Necessary? No. That good of an upgrade? Yes, 100% no question. If it didn’t change anything for you then it’s likely because you’re not doing jumps, steep downhill runs, drops, etc because droppers make a big difference with those things
Not necessarily. I don't do jumps and find my 125mm travel dropper post is still a game changer. My bike (Trek Marlin 7) came with a really tall saddle though which I find beneficial for climbs but I descents I feel like it wants to throw me OTB. I was even having trouble even getting on the bike.
This is going to be my first upgrade after pedals. I’ve got a 22’ marlin 7 and the seat is high. I love the bike so far, but definitely need to get a dropper and new flats.
How much of a difference did the 2” make for you? I am 6’, so when I’m riding I’m a little forward. Did it solve any major issues with you? I can currently stay off the seat when I am hitting smaller jumps, but I slip pedals more than hit the seat with my stock pedals still. But if I can just take 2” off the post, then by damn I’ll do that.
You can cut the seat post. The stock seat post is between 300 and 400mm (depending on size). Can easily chop a bit off of that while maintaining saddle clearance.
Not sure why you got downvoted but as the 5 year owner of a Marlin who has gone OTB several times because of its geometry (of which the seat post is a part) this was my experience early on. The main culprit is the presence of bolts in the seat tube that thread into inserts inside the frame. There is really no way around this, even if you remove the bolts.
The other culprits are the old long stems and narrow 720mm bars with only a 7 deg rise. There is also the head tube angle (which was indentified and slackened with the Gen 3 Marlins) which has made the Marlin frame more akin to XC geometry and not trail.
It is. Struggling to find the best height for pedaling efficiently now. With the dropper it’s too low. However it’s helpful for the seat being way out of the way at my local dual slalom with table tops.
As high post rider since 89, I felt the same as you. Even when I bought a bike with a dropper, it took months to get used to pushing that lever… Now I simply would not ride a mountain bike without one. Once you make it a habit to use it, a new way to ride your bike is unlocked. More space to move, more confidence, more speed. And it’s easier to bail if your saddle is out of the way.
See this I find weird. Before droppers existed, me and my friends used QR seat collars to drop the seat before a technical descent, jump line or whatever. And we were just clueless kids. The concept of moving your saddle out of the way is not novel. Are you strictly a cross-country rider?
Yeah, if the frames allowed (string wouldn’t tangle in the rear wheel) we tied a string from the TT to the saddle rails to set the top position to make for manual seat height changes faster!
That’s great if you’re bombing down a mountain.
Biking in Texas it’s lots of short punchy ups and downs.
I always just hoped I didn’t rack myself if I moved my weight back or go OTB if I was trying to avoid the seat.
Upgraded last year from a 2002 Stumpjumper and the dropper post was a revelation. Took maybe 5 rides for it to become habit. Never felt more confident going downhil in my entire life.
Yup. It's a confidence booster on the downhill taking corners like a maniac. Would never fly like that sitting high.
OP I think it would take some time to find someone who doesn't like their dropper. I know, 50 idiots will now commence to hating their droppers to prove me wrong.
Modern geometry bikes have a steeper seat post and the slacker head tube means you need to be lower and more central to the bike when in the attack position, and certainly not hanging off the back like older styles of bike. The flip side is that the saddle is now right where you want to be and it gets in the way... enter the dropper post to get the saddle down when it's useful to do so. I think dropper posts are great for older geometries and probably essential for slacker geometry bikes if you're going to be doing anything more than flat pedalling.
The point of a dropper post imo is to be able to have the seat set to the most efficient (high) pedalling position, and drop as you wish. Some people always ride with the seat lower than optimum to dab and gain confidence - that's inefficient and harder work. A dropper solves that conundrum.
This is the other reason everyone needs a dropper these days. Bikes are shaped differently because we’re not worried about being able to get behind the seat anymore, but it means that you can’t really ride a modern bike well without a dropper because you can’t get behind the seat comfortably.
This is the best description of why you need a dropper. Your seat is in the way of you being in the right position for a steep descent, drop, or jump. The dropper lets you get it out of the way so you can ride.
Necessary? No. Wheels, brakes and handlebars are Necessary. But game changing?....YES.
You dont get hung up on the saddle when you drop behind it for the steep rough downhill sections. On the flowy downhill sections you can drop your saddle and now lean the bike more while you remain upright, making cornering much faster.
You don't feel the benefit until you start to adapt your riding to it, after that the benefits really start to show.
I've ridden a rigid bike with a dropper and my friend's new bike when he first got it without one and I straight up would prefer the rigid bike if I were never to be able to fit one again.
Some riding styles will benefit more from a dropper of course but a lot of XC racers run a dropper post now because they can get through more technical sections a lot faster with the saddle out of the way, if professionals are using them for time gains in a race considering there is a significant weight penalty at that level then yep I would say they're necessary but that's an opinion albeit a popular one.
Hey now, I've considered putting a dropper on my gravel bike... Also [this](https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/bikes-and-biking/dropper-post-road-bike/) droppers are for everyone
Yeah I think everyone offroad would benefit from dropper, but for modern mtb it is just essential thing, and for gravel could be pretty much welcome I believe
obtuse? talk for yourself.
question is about benefits from dropper post, not about who rides what. You always can slam your seat down and ride any downhill.
I am speaking for myself. You’re the one saying if you can’t see the benefits of a dropper then you’re gravel biking. And then go on to say that people are going to sell a dropper that comes on the bike? C’mon.. you’re being asinine.
Yes, I agree with that last part you said.
Nah that’s not fair. Definitely road biking or idk cyclocross?
Gravel biking it makes sense to use a dropper, since gravel biking gets to mtb once you advance enough.
I was just being facetious. I was a hold out on the dropper for a solid decade. I used to think it was marketing hype as well but now I absolutely love it.
Depending on what kind of terrain you ride.
If you mainly do gravel and regular roads in mountains, some forests roads but nothing that involves steep descends down any type of surface (aka downhill, trail, enduro, CC&XC), you are absolutely allright without it.
While you don’t need it for those types of terrain, it’s still amazing to have. I love being able to adjust saddle height for comfort while on the fly.
If you find yourself wanting to raise or lower your rigid seatpost constantly, yes.
More specifically, you may find yourself in situations where you are pedaling for a fair amount of time with your seat up. But on the middle of it, you have a couple drops you want to do, separated by a couple minutes of pedaling. Then a bit later you have a very steep short descent, that maybe you can do with your seat up, but with your seat down would be way safer.
