PNW Coast Suspension Dropper Post - experience

[Stefan Mikes]

Our fine @Alaskan made me want the PNW Coast Suspension Dropper Post. Yes, tempting! As with any seat dropper post you can easily mount and dismount your bike. It is also convenient to wait at the signal with both feet on the ground. What makes the PNW Coast unique is the fact it is a suspension seat-post. It is based on air spring, so when the rear wheel of the bike gets into a deep pothole, your lower back won't suffer. It is especially important for me as my Vado model has no suspension at all save the 2" tyres.

I ordered not only the seat-post but also the PNW Puget MTB 2x Lever so the cable would be routed between the seat -post and the lever mounted on the handlebars.

I don't want to sound alarmist, I'm just deeply frustrated. Each part was sent under a separate DHL Tracking Number from the UK. The seat-post was delivered just several minutes ago. The Lever shipment DHL Tracking number does not exist in the DHL system.

I placed a complaint at the PNW support in their website. Will see what the reply is when the Pacific U.S. starts working. Should I mention the cable was not the part of delivery?

A pleasant morning in the Polish Mazovia went to the waste. I will report future fates of the order and user experiences when the complete order has been delivered.

Fuming!

 

[DougC]

Hi Stefan, I ordered a Cascade dropper post plus Puget lever from PNW last late November for my Trek Powerfly FS5. The lever and cabling came in a small plastic bag inside the dropper post box.

I took the bike in with the new parts to my LBS to install and they told me the post couldn't have the cable internally routed. My mistake but PNW told me they would accept the return and give me a credit refund. So I returned just the post and ordered the Rainier IR. Got the replacement post by the end of the next week. Of course, I'm only a U.S. state away so that might have helped with the expeditious turn around time.

I've only used the bike once so far since having the post installed. Wasn't really in a situation where I needed it but did test it this Sunday on a snow ride and it was functioning very well. It's a good purchase particularly for the price.

Your parts came from the U.K. to Poland. Obviously they do their parts shipping differently from the U.K. location than the California location in the U.S. Too bad. Keep after them. Yes, definitely mention the cable was not in the dropper box. It should have been. No reason why it can't fit in there.

The guy I worked with through phone calls and emails was Chris Siembab. He's in California, U.S. He was very responsive and helpful. ([email protected])

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thank you @DougC!
Chris wrote me the shipment was sent in two separate parcels. I'm very satisfied with the answer.

 

[vincent]

Anxious to see how this works for you, considering one for my bike

 

[Stefan Mikes]

For your information: Now I have received all the parts ordered: The seat-post, the lever, the cable as well as the parts necessary for the setup. Going to my LBS soon.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Just after I wrote the words above, our cat Tygra got suddenly very ill (poisoning or internal injury) and she is at the pet-hospital now. Given that and other hassle, I must postpone the set-up of the seat-post for about one week.

Will keep you informed.

 

[vincent]

Oh no, hope Tygra is ok

 

[Stefan Mikes]

News:

• Tygra has survived the first night at the pet-hospital. There is a chance for her.
  
  
• I delivered my Vado and the PNW component set to the LBS. The guys there are quite busy this week; I am quite busy this week too. They promised to deliver the bike back by March 11th, which suits me well.

 

[6zfshdb]

Please keep us updated on Tygra and your PNW setup.

 

[Oberst]

Prayers for Tygra’s full recovery! My two dogs are family so I know how stressful it is when a pet is ill.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Hi there All,

The PNW Coast Suspension Dropper Seat Post, External Routing, PNW Puget 2x lever is in place. The work was so simple for the LBS they only charged the equivalent of US$15 (still some money in Poland but the indication is they did not sweat at the work)

To get the seat down, you are expected to be seated. Simultaneously pressing the lever (I have had it installed under my left thumb to keep the right palm free for braking) and quite energetic downward push of my derrière makes the seatpost move smoothly to the lowest position; it is very easy to stand on the ground on whole feet while seated. Getting on and off the bike is now very comfortable, especially getting off. When starting the ride again, you just stand on the pedals, hit the lever and the saddle is at the right height instantly; still a smooth movement so you are rather not hit in the crotch.

The mechanic inflated the suspension to 250 psi (the average of the recommended 200-300 psi) since the guy had no idea what effect the pressure would have with my body weight -- he didn't seem very experienced with suspension posts (but he can understand what to do with the air-spring suspended fork very well). I have no impression how good the seat suspension is with the PNW Coast. Mind you, my Vado's fork is the rigid one. I was intentionally riding the rear wheel into potholes and I didn't suffer. There was no bouncing ("suspension bob") of the seat-post I could feel (which is good - a spring suspended saddle normally "bobs" under your buttocks) . The mechanic was explaining me the PNW seat-post shock certainly works on the principle of the "Brain" technology found in Specialized shocks: Once the road is smooth, the shock remains rigid; when you get onto potholes, roots, stones, the shock absorber activates.

So far I am happy. The greatest pleasure is the convenience of the dropper seat-post; unless I forget lower it before stopping. It is quite hard to lower the seat just using a hand (you have to push the seat energetically to make it drop).

PNW Coast in the low position.

The PNW Coast in the riding position.

Standing in the "ready to ride" position, as if waiting for the signal change.

Tygra the cat is still in the hospital; I will keep you updated!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thank you very much @Alaskan for your good advice!
I rode my Vado on the pebbles and then I felt the real difference...

 

[Captain Slow]

It had never occurred to me to use a dropper seatpost in this manner, but I can see it makes a lot of sense. Brilliant idea Alaskan and Stefan. I wish I had cool ideas like that.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Here is the PNW Puget 2x lever. The only that would fit my cockpit, especially as the handlebar grip-ends are occupied by mirrors.

 

[Browneye]

I absolutely love my dropper seat on the Trance mtb. It was a 'gotta have' when I learned about them while shopping for bikes. "A dropper whaaaa????"

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The concept was completely foreign to me before Alaskan explained the benefit for an average Joe (or Joan) -- adding the hint of luxury to riding I actually do hate to jump off the sadle on my feet when stopping. I hate getting off the bike because of these say, two centimetres by which the nose of the saddle catches my pants or shorts. I had a fantastic experience on the ride to buy milk today; I had to make a left-turn on a small busy junction in the tiny city of Podkowa Leśna (they insist to be a "city", not a "town" -- 3,300 inhabitants altogether!) I had to let the upcoming cars pass. The dropper used and I could wait patiently on full feet for my turn -- sitting! Fantastic.

 

[Browneye]

I use mine on the mtb constantly. It's really perched up there for hill climbing, so for stopping and leaning way back for downhill, it's just fantastic.

My explore has different ergos - no problem stopping with that one, and usually have a curb to step on.

Glad it is all you expected!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Good news! Tygra the cat is well! I will take her back home this Monday! She's now staying at the pet-hotel and is to be seen by an eye doctor on Saturday.

leaning way back for downhill

No real hills in Mazovia (central Poland) Yet I expect going to mountains this summer so the dropper post will certainly find its proper use, too.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

For all of you interested with the fate of Tygra the Cat:
The pet has been together with me for almost a month now. The bad news is Tygra lost her sight during the accident. She can climb the staircase but is unable to walk down the stairs. I need to carry her three times a day downstairs for her meals. Meaning, the duration of my rides is limited. I might teach her to eat and drink upstairs of course but don't want to leave the cat alone for too long time.

 

[vincent]

poor Tygra, sorry to hear that

she is very lucky to have you to take care of her