/Seatpost/gravity-dropper/adjustable-seatpost/PRD_364557_141crx.aspx
just got my joplin in the post First impressions are good its nicely made and has infinite adjustment which is nice but 3" may not be enough. Theres a small side to side rock but nothing that would be anoying
Might try ordering direct from the site. Anybody know what method of post they use and did you get stuck for duty ?
Basil Fawlty
06-18-2008, 11:15 PM
Don, I will not be happier until I can keep up with Sean on the way down. Which is likely to be a very long time coming.
Quillo
06-19-2008, 08:23 AM
Might try ordering direct from the site. Anybody know what method of post they use and did you get stuck for duty ?
I ordered from the site directly and it came by US Postal Service - and I've never been hit by Customs on stuff that's come by post. Only time I've ever had to pay duty/VAT is on items that came by courier.
The_Happy_Fairy
06-19-2008, 11:54 AM
Don, I'm happy, but then I was happy before I had the seat post, in fact I think I am always happy,
Thingy turned up in a few days, priority post, no bill for duty yet.
Alan, it'll never happen, just be content being a better map reader, hill runner and speller ;)
Basil Fawlty
06-19-2008, 05:08 PM
Well I wasn't going to mention any of those!
Byrner
06-20-2008, 07:41 PM
remote control Poo Pushing devices are what those yokes are ..weirdo perverts !!
Was himin and hawing but now that its got the Richie Byrne seal of disapproval ?
Ordered.
Its the devils work Byrner but it will save me having learn the Chuck Norris method of ball retraction required going downhill with with my seat in the Gods.
Byrner
06-20-2008, 11:02 PM
hey i think they are a great idea..i like them..however my wife told me last night after the club race that on the ladies training day she was on with Mr Glyn O'Brien, he had one and he said it wore out very quickly..it might be one of those times when you wait till they've been used for a while ..think I'll just master the art of on the fly quick release flick..
once upon a time there was a yoke called a hite-rite..very early MTB invention..Mr Denis Brennan had one..it was a piece of sprung metal that connected to your quick release and you opened the qr to lower it with your body weight and vice versa..somebody with a bit of cop could re invet them ..crude but effective..
Byrner
06-20-2008, 11:04 PM
jeebus so simple
these guys knew their stuff !! wheres me biopace chainrings..
"Serious riders open the quick release seat bolt, grab the saddle between their knees, lower it and close the bolt after. Although you can grab the seat and similarly raise the seat, many riders have found the Hite Rite a much easier solution. The Hite Rite is a large, coiled steel spring, with one end fastened through the seat bolt and the other bolted to a steel clamp mounted on your seatpost. The spring is "loaded" when you open the seat bolt and use your body weight to push it down, then close the release afterward. When you reach less rocky ground, open the release on your seat bolt and the saddle will restore to the higher position, close the release."
http://www.bikepro.com/arch_products/seatposts/ahiter.html
Byrner
06-20-2008, 11:08 PM
mind you people like Kev Conlon and others might find it a tad exhilirating having a long tube of metal launched at their arses more than they can handle and never leave the house !!
Got the gravity Dropper turbo 4 multi today in post and took it for a test drive in Ticknock this evening.
Seems solid enough, easy to fit and easy to use.
All I can say is best spin ever this thing is the muts nuts.
I ride a 6" travel freeride bike and it's perfect for it. Only time will tell if it stands up to much abuse and it was expensive but it will give you a real advantage in race's like the Blast.
Not so sure i'd be bothered using it on a racing XC bike unless the course was a tricky one but for your average rider just looking to get out for a spin and keep some flow between the ups and downs its the biz.
Basil Fawlty
07-16-2008, 09:35 PM
I was very impressed with it over at the Mega. A lot of other people had them and said they were brilliant too. Definitely the must have bike accessory nowadays, and much cooler than, say, a rear mudguard.