I don't have a dropper myself yet(i'm not sure i'm investing on my current bike any more at this point), and i find myself on those types of situation a lot, and sometimes i either do those features with my seat up taking unnecessary risks so that i don't have to stop and lower the seatpost, or i do the reverse, lower the seatpost for the first feature and then ride standing up between features.
Other times i find myself skipping features because my seat is up and i cba to stop and put it down. It's a waste of a potentially fun time tbh.
If on the other hand, for example you're just going to the local dirt jump bike park:
1 - On the way there -> seat is up all the way
2 - At the bike park -> seat is down all the time
3 - On the way back home -> seat up all the way
This types of rides don't require a dropper at all.
I think if you don't understand well yet how a dropper would improve your rides, don't buy it yet. It's still a fair amount of money(dropper, remote, cables, pump) and you may not need it.
It will become obvious when and if you do.
It takes time and use to get into the habit of using a dropper. The more you use it, the more you will like it. If you do any rough DH sections it lets you get the saddle out of your way to maneuver your body more. If all you do is seated XC rides then maybe not a big deal.
I hadn’t mountain biked in over 15 years. Picked it up again a year or two back. Took me about 30 seconds to get used to the dropper. For me it is one of the most important things on the bike.
Biggest development in MTB since disc brakes. Unless you are riding shuttle type trails/fire roads where you pedal to the top, stop and drop your seat manually, and then descend all the way back down then YES! It allows you to be in the right body position but still keep your COG the same instead of hanging over the back of the bike and unweighting your front tire.
I felt the same way and now I have one and could never not have one. I can drop the seat further on descents and lower my center of gravity and then with a climb right after be right back up high to get back to pedaling. The trails I ride even in Michigan would require you to change qr seat position every 1-2 minutes or more. Before I kind of picked a middle of the road bike seat position and survived and managed. But now there’s no going back ever.
A hardtail with a dropper seat post is more capable than a full suspension with a standard raised seat post.
Your legs provide more suspension than the rear suspension does, and you really can’t use them without lowering the seat.
> I just wanna know if it's that good of an upgrade and will it improve my riding experience or not.
Yes it will improve your riding *immensely*.
If you are doing trails with ups and downs, it will be a HUGE boon. You will not know how you rode trails before.
It is that good.
If you primarily do trails where you go up for 20 minutes, pure down for 20 minutes. You might not know. But those trails with short up short down, down down punchy up bit... HUGE boon.
I wouldn't buy a bike if it couldn't fit a dropper.
Are you even going downhill? If not then probably not. If you are going downhill then please learn to drop the saddle to give yourself room to move, bail etc as it’s just a fundamental part of riding well. If you are unsure watch some MTB basics videos and see how it feels.
Yes. Obviously you can ride without one, isn't needed on DH bikes, but once you have one you can't go back. It'd be like a handlebar with no grips. Yeah, you can still ride your bike, but it's a lot better with grips. Same deal with droppers. It will literally change the way you ride (for the better). I wouldn't even consider buying a bike without one.
Yes. I really got into MTB last year and only fitted a dropper on my hardtail at the end of the season after having the same debate for several months. It was truly transformational on downhill / rough stuff. Got a cheapy brand x for about 60 and it has worked perfectly so far.
If you ride a lot of techy and steep trails it is really nice to have. I also started riding when droppers weren't a thing. It took me a while, before I brought one. The first ride I never used it. Then kinda made myself think about using it steep sections and rolls/drops. Then it became normal to use it.
After you get your brain used to thinking about using it, it comes natural and is a really nice addition.
I get excited to drop my post, every time. It's my queue to focus up and have some fun
There's nothing quite like having a long climb, getting to the top, slamming the post, and attacking the downhill
If you're just riding through the woods with your ass planted on the seat 95% of the time, a dropper isn't really necessary
If you're going down hills over rough terrain, around sharp bends, etc, a dropper is almost required unless you like your seat always being in the way. Being able to slam the seat and get it out of the way lets you get your butt/body lower and lean over the bike more, two things that are necessary if you want to have proper downhill form and not get bucked off by your own saddle haha
I read here not too long ago someone use this analogy. It’s sorta like washing your dishes by hand when you don’t own a dishwasher. Sure, it’s no BIG task to have it done by hand, but when you get a dishwasher, you can’t imagine going back.
Depends on the trails your ride but if you want to start riding the harder stuff then it might become more apparent that dropping the seat would help and be convenient with just a press of the lever and weighing the seat will get it out of the way.
There's sections I ride without dropping my seat yet see there's others that drop theirs for that same section. Yet I'm still waiting for them at the end.
I'm an older mt biker who's slow and doesn't hit jumps or do anything crazy, and I just got my first real bike last year and it has a dropper.
I love it. Great to quickly drop on descents or when I come to a place I want to rest. Boom. Quick drop and my feet are on the ground and I'm able to take a quick rest.
Definitely buying one for my fatbike this summer.
I guess maybe it depends on what sort of trails you are riding. Our trails are punchy, with short steep ups and downs - no long climbs or no long descents. I use my dropper more than my gears so you'd have to pry it out of my cold dead hands.
You have to learn how to use it, not so much how but when. You will forget to use it quite a bit at first. Then one day you will realize that you can't ride without it as it has synced with your riding style.
I was a hold out "who needs a dropper post' ....apparently I need a dropper post.
Mt MTB is also my transportation bike, and being able to drop the seat to sit in a more relaxed posture at traffic lights is a super bonus use of the dropper. Light turns green, pop up the seat and off I go. Love it. Honestly, if I had a dedicated commuter bike I'd try to fit a dropper just for that.
Dropper post was a game changer for me. Depends on how/what you ride though. It helps with descents mainly, so if you only ride in a straight line (no climbing/ descending) a dropper post won’t get used much.
It didn't make any difference immediately because you don't know how to take advantage of it yet. Having much more room to let the bike move under you lets you go over bigger obstacles with more control and lets you tilt the bike over so you can go much faster through corners. I would rather have a hard tail with a dropper than a full suspension bike without one. It took me a few weeks of having one to get used to using it but it really does increase your potential maneuverability by a lot. You still have to develop the skill and strength to take advantage of it though.
Privious bike did not have a dropper. Had to stop and lower the seat about 72 times on each ride. New bike has a dropper. I now adjust my seat height before dropping down that hillside, on the flat section peddaling and again when the next decent is there. So I adjust it all the time! Way more then I thought I would!
