Let’s start with a pic of my bike so we’re all on the same page.
That’s a 4” or 5” something capable dropper on a remote and it works perfectly. It’s on a not particularly light XC hard tail that’s nothing fancy but pretty reliable. The snowdrift was near the top of the Monarch Crest trail 2 days ago, the dropper didn’t get used in 30 miles of hits.
I got the dropper used not too long ago and have had time to put it through some rocks. Trouble is, I never seem to use it.
The reviews are in. Droppers revolutionized the sport. They’re even making inroads in gravel.
Makes me think I’m doing something wrong. I lean back and pinch my seat with my (less than) thunderous thighs. This gives me another connection point on my bikes to control it from. I lose this option dropped and it rarely seems like an advantage.
At this point the dropper seems to help get the bike into the back of the car and it’s a fun toy to show my kids. In terms of actual riding, I’m not really using it.
It seems to me that they wouldn’t be so popular if everyone rarely used them. Trying to maximize what I can do on this bike.
Is my thigh pinch a beginner/intermediate technique that I need to move beyond?
Is it the 80mm stem from the XC rig keeping me too far forward to really utilize it?
Do I just need to hit even rockier trails? (I am trying)
(FWIW, this bike is my first Mtn bike this century. My last, a Zaskar LE in about 1998, was a joke compared to this thing. So while I realize there are far better bikes for me out there, I’m currently very happy trying to maximize my skills on this bike)