Does anybody have any updates on these? Looks like a lot of people were getting them back in June and July so should be well broken in or broken by now.
Thinking about getting one for the bouncy bike, so are there any current recommendations?
Ask Sean, he was having some trouble with his a while back.
i have a crank bros one and its ok has to be striped and cleaned regularly as it wasn't designed for the tuesday night mud. I find the 3" drop not really enough.
I about a fortnight i will have these in stock in the shop. http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/index.php?cPath=37
they got a pretty good review on descent world and have 5" of drop and anywhere in between. On the whole they are a great invention and i can't imagine not having one now. Even though my one is a little high maintenance i wouldn't be without it
The Gravity dropper thurbo I have is working away fine although I'd say I'll have to strip it and clean it out soon as it's not as freemoving as it used to be. It comes with a protective boot so I haven't had to clean it out yet. I just brush boot clean after a spin. Have it 6-7 months.
Mine's a 4" drop and having used for a while now I reckon the 3" one just wouldn't cut it.
The remote on the bars is worth the extra spon's.
That one Al mentioned looks the biz with complete adjustability.
Byrner
11-28-2008, 09:32 PM
I think these yokes are a great idea..they're savage expensive though ..they don't seem to be more engineered than SPDs ..eventually..like most people I can't justify the price of one..and I know it would last about 3 months under me the amount of abuse it would get !!
skippy
11-29-2008, 12:03 PM
Way to expensive...I like the feeling i get stopping and dropping the saddle..its like the moment just before you do something totaly illegal and badass and you know your about to do it...You just smile to yourself and whisper a fooookit here goes...yeeeehawww..Its like the Injuns war dance..a little preparation before battle..Ever look into the eyes of Don before a good drop of...Its like looking into the eyes of a siberian tiger..
Old School Rules..
but there is something cool and james bond like being able to do it without stopping all from the press of a lever at the handle bars.
BrianC
11-29-2008, 06:11 PM
Specialized have developed an air powered version for 09 http://www.bikemag.com/news/freshproduce/9-2-08-previewed-specialized-2009-product-launch/index3.html
I like the concept but it will be a cold day in hell before I abide another switch or lever on my bike, 2 rapid fires, 2 brake levers, one lockout on the front and one on the back, thats enough freakin controls.
harden the feck up and go single ring on the front and ditch your left lever in favour of a seatpost lever. When do you really need a granny ring anyway.
Byrner
11-29-2008, 07:31 PM
look, if they cost €50 we'd all have them , its not the lowering thats important..its the getting the seatpost back up when the trail levels out and starts climbing for a while .. we all wait at the top of a descent anyway...I don't think theres any point in having one without a remote either..but i'm just waiting for the Summer...i'm thinking 2nd generation models will be better..but an air one from Specialized is only asking for trouble..FFS..one with a spring with maybe some kind of sealed ball bearing thingy is the way to go..
Byrner
11-29-2008, 07:33 PM
Good man Al..I'm bringing a bolt cutters on Alpha Wolf Gnarly Squadron Spins in future for the removal of granny rings !!
i can't say i miss my granny ring any climbs i'd need it for i'd be pretty ****ed and walking anyway cause its quicker than spinning a stupid gear. Its not like im that much of a savage on the hills. I do agree that there expensive but after talkin the insignificant other into buyin me one for my birthday i can say it was worth all her hard earned cash. The new ones i have comming in are alot better priced than the gravity droppers they'll all be well sub 200 and when the likes of a thomson post is over 100 the extra is well justifyable. Where they work best is the likes of ballinastoe or any upy downy trail where if you have your seat down it sucks for the short climbs and if you ride with it up its sucks on the good bits. If you go in the middle its worse cause its of no use eitherway. So being able to adjust as you ride is a joy.
Byrner
11-29-2008, 08:20 PM
ok put me on the list for one of those Mr Maxwell, so !!!
Does sound tempting, but top of my shopping list is a warm pair of socks and heated grips.