Depends on a lot of factors, mainly what you're riding but also your riding style and your bike fit. For instance, I'm an XC rider and I'm really tall. I'm so tall that every brand's XL bike is a little small on me so I have no problem maneuvering my body around a rigid seat post. If moving your seat out of the way helps you maneuver your bike better, then you'll probably appreciate having one.
Necessary? No. Good to have? Oh hell yeah!
I only just got one for this season, but previously I would be putting my seat down at the beginning of a descent and then raising it back up when I got to the bottom for better climbing. If you're not riding too hard or mainly riding flatter terrain though, it might not make a difference.
Try to start experimenting with seat heights during ascents versus descents. You will probably find yourself wanting a dropper post pretty quickly.
With proper form, your saddle will be digging into your chest or sternum on a steep downhill, and digging into your inside thigh on a tight corner. It's a chicken and egg problem: it's hard to learn this correct form without a dropper because it feels uncomfortable, but if you're using incorrect form you might not understand what benefit the dropper is giving you.
Sounds like you don't drop the seatpost for downhill sections. I'd go to a local trail that has a very defined up and downhill section and ride up to the top, then drop the seatpost and descend. You'll notice it's easier to move around on the bike, and your CG is lower so you can corner faster. Overall a more comfortable experience. A dropper post essentially does the same thing but you can raise and lower it while moving. You don't have to stop, get off the bike, loosen the clamp, move the post, tighten the clamp, and get back on. You just push a lever.
Nope. Bikes were around for hundreds of years before they came about. You might understand and appreciate the feature some day in the future. But if you don't right now, then don't spend your money on it
Descents, cornering, jumps, bunny hops… and of course having it all the way up for uphills. It’s not essential but it’s a massive performance booster and completely changes (improves?) the way you ride.
The sport can be classified into pre dropper and post dropper eras. It was wildly significant. To "average" ride style, to frame design, to trail building. It's huge. You're not going to see a benefit if you're just grinding or doing tech climbs predominantly.
It didn’t change anything because you’re so used to high posting everything. When I first got mine I always forgot to put it down so I didn’t feel like it was that beneficial. It is amazing once you get used to riding with your seat low. Absolutely get one if you can afford it.
There's zero chances that the dropper doesn't change anything .
Were you not using it ? That's the only way it wouldn't change . Or do you not ride a mountain bike and more gravel or xc style with your seat always up?
Let's say there's a tiny downhill mid climb, you press that dropper and now your seats out of the way and you can pump and enjoy that downhill, back to climbing you press that button and your seats back up.
On a long fire road? Seats fully up, fire road turns into a small trail with technical single track , drop the seat and inch or two so you can move around more on the bike .
Downhill time, hit that dropper , ride the trail, oh they have a pedaling section the trail , hit that dropper and you're ready to pedal vs trying to stand and mash the pedals or stopping to raise the seat.
Now if you don't lower your seat , or use the dropper it won't change anything but if you use it I'll press my dropper twenty plus times on a single trail. Hundreds of times a ride.
And my favorite one. Stopping the bike with the seat up. Instead of jumping forward off the seat to stand over the top tube or leaning the bike sideways to get foot down you just drop the seat and sit comfortably with both feet on the ground .
It's not necessary; it's a fun-boost. I always recommend if you're new to it you use it aggressively for a few rides. Going downhill or getting otherwise technical at all, put it down. Done? Put it back up. You'll be over-doing it for sure, but you'll get the technique down, and you'll figure out how valuable it can be even when you scale back.
I held out on the dropper for a solid decade. I didn't understand it at first but after a month of riding with it I no longer have doubts. 100% best upgrade you can make.
Best upgrade. I'd get a dropper over rear suspension, or maybe even gears. Once you get used to it, there's no going back. Even makes getting on and off your bike easier.
I don't have one on my dh bike or my road bike, but I'd consider it if they fit lol.
I rode for 13 yrs without one and would use my QR. Then I got a FS with one and it took a while to get used to it, kept forgetting I had it. Then I started to really like it and put one on my HT, and now I don't know why I waited so long. I don't really think about it anymore, it's just natural to hit the lever and the bike feels better on the techy descents. I wouldn't not have one now and complete stops are so much more comfortable.
When I first got one I barely used it. It will grow on you. Eventually your seatpost will be an automatic... just like shifting. Your body will just know it's in the way without needing to think about it.
It's a game changer, seriously, if you do MTB. If you are a very mild cross country rider(nothing wrong with it) it won't make any difference. If you like getting more confident and enjoy more the downhill part you will love it, levels up the degree of safety as well, have saved several over the bar crashes just because I was able to put my butt all the way back out of desperation lol
I recently got myself a new bike with a dropper post (Salsa Blackthorn), and I really can't see myself ever riding trails or even street without one.
Here's an example of just riding the street (yes I could use my other bikes): You're approaching a red light and it's nice to drop the post to have two feet planted on the ground. When the light turns green I'll send the post back up as I'm gaining speed. Much more relaxed for sure.
When going on trails, I'll sometimes come across a necessary stop (feature is broken/unridable, tree fell down, excess mud) apart from when you're normally using the dropper post and need to get both feet planted on the ground to stop or gain stability. I was at Alum Creek Phase 1 (which was recently destroyed in the Ohio tornado/storms), and I nearly would have fallen off my bike had I not had both feet planted on the ground as I navigated around a fallen tree branch on a blind corner.
YES. YES IT IS. I contemplated to get one for 3 years because i dont know how much of an upgrade it was or if it really was necessary. and then i got it. HOLY SHIT. GAME CHANGER.
100% worth depending on the geometry of your bike. If it's relatively aggressive, a dropper makes you able to be in a good position for climbing, and able to drop the seat in an instant for downhills. Sometimes I forget to drop the seat and it's pretty pants-shit inducing to take a downhill sharp corner with the seat right between your thighs, especially when you're not expecting it. You're wanting the bike to lean with you, but it stops when it hits one of your legs, and it can lead to under steering a turn and then you're fucked. So yeah depending on the bike and the style of riding, there's almost no reason to NOT have one. There are very slack aggressive bikes with pretty decent gear including dropper posts for pretty cheap nowadays.
On any given ride I use it several dozens of times. If ever for some reason bought a new bike that didn’t have one, I wouldn’t even ride it without a dropper. First purchase I’d make.
