Rdmtb Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 N of 1 here but I installed a PNW dropper on my commencal hard tail and the lever was incredibly hard to press to activate the dropper. Cable was hooked up correctly. I called pnw and they said it was normal to need to shift weight on your seat to make it easier to activate. i bought a one up dropper for the same price and didn’t have that issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATXZJ Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 Have both and prefer the PNW but I have the loam. Seems less effected by the seat clamp creating stiction on the dropper. Also, I remove the seal collar from time to time and drop a little slick honey in there to keep things moving smoothly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinBike Posted August 16, 2022 Author Share Posted August 16, 2022 Phil’s grease works as well under the collar, on any dropper. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 1 hour ago, ATXZJ said: Have both and prefer the PNW but I have the loam. Seems less effected by the seat clamp creating stiction on the dropper. Also, I remove the seal collar from time to time and drop a little slick honey in there to keep things moving smoothly. My Orbea dropper is the same way with leverage causing it to stick, but frequent cleaning and slick honey really helps a lot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
June Bug Posted August 19, 2022 Share Posted August 19, 2022 Dropper install did not go as planned. The shortest travel PNW is 120mm and it turns out I need a 100. This has to do with being able to adjust the dropper post so that it comes up to exactly the correct seat height. The PNW was a little too high for my set up. Mr June Bug has a new-to-him Chumba titanium hardtail that needed a dropper seat post so the PNW (120mm height + seat post diameter were perfect) is now on the Chumba. The 2013 Salsa Spearfish frame has external routing, so very limited on dropper seat post selection. LBS will order a KS e20 or (hopefully) KS Dropzone Remote. KS Dropzone Remote is lighter and has a "1-way roller clutch bearing" that's not listed for the KS e20 but is listed for their somewhat higher-end droppers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATXZJ Posted August 19, 2022 Share Posted August 19, 2022 Forgot to add. Bikes with slack STAs make it more difficult to compress the dropper. Particularly bikes with 30.9 seat tube diameter and smaller. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssorgs Posted August 19, 2022 Share Posted August 19, 2022 (edited) On 8/18/2022 at 9:25 PM, June Bug said: Dropper install did not go as planned. The shortest travel PNW is 120mm and it turns out I need a 100. You know the loam has 25mm of height adjust? So the shortest Loam at 125mm can actually be run at 100mm! I'll be installing one tonight to replace a 6yo 100mm Transfer that isn't worth rebuilding... Edited August 20, 2022 by ssorgs Now that I’ve actually installed one, it can only REDUCE travel up to 25mm- which is still awesome (and I needed -10mm). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
June Bug Posted August 20, 2022 Share Posted August 20, 2022 On 8/18/2022 at 8:25 PM, June Bug said: LBS will order a KS e20 or (hopefully) KS Dropzone Remote. KS Dropzone Remote is lighter and has a "1-way roller clutch bearing" that's not listed for the KS e20 but is listed for their somewhat higher-end droppers. Turns out the cabling for the KS Dropzone remote creates a loop of cable when the post is compressed so the mechanic does not recommend. KS e20 it is. Should arrive on Tuesday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAF Posted August 20, 2022 Share Posted August 20, 2022 I'm late to the party on this one, and is often the case, I purchased a higher-end option - SRAM AXS wireless dropper for my singlespeed. Not cheap, but boy, is it precise and so nice not to have cabling and zip ties all over the place. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
June Bug Posted August 30, 2022 Share Posted August 30, 2022 Dropper is installed and rode two downhills that I'd been walking. Huge difference. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinBike Posted August 30, 2022 Author Share Posted August 30, 2022 Droppers are the biggest game changers in the sport. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sluggo Posted August 30, 2022 Share Posted August 30, 2022 I love the dropper, but tubeless rims and modern tires may be my number one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinBike Posted August 30, 2022 Author Share Posted August 30, 2022 You are not wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamsloan Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 I'm on my 3rd PNW post now. First the Cascade externally routed, then the Bachelor, and now the Pine 27.2. All three have been great with a little maintenance now and then to keep them clean and smooth. Occasionally, I need to top off the air pressure in the Bachelor but we're talking like once or twice a year. The Pine is a great post if you have an older steel frame or a gravel bike that doesn't have internal routing. It's basically a thinner, shorter travel Cascade. I got the 110mm travel, but they make a 90mm as well. ...and the Loam Lever is still the best one on the market. Wolftooth is pretty close, and OneUp may have just topped them with their latest lever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinBike Posted September 6, 2022 Author Share Posted September 6, 2022 Having ridden a fully rigid steel bike on this trip I am starting to think that maybe I need a dropper for for. Might be time for a pine. If I can't have shocks, at least get me some clearance so I can do the switchbacks a little better. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted September 11, 2022 Share Posted September 11, 2022 On 9/6/2022 at 2:50 PM, AustinBike said: Having ridden a fully rigid steel bike on this trip I am starting to think that maybe I need a dropper for for. Might be time for a pine. If I can't have shocks, at least get me some clearance so I can do the switchbacks a little better. a few among the ASS crew ride rigid bikes with big tires, but most of them have adopted dropper posts over time. simple bikes are great but you ca do so much more with the saddle "out of the way." if you want that simple feel, there's the KS ExaForm that has a lever under the saddle instead of a handlebar lever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinBike Posted September 11, 2022 Author Share Posted September 11, 2022 That was my biggest issue with the early droppers. If I am hitting something that requires a dropper I want my hands on the bars, not fumbling around between my legs. Especially if it is on an unfamiliar trail. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.