{"id":41170,"date":"2022-09-05T19:00:35","date_gmt":"2022-09-05T17:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=665017"},"modified":"2022-09-05T19:30:14","modified_gmt":"2022-09-05T17:30:14","slug":"do-you-need-a-dropper-post-on-your-gravel-bike-and-4-of-the-best","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/do-you-need-a-dropper-post-on-your-gravel-bike-and-4-of-the-best\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you need a dropper post on your gravel bike? And 4 of the best"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Katherine Moore\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 05 September 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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A dropper post<\/a> is a seatpost that can be lowered via the actuation of a lever, typically located on the handlebar, to allow you to drop the height of the saddle. This adjustment gives the rider a greater range of movement over the bike, which comes in especially useful when riding on trickier off-road trails.<\/p>\n

Dropper seatposts are most commonly found on mountain bikes, although more are now being made for gravel bikes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While mountain bike dropper posts feature a range of movement up to 210mm, droppers designed for gravel bikes tend to range from 50mm to 125mm of travel.<\/p>\n

Most gravel bikes will come with standard seatposts, although some top-of-the-range models will feature dropper posts, such as the Genesis Fugio 30<\/a>, Liv Devote Advanced 1<\/a>\u00a0and the Specialized S-Works Diverge<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Do you need a dropper post for gravel riding?<\/h2>\n

Many new dropper posts designed specifically for gravel bikes are beginning to appear on the market, but do you really need one? Here we take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of dropper seatposts for gravel riding so you can make up your mind.<\/p>\n

Gravel dropper post pros<\/h3>\n
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A dropper post helps you tackle technical terrain without being limited by the height of your saddle.<\/span><\/figcaption> Andy Lloyd \/ Immediate Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

With the touch of a button, push of a lever or swish of a shifter, a dropper post will leave you with oodles of space to frolic over the top of your bike. You\u2019ll be able to move your weight wherever pleases you without the snag of a saddle between your legs, helping you and your bike stay upright on technical trails.<\/p>\n

If your idea of gravel riding is made up of canal towpaths, dusty hardpack and gentle gradients, then this might not make much sense to you. However, for those seeking adrenaline-filled, challenging rocky, rooty and steep sections to keep their rides spicy, a dropper post can help.<\/p>\n

Then, of course, there are unexpected upsides. A dropper post puts your saddle at the right height for perching at traffic lights or when you\u2019re waiting for your friends at the bottom of trails. In short, it\u2019s hard to go back to a normal seatpost once you\u2019ve used a dropper.<\/p>\n

Gravel dropper cons<\/h3>\n
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Where will you put your lever with drop bars?<\/span><\/figcaption> ENVE<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Just like suspension forks<\/a> and shocks<\/a>, dropper posts require regular maintenance to keep them in good working order. This might be something you\u2019d be happy to do yourself at home or a task you\u2019d rather ask a mechanic to do for you. Either way, it\u2019s extra maintenance that you wouldn\u2019t otherwise need to consider.<\/p>\n

With more moving parts involved than a conventional seatpost, dropper posts can develop \u2018play\u2019. This is where the saddle moves around a little as you pedal, typically side to side. It\u2019s not so noticeable on mountain bikes where you spend a sizable chunk of time out of the saddle, but it can become frustrating or even uncomfortable on gravel bikes where you tend to spend more time seated and pedalling.<\/p>\n

By adding a dropper post to your gravel bike, you\u2019ll also be adding extra weight.<\/p>\n

Dropper posts for gravel bikes vary in weight from around 618g for a Brand-X Ascend II (without lever and cable) down to 450g for the PNW Rainier 3.<\/p>\n

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A dropper post lever can interfere with bikepacking bags.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ortlieb<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Comparatively, a standard 27.2mm seatpost weighs around 200-300g, depending on the material used. So you\u2019re looking at a weight increase of around 150-420g.<\/p>\n

Remember that with a dropper post, you\u2019ll also need to add a lever. This can take up extra space on your gravel handlebar<\/a> or even interfere with bikepacking bags<\/a>. Dropper posts that can be used with a shifter lever on 1x setups are a good way to get around this.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re planning on going bikepacking on your gravel bike, you\u2019ll need to think about what kind of bag setup will be compatible with your dropper. This could mean opting for dropper-specific bags, or packing your kit elsewhere so that you can continue to use your dropper unhindered.<\/p>\n

Lastly, there\u2019s the cost to consider. Dropper posts don\u2019t come cheap, with the latest Reverb AXS XPLR costing \u00a3500 \/ \u20ac600 \/ $600, while more budget-friendly options can be found from around \u00a3140 \/ $150\u00a0 \/ AU$220 \/ \u20ac155.<\/p>\n

4 of the best gravel dropper posts<\/h2>\n

Here are four of the best gravel dropper posts, according to BikeRadar\u2019s team of expert testers.<\/p>\n

Brand-X Ascend II dropper post<\/h3>
<\/div> 4.5 out of 5 star rating<\/span> <\/span> <\/div> <\/div>
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