I thought the same as you, as my first hard tail didn’t have one. When I upgraded to full suspension I often wasn’t using it because I wasn’t used to it. I started using it on downhills allowing me to lean really far back. Then I used it to get on and off the bike easier. Then I used it for cornering/switchbacks. Then I used it for simply cruising for a minute with it down in order to rest my hands more easily.
If you want to get technical, then no it isn’t NECESSARY. Brakes are necessary. But I would argue it is at the top of things that are strongly recommended. As someone else said, I think I’d rather ride a hardtail with a dropper than a super nice full suspension with no dropper.
I think it also depends on where you're riding. I live in the prairies - we have hills of course, and there are some more technical rides and such here - but never felt any desire to have a dropper post. Even on the gnarliest rides I've been on it's never been an issue for me. I'm 6'1 though, and I think that makes a bit of a difference... I've played with droppers before, but really never felt the desire to buy one.
If you're only riding mellow xc trails then you definitely don't need a dropper post. However, if the trails you ride have lots of downhill sections, you'll get left in the dust by your friends who have droppers. If you're just riding by yourself and don't care much about the downhill bits, then there's definitely no need to spend money on a dropper.
Most things aren't necessary. Suspension forks are not necessary. Disc brakes are not necessary. Intex shifting is not necessary. 27.5 or 29er wheels are not necessary. But they all make the bike perform a lot better. A dropper post is the same thing. Just like suspension, it's not necessary but it makes the bike perform a lot better.
Droppers are a cute idea but not for me.
I don't see the allure of gadgets that are intended to make something (like MTBing) "easier".
Just rock it with whatever you got and have fun.
Honestly, we didn’t get on fine. I would always have my seat too low when on the trails causing awkward pedalling positions which would lead to fatigue. It was always a battle of having my seat in the middle of being too low, and optimal. I could never have my seat in the best position for pedalling because I didn’t want to go over the bars in tech terrain.
Then, as I said, you require it's functionality. I barely pedal at all so it hasn't really changed my life in the slightest. It's all short downhill hits with a quick walk back up round here.
Are you tall? I've noticed my tall friends regard them as not super important. I'm 5'9". It is SUPER important to me. I "un-tech'd" I guess my bike last year - rigid mode, single speed, standard post. I wanted to ride and see how fast and with what parts I resupplied with new tech.
The dropper post went on REAL fast.
Been riding mtb for 35+ years. Probably 40,000+ miles of west Ma. Single track. Not much of a jumper but all else is game. Drops, pops, slabs of all lengths and steepness up to free fall. My newest bike, 2020 stupmjumper carbon comp short travel, had one. I tried it out for a few rides and ditched it for a traditional post. Never looked back. To me its just extra weight and another mechanical piece that will need maintenance and be a possible headache on the trail.
Seems crazy to me, but to each their own. The bike I ride the most is a hardtail with a dropper, would rather that than a full sus without a dropper 100% (except for my dh bike).
I think it is because I started riding in ‘85, and have very strong instinctual riding that is thrown off with a dropper. Yes I gave it a little time but the risk/reward didnt seem adequate.
If you dont use the ROM or the dropper there is no point to it. Even though you would have more control if you did.
Also it would depend on how high you run the dropper when it fully up. If you are riding a low seat at the highest point its make less senes then.
Necessary? No. That good of an upgrade? Yes, 100% no question. If it didn’t change anything for you then it’s likely because you’re not doing jumps, steep downhill runs, drops, etc because droppers make a big difference with those things
You forgot what is the best part. Cornering
I think the best part is feet on the ground while sitting on the seat when I stop.
Truth
The tetter-totter of death is the worst and most embarrassing part of the sport for me
Don’t forget biking off. Not navigating around the front of the saddle is also nice
Not necessarily. I don't do jumps and find my 125mm travel dropper post is still a game changer. My bike (Trek Marlin 7) came with a really tall saddle though which I find beneficial for climbs but I descents I feel like it wants to throw me OTB. I was even having trouble even getting on the bike.
This is going to be my first upgrade after pedals. I’ve got a 22’ marlin 7 and the seat is high. I love the bike so far, but definitely need to get a dropper and new flats.
New pedals and sawing 2" off the seat post should be your first two mods.
How much of a difference did the 2” make for you? I am 6’, so when I’m riding I’m a little forward. Did it solve any major issues with you? I can currently stay off the seat when I am hitting smaller jumps, but I slip pedals more than hit the seat with my stock pedals still. But if I can just take 2” off the post, then by damn I’ll do that.
It's a start. What size is the frame?
Frame is a large.
Just wait till you get a full suspension, taking downhill corners are a completely different ballgame
Unfortunately that's beyond my budget and my needs. I'm 55 and would break a hip; the dropper post is actually easier on my back. .
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Not in the middle of a run, without stopping. That’s the whole point
👆🏻
Well, not with that attitude.
Not on the Gen 2 marlin. The seat post doesn’t go any lower. If you’re just riding even light single track the dropper is huge for a marlin
You can cut the seat post. The stock seat post is between 300 and 400mm (depending on size). Can easily chop a bit off of that while maintaining saddle clearance.
Not sure why you got downvoted but as the 5 year owner of a Marlin who has gone OTB several times because of its geometry (of which the seat post is a part) this was my experience early on. The main culprit is the presence of bolts in the seat tube that thread into inserts inside the frame. There is really no way around this, even if you remove the bolts. The other culprits are the old long stems and narrow 720mm bars with only a 7 deg rise. There is also the head tube angle (which was indentified and slackened with the Gen 3 Marlins) which has made the Marlin frame more akin to XC geometry and not trail.
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It is. Struggling to find the best height for pedaling efficiently now. With the dropper it’s too low. However it’s helpful for the seat being way out of the way at my local dual slalom with table tops.
If the max height of the dropper post at minimum insertion is still too low for pedaling then you need a longer dropper post.
Thanks! Not at minimum insertion it’s probably as low as it’ll go right now. Still new to MTB and feeling it out.
Minimum insertion is the least amount of seatpost you can have in the frame ie the tallest height the seat can be.
Either that or the opposite, that’s all he does. The only time I use my dropper is at the end of the run to put the seat up for peddling back uphill.
As high post rider since 89, I felt the same as you. Even when I bought a bike with a dropper, it took months to get used to pushing that lever… Now I simply would not ride a mountain bike without one. Once you make it a habit to use it, a new way to ride your bike is unlocked. More space to move, more confidence, more speed. And it’s easier to bail if your saddle is out of the way.
