Dropper Post for Old Folks

[StuartKuz]

Do any older riders add dropper posts to make on/off the bikes easier?

As the years start adding up, it's starting to be a big lift getting a leg over the saddle. And step thrus for XL sizes seem not on design boards.Yeah, you can lean the bike over to the side, if the groceries aren't too heavy or the hips too stiff.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Stuart,

Manufacturers of premium "SUV e-bikes" have recognized that need for senior riders. The renowned former EBR member David Berry actually had and used a dropper seat-post on his Riese & Muller Homage e-bike for comfort. The latest Specialized Turbo Tero X SUV e-bikes are actually equipped with dropper seat posts. Same with the latest Giant Stormguard E+.

"Adding" a dropper might be complicated. If you want to have the dropper remote on your handlebar...

• The external cable routing does not look nice, and there is trouble to route the cable over thick, hydroformed frame tubes (I did that for my Vado and regretted that later)
• The internal cable routing might not be possible for many e-bikes
• The electronically controlled (wireless) dropper is extremely expensive.

If you really want a dropper and a very comfortable e-bike, you should look for a SUV e-bike with the dropper being the part of the e-bike design.

I had a proper dropper seat-post on my former e-MTB and indeed getting on and off that e-bike was so easy!

 

[smorgasbord]

My wife and I are both senior citizens, and we liked the dropper posts that came with our Luna Apollos so much that we just upgraded both to the Rockshox AXS Reverb wireless/cableless droppers. Got them for $600 each, so yeah, not cheap. But, OMG, are they sweet!

First, the button is electronic, so you're not fighting cable in housing friction, nor pulling on any kind of release.
Second, the action is really nice and controllable, so you can control the height not just with where you place your butt, but how long you hold the button down for.
Third, and this was a surprise, you can now remove your seat post or adjust its base height any time with ease. I used to have my dropper post sticking up a few inches so I could sometimes attach a post-mounted rear rack to carry light sandwiches and the like. Now I can decide to drop the post all the way down if I'm not using the rack, or raise it to mount the rack.
Fourth, the seat mounting mechanism on the AXS is really nice in that it has a bolt that you turn to adjust the seat angle. No more needing 3 hands to place the seat in the right front to back spot and angle and then be able to tighten the locking bolt. Can be done with two hands easily.
But yeah, the cost....

 

[PDoz]

A budget alternative is the ks lever dropper, it has the release mechanism under the nose of the seat. Very much a budget option,

KS E-Ten Lever Dropper Post

The KS eTEN Lever ushers in a new era of incredible value for money with solid performance. Using an air spring and a hydraulically locking cartridge, its features surpass that of its competitors that are twice the price! The seat clamp has a 20mm offset and uses a single bolt. It will mount any...

www.mtbdirect.com.au

IMHO an electric remote dropper is a wise investment - I've lost count of the number of kinked / snapped cables I've created or the swear words muttered when trying to adjust a cable operated dropper to a new user

 

[smorgasbord]

Just thought of one more thing - if you've got a Bafang Ultra motored EBike like we do, not having the cable makes re-installing the motor just that much easier. It's pretty tight between the hanger and the motor itself, so one less cable to deal with helps everything.

I might add that since we have throttles on the left side near the grips, I ended up mounting the AXS button on the right side, above the grips, and above the shifter. It's actually all nice and tight there now with almost no hand movement needed to reach all the controls. Of course, since the button doesn't have a cable, you have lots of options of where to mount it, using either the included handlebar ring, or spluring on a Matchmaker, or if you've got Shimano shifters/brakes, one of the many adapters available from places like Wolf Tooth.

As for the E-Ten, it's kind of ironic that they call the design "new." I believe the original dropper posts were set up just like that - with the control under the seat itself. For getting on/off the bike that might be OK, but if you're actually mountain biking and want to adjust the height, taking a hand off the handlebar to reach under the seat seems just non-optimal.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

There is one more thing.

By installing a dropper, the user gives up the chance of using a suspension seat-post. There is only one suspension dropper seat-post I am aware of (PNW Coast) but that very seat-post has never provided any reliable suspension for me (a wrong design, I think).

For this reason, a dropper makes sense for a Full Suspension e-bike if the rider is looking for maximum ride comfort. (That's why the R&M, Specialized and Giant SUV e-bikes I mentioned are dual suspension).

 

[smorgasbord]

Rockshox does make the XLPR 27.2mm dropper with some suspension. Only 75mm of travel, though. Made fir gravel bikes but could be shimmed for mountain bike use.
Our Apollos are full suspension so no real need for a suspension seatpost.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Rockshox does make the XLPR 27.2mm dropper with some suspension.

I looked at the picture of the XLPR. The major design flaw of such suspension seat-posts (same with PNW Coast) is these do not translate the vertical moments of the rider's body into the axial seat-post movements. It will not work well.

Cirrus Cycles Kinekt 2.1 works OK. (Not a dropper).

Redshift ShockStop works OK. (Not a dropper).

RockShox AXS XPLR, PNW Coast, other... Friction is killing the suspension action.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Specialized

You look green from envy, Rome

 

[JGcycle]

Great to know that I've got options--for when I get really old and decrepit.

 

[StuartKuz]

Great to know that I've got options--for when I get really old and decrepit.

Don't blink too slowly JG. I was 40 yesterday, blinked and now I'm almost twice that, old, and decrepit, but still on the green side of the turf. Happy trails to you. ;-)

 

[pxpaulx]

Do any older riders add dropper posts to make on/off the bikes easier?

As the years start adding up, it's starting to be a big lift getting a leg over the saddle. And step thrus for XL sizes seem not on design boards.Yeah, you can lean the bike over to the side, if the groceries aren't too heavy or the hips too stiff.

Of course! Droppers are awesome - well worth the money. I do some MTB riding but primarily have it for lowering to get on/off due to balance issues (back injury).

PNW was mentioned as having a suspension dropper - I haven't used that particular one, but have a couple of PNW droppers and they make a great dropper - definitely recommend them (they also have both internal and external routing options). Also if they aren't currently on sale just wait, they are 20% off several times/year.

 

[onlineaddy]

Dropper posts are wonderful on a descent when mountain biking. But, for easier mounting/dismounting, I would think a step-through frame is better suited for that purpose.

 

[StuartKuz]

Agreed! Unfortunately the step through bikes don't seem to be made in XL sizes. I'm 6'3" and have been dissapointed in some brands that don't make ANY XL sizes even with top bars (Yamaha YDX Torc).

 

[onlineaddy]

Well, that kinda makes sense. The larger frames probably need the additional support/stiffness from the top tube.

Going back to the dropper post discussion...it'll help you dismount the saddle at a stop, but it won't help too much swinging your leg over the bike. Maybe that little bit will be just enough for you?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

in XL sizes.

FYI, Tero X shall be available in XL when fully released. Ask your Specialized store for availability.

 

[StuartKuz]

It is a shame the Tero hardtail doesn't come similarly spec'd out.

 

[Nomad]

A quality dropper post is a good addition for a lot of bikes regardless of whether you're a senior or young or it's even a mtb. I would encourage people who ride bikes to familiarize themselves with them.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It is a shame the Tero hardtail doesn't come similarly spec'd out.

Of course it has the dropper on Tero 4.0 and 5.0.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Your new Vado 6.0 have seat post dropper?

It has a Kinekt 2.1 suspension post. I can hop onto and off the bike without a dropper. I'm only 62.