Eddicate me on dropper seatposts

[NHAero]

My Pivot Mach 429C came with a KS Lev dropper post. I ride on Martha's Vineyard - fairly benign trails, no high speed downhills, no extended uphills. Should I be trying to learn how to use this properly (I've watched some Youtube and see some folks are moving it up and down constantly), or should I pull it, put on a regular seatpost and save the extra pound?

Thanks

[Benneke]

If the riding your doing is fairly flat, you probably won't notice the 1 lb weight penalty the dropper post brings. Once you get used to it, you will be using the dropper even on the smallest and shortest technical sections. I would suggest that you keep it for a while and practice using it as much as possible. Try using it on sections you don't think its necessary for, and you will notice that it helps even in many of those situations.

[Matt-H]

There is no need for a dropper post given the trails you describe. Long descents or very technical and steep descents justify the use for some, but even then I don't use one. Save yourself some weight and unload it, and recoup some $$- they aren't cheap!

[NHAero]

How does the usage break down, vis-a-vis how much the saddle is dropped when climbing vs. descending? Is it equally useful? What do people here feel are the major advantages they get from a dropper?

(and yes, the 1 pound matters less here where it is flat - I do ride a 45 pound Big Dummy after all :-)

[ofcounsel]

A dropper post is great for technical downhills, where getting a lower center of gravity and getting behind towards the rear wheel is important. No need for them going up hill. If you don't have downhills where you feel nervous because you're sitting way too high up on the saddle when you're going downhill, you probably don't need it.

[Matt-H]

If the riding your doing is fairly flat, you probably won't notice the 1 lb weight penalty the dropper post brings. Once you get used to it, you will be using the dropper even on the smallest and shortest technical sections. I would suggest that you keep it for a while and practice using it as much as possible. Try using it on sections you don't think its necessary for, and you will notice that it helps even in many of those situations.

For the OP's intended riding the dropper post seems so unnecessary. A 429C by itself will cruise over short technical sections with no problems if properly set up. I can't picture MV having more than the occasional small rock garden and pretty minimal elevation gains and losses. I've ridden a 429C climbing endless technical trails in Colorado and bombing non-technical and technical descents and did not miss the dropper post. An awesome bike for sure- point and shoot and the thing rocks.

[Matt-H]

A dropper post is great for technical downhills, where getting a lower center of gravity and getting behind towards the rear wheel is important. No need for them going up hill. If you don't have downhills where you feel nervous because you're sitting way too high up on the saddle when you're going downhill, you probably don't need it.

Agreed. On some of the steep ledges and drops of Socal getting back and low is important.

[ofcounsel]

For the OP's intended riding the dropper post seems so unnecessary. A 429C by itself will cruise over short technical sections with no problems if properly set up. I can't picture MV having more than the occasional small rock garden and pretty minimal elevation gains and losses. I've ridden a 429C climbing endless technical trails in Colorado and bombing non-technical and technical descents and did not miss the dropper post. An awesome bike for sure- point and shoot and the thing rocks.

Agreed. The 429 is very capable.

Still, I have a dropper on my 429, and use it often. But I live in SoCal where we have lots of steep advanced rocky/fast tech downhills. I feel more comfortable dropping the post. Still, others can do the same trails without a dropper seatpost.

[lzuk]

Since you own it you should try it and see what you think. You can always sell it . I don't have the skills to justify one. My 429 gets me into enough trouble without one.

[Matt-H]

Here's a pic circa 2000 of a friend in Moab. Definitely could've used a dropper here...

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1659/24711441335_b3d5028f0d_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DDEAzn)image (https://flic.kr/p/DDEAzn) by mattsthreesons (https://www.flickr.com/photos/40747725@N02/), on Flickr

[ofcounsel]

Dropper post worthy (also, 20mm more suspension travel)
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s81/ofcounsel/1915907_10207249343807115_2263731934884324700_n_zp spd7qaqd6.jpg

[Matt-H]

Exactly.