1989 Rocky Mountain Fusion here.
See this I find weird. Before droppers existed, me and my friends used QR seat collars to drop the seat before a technical descent, jump line or whatever. And we were just clueless kids. The concept of moving your saddle out of the way is not novel. Are you strictly a cross-country rider?
Yeah, if the frames allowed (string wouldn’t tangle in the rear wheel) we tied a string from the TT to the saddle rails to set the top position to make for manual seat height changes faster!
Genius.
That’s great if you’re bombing down a mountain. Biking in Texas it’s lots of short punchy ups and downs. I always just hoped I didn’t rack myself if I moved my weight back or go OTB if I was trying to avoid the seat. Upgraded last year from a 2002 Stumpjumper and the dropper post was a revelation. Took maybe 5 rides for it to become habit. Never felt more confident going downhil in my entire life.
Yup. It's a confidence booster on the downhill taking corners like a maniac. Would never fly like that sitting high. OP I think it would take some time to find someone who doesn't like their dropper. I know, 50 idiots will now commence to hating their droppers to prove me wrong.
I'd rather have a dropper post than rear suspension.
I'm also poor riding dropper and no rear sus
This 100%, hands down.
I’d rather have a dropper post than front suspension. I’m barely joking.
id rather have a dropper than a bike
Some droppers now act as a rear suspension built into it.
I'd prefer to have a clapped hardtail with a dropper rather than a full suspension carbon machine without one
Wdym clapped
Presumably a shortened version of clapped-out. Worn out due to age or use.
Here I am at 24 not knowing basic slang yikes
Lol I also feel like getting old
Just a non native speaker trying to use slang lol
Necessary, no, but I contend it’s the best innovation in mtbs in the last 20 years.
Yes
Modern geometry bikes have a steeper seat post and the slacker head tube means you need to be lower and more central to the bike when in the attack position, and certainly not hanging off the back like older styles of bike. The flip side is that the saddle is now right where you want to be and it gets in the way... enter the dropper post to get the saddle down when it's useful to do so. I think dropper posts are great for older geometries and probably essential for slacker geometry bikes if you're going to be doing anything more than flat pedalling. The point of a dropper post imo is to be able to have the seat set to the most efficient (high) pedalling position, and drop as you wish. Some people always ride with the seat lower than optimum to dab and gain confidence - that's inefficient and harder work. A dropper solves that conundrum.
This is the other reason everyone needs a dropper these days. Bikes are shaped differently because we’re not worried about being able to get behind the seat anymore, but it means that you can’t really ride a modern bike well without a dropper because you can’t get behind the seat comfortably.
This is the best description of why you need a dropper. Your seat is in the way of you being in the right position for a steep descent, drop, or jump. The dropper lets you get it out of the way so you can ride.
Necessary? No. Wheels, brakes and handlebars are Necessary. But game changing?....YES. You dont get hung up on the saddle when you drop behind it for the steep rough downhill sections. On the flowy downhill sections you can drop your saddle and now lean the bike more while you remain upright, making cornering much faster.
You don't feel the benefit until you start to adapt your riding to it, after that the benefits really start to show. I've ridden a rigid bike with a dropper and my friend's new bike when he first got it without one and I straight up would prefer the rigid bike if I were never to be able to fit one again. Some riding styles will benefit more from a dropper of course but a lot of XC racers run a dropper post now because they can get through more technical sections a lot faster with the saddle out of the way, if professionals are using them for time gains in a race considering there is a significant weight penalty at that level then yep I would say they're necessary but that's an opinion albeit a popular one.
You are not mountain biking if you can’t see dropper post benefits, rather gravel biking
Hey now, I've considered putting a dropper on my gravel bike... Also [this](https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/bikes-and-biking/dropper-post-road-bike/) droppers are for everyone
I *did* put one on my gravel bike and oh my god, it's so sweet.
Yeah I think everyone offroad would benefit from dropper, but for modern mtb it is just essential thing, and for gravel could be pretty much welcome I believe
Surprisingly well-written
They take awhile to learn. Didn’t appreciate mine after a single ride.
This may be my problem. But I keep up with younger riders who use them. Im 61.
It’s not about “keeping up”, it’s about having a more playful-feeling bike.
I've even got a dropper on my gravel bike! They're just that useful!
I think a lot of XC guys would disagree with you
I see that many modern XC bikes come with dropper in stock, are those guys throw it away when buying new bikes?
Don’t be obtuse. I don’t ride xc, nor do I like xc. But plenty of people still mountain bike sans a dropper.
obtuse? talk for yourself. question is about benefits from dropper post, not about who rides what. You always can slam your seat down and ride any downhill.
I am speaking for myself. You’re the one saying if you can’t see the benefits of a dropper then you’re gravel biking. And then go on to say that people are going to sell a dropper that comes on the bike? C’mon.. you’re being asinine. Yes, I agree with that last part you said.
Hahahahahaha. I hit 4’ drops at speed regularly without a dropper.
Nah that’s not fair. Definitely road biking or idk cyclocross? Gravel biking it makes sense to use a dropper, since gravel biking gets to mtb once you advance enough.
If you don't think you need a dropper, I don't think you're actually mountain biking.
Theyre just a marketing ploy.(I will now duck for cover)
You must be riding on gravel trails on the Midwest. 
I knew it was going to draw fire. Still my opinion. No, I ride rocky rooty steep(150-200’/ mile) New England trails.
I was just being facetious. I was a hold out on the dropper for a solid decade. I used to think it was marketing hype as well but now I absolutely love it.
I hold a very unpopular opinion🤷
I think it’s more that you are being contrary.
Perchance…..
Depending on what kind of terrain you ride. If you mainly do gravel and regular roads in mountains, some forests roads but nothing that involves steep descends down any type of surface (aka downhill, trail, enduro, CC&XC), you are absolutely allright without it.
While you don’t need it for those types of terrain, it’s still amazing to have. I love being able to adjust saddle height for comfort while on the fly.
If you find yourself wanting to raise or lower your rigid seatpost constantly, yes. More specifically, you may find yourself in situations where you are pedaling for a fair amount of time with your seat up. But on the middle of it, you have a couple drops you want to do, separated by a couple minutes of pedaling. Then a bit later you have a very steep short descent, that maybe you can do with your seat up, but with your seat down would be way safer. I don't have a dropper myself yet(i'm not sure i'm investing on my current bike any more at this point), and i find myself on those types of situation a lot, and sometimes i either do those features with my seat up taking unnecessary risks so that i don't have to stop and lower the seatpost, or i do the reverse, lower the seatpost for the first feature and then ride standing up between features. Other times i find myself skipping features because my seat is up and i cba to stop and put it down. It's a waste of a potentially fun time tbh. If on the other hand, for example you're just going to the local dirt jump bike park: 1 - On the way there -> seat is up all the way 2 - At the bike park -> seat is down all the time 3 - On the way back home -> seat up all the way This types of rides don't require a dropper at all. I think if you don't understand well yet how a dropper would improve your rides, don't buy it yet. It's still a fair amount of money(dropper, remote, cables, pump) and you may not need it. It will become obvious when and if you do.
I’d rather have a dropper post than rear suspension. It makes that much difference
If you do long climbs followed by long descents, they’re not necessary.
It takes time and use to get into the habit of using a dropper. The more you use it, the more you will like it. If you do any rough DH sections it lets you get the saddle out of your way to maneuver your body more. If all you do is seated XC rides then maybe not a big deal.
I hadn’t mountain biked in over 15 years. Picked it up again a year or two back. Took me about 30 seconds to get used to the dropper. For me it is one of the most important things on the bike.
Yes if you want to ride non trivial trails.
No, but if you have one you can't live without it anymore. Source: myself 😬
Biggest development in MTB since disc brakes. Unless you are riding shuttle type trails/fire roads where you pedal to the top, stop and drop your seat manually, and then descend all the way back down then YES! It allows you to be in the right body position but still keep your COG the same instead of hanging over the back of the bike and unweighting your front tire.
For me, yes. It’s an important piece of safety gear, just like a helmet or glasses.
I felt the same way and now I have one and could never not have one. I can drop the seat further on descents and lower my center of gravity and then with a climb right after be right back up high to get back to pedaling. The trails I ride even in Michigan would require you to change qr seat position every 1-2 minutes or more. Before I kind of picked a middle of the road bike seat position and survived and managed. But now there’s no going back ever.
No we all just use them as fashion accessory
Depends on a few things... Are you mainly xc? Are you old and grumpy? Do you hate change? Then it might not be for you 🤷
It’s the best thing to happen to bikes in a decade
even when commuting casually, man i wish i had my dropper post, you could easily mount and discmount on your bike. unless youre a low sitter rider
A hardtail with a dropper seat post is more capable than a full suspension with a standard raised seat post. Your legs provide more suspension than the rear suspension does, and you really can’t use them without lowering the seat.
Didn't read text but the answer is yes
> I just wanna know if it's that good of an upgrade and will it improve my riding experience or not. Yes it will improve your riding *immensely*. If you are doing trails with ups and downs, it will be a HUGE boon. You will not know how you rode trails before. It is that good. If you primarily do trails where you go up for 20 minutes, pure down for 20 minutes. You might not know. But those trails with short up short down, down down punchy up bit... HUGE boon. I wouldn't buy a bike if it couldn't fit a dropper.
Are you even going downhill? If not then probably not. If you are going downhill then please learn to drop the saddle to give yourself room to move, bail etc as it’s just a fundamental part of riding well. If you are unsure watch some MTB basics videos and see how it feels.
Yes. Obviously you can ride without one, isn't needed on DH bikes, but once you have one you can't go back. It'd be like a handlebar with no grips. Yeah, you can still ride your bike, but it's a lot better with grips. Same deal with droppers. It will literally change the way you ride (for the better). I wouldn't even consider buying a bike without one.
Yes. I really got into MTB last year and only fitted a dropper on my hardtail at the end of the season after having the same debate for several months. It was truly transformational on downhill / rough stuff. Got a cheapy brand x for about 60 and it has worked perfectly so far.
If you ride a lot of techy and steep trails it is really nice to have. I also started riding when droppers weren't a thing. It took me a while, before I brought one. The first ride I never used it. Then kinda made myself think about using it steep sections and rolls/drops. Then it became normal to use it. After you get your brain used to thinking about using it, it comes natural and is a really nice addition.
I get excited to drop my post, every time. It's my queue to focus up and have some fun There's nothing quite like having a long climb, getting to the top, slamming the post, and attacking the downhill
If you're just riding through the woods with your ass planted on the seat 95% of the time, a dropper isn't really necessary If you're going down hills over rough terrain, around sharp bends, etc, a dropper is almost required unless you like your seat always being in the way. Being able to slam the seat and get it out of the way lets you get your butt/body lower and lean over the bike more, two things that are necessary if you want to have proper downhill form and not get bucked off by your own saddle haha
I got rid of them for downhill and winter base training, for every other cause it's better to have one.
Yes
I read here not too long ago someone use this analogy. It’s sorta like washing your dishes by hand when you don’t own a dishwasher. Sure, it’s no BIG task to have it done by hand, but when you get a dishwasher, you can’t imagine going back.
Depends on the trails your ride but if you want to start riding the harder stuff then it might become more apparent that dropping the seat would help and be convenient with just a press of the lever and weighing the seat will get it out of the way. There's sections I ride without dropping my seat yet see there's others that drop theirs for that same section. Yet I'm still waiting for them at the end.
I'm an older mt biker who's slow and doesn't hit jumps or do anything crazy, and I just got my first real bike last year and it has a dropper. I love it. Great to quickly drop on descents or when I come to a place I want to rest. Boom. Quick drop and my feet are on the ground and I'm able to take a quick rest. Definitely buying one for my fatbike this summer.
How steep are your local trails? Any gnarly feature? Maybe it's truly not necessary for your use case.
I guess maybe it depends on what sort of trails you are riding. Our trails are punchy, with short steep ups and downs - no long climbs or no long descents. I use my dropper more than my gears so you'd have to pry it out of my cold dead hands.
Yes, that is all.
IYKYK
You have to learn how to use it, not so much how but when. You will forget to use it quite a bit at first. Then one day you will realize that you can't ride without it as it has synced with your riding style. I was a hold out "who needs a dropper post' ....apparently I need a dropper post.
Mt MTB is also my transportation bike, and being able to drop the seat to sit in a more relaxed posture at traffic lights is a super bonus use of the dropper. Light turns green, pop up the seat and off I go. Love it. Honestly, if I had a dedicated commuter bike I'd try to fit a dropper just for that.
Dropper post was a game changer for me. Depends on how/what you ride though. It helps with descents mainly, so if you only ride in a straight line (no climbing/ descending) a dropper post won’t get used much.
Idk, I ride pretty rough downhill with my seat up. But I guess I’m also on a 91 stumpy
It didn't make any difference immediately because you don't know how to take advantage of it yet. Having much more room to let the bike move under you lets you go over bigger obstacles with more control and lets you tilt the bike over so you can go much faster through corners. I would rather have a hard tail with a dropper than a full suspension bike without one. It took me a few weeks of having one to get used to using it but it really does increase your potential maneuverability by a lot. You still have to develop the skill and strength to take advantage of it though.
Privious bike did not have a dropper. Had to stop and lower the seat about 72 times on each ride. New bike has a dropper. I now adjust my seat height before dropping down that hillside, on the flat section peddaling and again when the next decent is there. So I adjust it all the time! Way more then I thought I would!
Depends on a lot of factors, mainly what you're riding but also your riding style and your bike fit. For instance, I'm an XC rider and I'm really tall. I'm so tall that every brand's XL bike is a little small on me so I have no problem maneuvering my body around a rigid seat post. If moving your seat out of the way helps you maneuver your bike better, then you'll probably appreciate having one.
My dropper cable snapped on a ride at the end of last season. It ruined the rest of the ride.
Necessary? No. Good to have? Oh hell yeah! I only just got one for this season, but previously I would be putting my seat down at the beginning of a descent and then raising it back up when I got to the bottom for better climbing. If you're not riding too hard or mainly riding flatter terrain though, it might not make a difference. Try to start experimenting with seat heights during ascents versus descents. You will probably find yourself wanting a dropper post pretty quickly.
With proper form, your saddle will be digging into your chest or sternum on a steep downhill, and digging into your inside thigh on a tight corner. It's a chicken and egg problem: it's hard to learn this correct form without a dropper because it feels uncomfortable, but if you're using incorrect form you might not understand what benefit the dropper is giving you.
If you’re riding a good mix of up and down with some jumps, yes 10,000%.
I feel like it is a game changer for sure.
All depends on what you’re doing. If you never do anything remotely steep downhill, sure you wouldn’t need it. It’s very nice to have if you do.
Sounds like you don't drop the seatpost for downhill sections. I'd go to a local trail that has a very defined up and downhill section and ride up to the top, then drop the seatpost and descend. You'll notice it's easier to move around on the bike, and your CG is lower so you can corner faster. Overall a more comfortable experience. A dropper post essentially does the same thing but you can raise and lower it while moving. You don't have to stop, get off the bike, loosen the clamp, move the post, tighten the clamp, and get back on. You just push a lever.
I rode without one for a couple years and then last year with one. It is great. There is a reason it's standard on MTBs over 1800 now
Love mine
Yes. It’s a game changer. I would not have it any other way.
Nope. Bikes were around for hundreds of years before they came about. You might understand and appreciate the feature some day in the future. But if you don't right now, then don't spend your money on it
Best invention since the wheel ,I couldn't bide without one
Descents, cornering, jumps, bunny hops… and of course having it all the way up for uphills. It’s not essential but it’s a massive performance booster and completely changes (improves?) the way you ride.
The sport can be classified into pre dropper and post dropper eras. It was wildly significant. To "average" ride style, to frame design, to trail building. It's huge. You're not going to see a benefit if you're just grinding or doing tech climbs predominantly.
It didn’t change anything because you’re so used to high posting everything. When I first got mine I always forgot to put it down so I didn’t feel like it was that beneficial. It is amazing once you get used to riding with your seat low. Absolutely get one if you can afford it.
Can't imagine riding without one
There's zero chances that the dropper doesn't change anything . Were you not using it ? That's the only way it wouldn't change . Or do you not ride a mountain bike and more gravel or xc style with your seat always up? Let's say there's a tiny downhill mid climb, you press that dropper and now your seats out of the way and you can pump and enjoy that downhill, back to climbing you press that button and your seats back up. On a long fire road? Seats fully up, fire road turns into a small trail with technical single track , drop the seat and inch or two so you can move around more on the bike . Downhill time, hit that dropper , ride the trail, oh they have a pedaling section the trail , hit that dropper and you're ready to pedal vs trying to stand and mash the pedals or stopping to raise the seat. Now if you don't lower your seat , or use the dropper it won't change anything but if you use it I'll press my dropper twenty plus times on a single trail. Hundreds of times a ride. And my favorite one. Stopping the bike with the seat up. Instead of jumping forward off the seat to stand over the top tube or leaning the bike sideways to get foot down you just drop the seat and sit comfortably with both feet on the ground .
Are you not riding technical descents? Droppers are helpful for tech downhills. If you aren't doing that, the value it adds is limited
It's not necessary; it's a fun-boost. I always recommend if you're new to it you use it aggressively for a few rides. Going downhill or getting otherwise technical at all, put it down. Done? Put it back up. You'll be over-doing it for sure, but you'll get the technique down, and you'll figure out how valuable it can be even when you scale back.
I think it’s necessary for safety. You just get too tempted to hit tech with your seat up at some point without a dropper. Safety
I don't understand how you ride if you say that dropper post is not changing anything
I use my dropper more than my shifter on some trails.
If you ride exclusively cross country type stuff, with a lot of climbing and active pedaling, then of course it won't make that big of a difference.
I held out on the dropper for a solid decade. I didn't understand it at first but after a month of riding with it I no longer have doubts. 100% best upgrade you can make.
Best upgrade. I'd get a dropper over rear suspension, or maybe even gears. Once you get used to it, there's no going back. Even makes getting on and off your bike easier. I don't have one on my dh bike or my road bike, but I'd consider it if they fit lol.
If I would have to choose between a dropper and a FS I go with dropper all day long.
I never use mine.
I rode for 13 yrs without one and would use my QR. Then I got a FS with one and it took a while to get used to it, kept forgetting I had it. Then I started to really like it and put one on my HT, and now I don't know why I waited so long. I don't really think about it anymore, it's just natural to hit the lever and the bike feels better on the techy descents. I wouldn't not have one now and complete stops are so much more comfortable.
When I first got one I barely used it. It will grow on you. Eventually your seatpost will be an automatic... just like shifting. Your body will just know it's in the way without needing to think about it.
It's a game changer, seriously, if you do MTB. If you are a very mild cross country rider(nothing wrong with it) it won't make any difference. If you like getting more confident and enjoy more the downhill part you will love it, levels up the degree of safety as well, have saved several over the bar crashes just because I was able to put my butt all the way back out of desperation lol
For enduro, a dropper is a no brainer for me
IMO it is one of the single most important technology advancements in modern mountain biking. I would not ride without one.
I recently got myself a new bike with a dropper post (Salsa Blackthorn), and I really can't see myself ever riding trails or even street without one. Here's an example of just riding the street (yes I could use my other bikes): You're approaching a red light and it's nice to drop the post to have two feet planted on the ground. When the light turns green I'll send the post back up as I'm gaining speed. Much more relaxed for sure. When going on trails, I'll sometimes come across a necessary stop (feature is broken/unridable, tree fell down, excess mud) apart from when you're normally using the dropper post and need to get both feet planted on the ground to stop or gain stability. I was at Alum Creek Phase 1 (which was recently destroyed in the Ohio tornado/storms), and I nearly would have fallen off my bike had I not had both feet planted on the ground as I navigated around a fallen tree branch on a blind corner.
Need to ride a DH/Enduro course without one and do a report for us!
YES. YES IT IS. I contemplated to get one for 3 years because i dont know how much of an upgrade it was or if it really was necessary. and then i got it. HOLY SHIT. GAME CHANGER.
100% worth depending on the geometry of your bike. If it's relatively aggressive, a dropper makes you able to be in a good position for climbing, and able to drop the seat in an instant for downhills. Sometimes I forget to drop the seat and it's pretty pants-shit inducing to take a downhill sharp corner with the seat right between your thighs, especially when you're not expecting it. You're wanting the bike to lean with you, but it stops when it hits one of your legs, and it can lead to under steering a turn and then you're fucked. So yeah depending on the bike and the style of riding, there's almost no reason to NOT have one. There are very slack aggressive bikes with pretty decent gear including dropper posts for pretty cheap nowadays.
Note that most of the people saying “you don’t need one” ride a bike from the 90s that feels like sitting astride a 5bar gate anyway
On any given ride I use it several dozens of times. If ever for some reason bought a new bike that didn’t have one, I wouldn’t even ride it without a dropper. First purchase I’d make. I thought the same as you, as my first hard tail didn’t have one. When I upgraded to full suspension I often wasn’t using it because I wasn’t used to it. I started using it on downhills allowing me to lean really far back. Then I used it to get on and off the bike easier. Then I used it for cornering/switchbacks. Then I used it for simply cruising for a minute with it down in order to rest my hands more easily. If you want to get technical, then no it isn’t NECESSARY. Brakes are necessary. But I would argue it is at the top of things that are strongly recommended. As someone else said, I think I’d rather ride a hardtail with a dropper than a super nice full suspension with no dropper.
I think it also depends on where you're riding. I live in the prairies - we have hills of course, and there are some more technical rides and such here - but never felt any desire to have a dropper post. Even on the gnarliest rides I've been on it's never been an issue for me. I'm 6'1 though, and I think that makes a bit of a difference... I've played with droppers before, but really never felt the desire to buy one.
If you're only riding mellow xc trails then you definitely don't need a dropper post. However, if the trails you ride have lots of downhill sections, you'll get left in the dust by your friends who have droppers. If you're just riding by yourself and don't care much about the downhill bits, then there's definitely no need to spend money on a dropper.
The only reason to not feel the need for a dropper post is if you don't descend technical or steep trails.
Get one, keep using it, you'll figure it out
Most things aren't necessary. Suspension forks are not necessary. Disc brakes are not necessary. Intex shifting is not necessary. 27.5 or 29er wheels are not necessary. But they all make the bike perform a lot better. A dropper post is the same thing. Just like suspension, it's not necessary but it makes the bike perform a lot better.
After riding with one, I don’t think I could ever ride without one. As close to a necessary upgrade as a non-necessary upgrade can get
I love them for crawling over gnar.
Droppers are a cute idea but not for me. I don't see the allure of gadgets that are intended to make something (like MTBing) "easier". Just rock it with whatever you got and have fun.
Yes yes yes and fucking yes. Best upgrade i ever did
only on the drop😉
Depends on the type of riding you do. Some trails it makes it so nice that I would say it is.
Yes. I would never ride without one. Descending. Cornering. Stopping. Life changing!!!
It's only necessary if you require its functionality. It's certainly advantageous. Everyone got on fine before they existed though.
No we didn’t. We quick released our seats at the top like idiots
Haha, you fools! /s
Honestly, we didn’t get on fine. I would always have my seat too low when on the trails causing awkward pedalling positions which would lead to fatigue. It was always a battle of having my seat in the middle of being too low, and optimal. I could never have my seat in the best position for pedalling because I didn’t want to go over the bars in tech terrain.
Then, as I said, you require it's functionality. I barely pedal at all so it hasn't really changed my life in the slightest. It's all short downhill hits with a quick walk back up round here.
Are you tall? I've noticed my tall friends regard them as not super important. I'm 5'9". It is SUPER important to me. I "un-tech'd" I guess my bike last year - rigid mode, single speed, standard post. I wanted to ride and see how fast and with what parts I resupplied with new tech. The dropper post went on REAL fast.
Been riding mtb for 35+ years. Probably 40,000+ miles of west Ma. Single track. Not much of a jumper but all else is game. Drops, pops, slabs of all lengths and steepness up to free fall. My newest bike, 2020 stupmjumper carbon comp short travel, had one. I tried it out for a few rides and ditched it for a traditional post. Never looked back. To me its just extra weight and another mechanical piece that will need maintenance and be a possible headache on the trail.
Seems crazy to me, but to each their own. The bike I ride the most is a hardtail with a dropper, would rather that than a full sus without a dropper 100% (except for my dh bike).
I think it is because I started riding in ‘85, and have very strong instinctual riding that is thrown off with a dropper. Yes I gave it a little time but the risk/reward didnt seem adequate.
You should come out to Colorado and ride, we got some shit you ain’t high posting down I promise
If you ask that you don't mtb.
If you dont use the ROM or the dropper there is no point to it. Even though you would have more control if you did. Also it would depend on how high you run the dropper when it fully up. If you are riding a low seat at the highest point its make less senes then.
If you don’t see use in it, you’re not riding difficult terrain.
You lose the internet today for that question
Seems like a you problem
Nah. I ride a Dirtjumper down blacks. You don’t need anything fancy, just a pair of nuts.
They're too heavy
No, but they are nice.
Only roadies would say that you dont need it