Bicycle Mechanics - Seatpost adjustable on the fly? What are those things called & who makes a good one?

What are those things called that let you collapse a seatpost like an office chair? You press a lever and sit and your weight telescopes the seatpost, then when you press the lever with your weight off, a spring pushes the seat back up?

What are those called and who makes a good one? Please help if you can. :)

I don't think that exists... Never heard of it... Maybe you want a quick release seatpost clamp?

Hite-Rite

Hite-Rite
Yep, that's it. A quick Google search located several references to them and this quote from the bikepro.com site:

"Hite Rites are not made any longer. The various models sold for about $15 with the oversize clamps selling at $6 each."

Apparently another "good idea" that didn't work out in practice.

Yep, that's it. A quick Google search located several references to them and this quote from the bikepro.com site:

"Hite Rites are not made any longer. The various models sold for about $15 with the oversize clamps selling at $6 each."

Apparently another "good idea" that didn't work out in practice.

Try the mountain bike guys.

There's a modern product that does that, I just don't know what it's called. My son has one on his freeride bike.

Uh - if you can find one, it's going to cost more than $15.00.

gravity dropper. kind shock, rock shox reverb, crank bros, specialized

hite-right is old 80's stuff .. new gear that function is controlled
from a lever on the handle bar.

faster action, is gained. for those who are in a hurry..

Rock shox sells this one http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?id=131776

Crank brothers has another http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?id=100429

I never thought Fiets would be the one to get this question. The Hite-Rite is a bit of an antique; I have one just because I think it's cool, but it's not very functional. It takes a good bit of skill to use while riding, but it looks cool and gets lots of compliments, so I'm keeping it.

The new ones actually do the job pretty well, it's just not a job that really needs to be done, especially for the price.

The new ones actually do the job pretty well, it's just not a job that really needs to be done, especially for the price.
That really seems to be the heart of the matter. It was one of those ideas that sounded good in theory but didn't have much to offer in practice.

Yep, that's it. A quick Google search located several references to them and this quote from the bikepro.com site:

"Hite Rites are not made any longer. The various models sold for about $15 with the oversize clamps selling at $6 each."

Apparently another "good idea" that didn't work out in practice.
If it's on the bikepro site, then Hite-Rite has been out of production a long, long time. Bikepro has been dead for quite a while. Useful as an archive, though.

The new ones actually do the job pretty well, it's just not a job that really needs to be done, especially for the price.I want it for someone who has a bit of difficulty swinging their leg over the saddle.

I want it for someone who has a bit of difficulty swinging their leg over the saddle.

$200 or $300 sounds like a lot to pay to solve that problem.

I want it for someone who has a bit of difficulty swinging their leg over the saddle.

most of them need some down force to lower the saddle

most of them need some down force to lower the saddleDon't you think the rider can pull the switch while sitting on the bike?

The new ones actually do the job pretty well, it's just not a job that really needs to be done, especially for the price.

IMO seat height is the main reason a road bike can't do most MTB/trials kind of stuff... with one of these on a road bike, a new kind of riding would be possible...

I'm thinking the cycling equivalent of parkour; courier style on steroids. I imagine you could go a fair way down that road without even trying to show off; merely straightening your path.

It could mean a faster way through a city. I'd call that worthwhile.

Why is it necessary to swing a leg over the saddle to mount the bike? Couldn't they just go over the lower top tube instead?


IMO seat height is the main reason a road bike can't do most MTB/trials kind of stuff...

Don't the skinny tires have anything to do with it? I know anything is possible, I've seen the videos on youtube, but really... Trials riding is probably best done on a trials bike.

Don't you think the rider can pull the switch while sitting on the bike?

Yes they can activate the seat-dropping function while seated on the bike and while riding.

I'd probably look for a bike with a step-through frame. They start at only a little bit more than a dropper and do more to solve bike mounting problems that someone with limited movement might have.

To those who wonder about the usefulness of Hite-Rites and newer droppers, they are absolutely essential to any off-roader who wants to go up the hill AND down the hill as fast as they can.

This pic of Gee Atherton sitting on his downhill rig should illustrate how inefficient a seated climb would be...

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2010/06/06/1275838028820-y8q4gdlqey9-798-75.jpg

Try to ride an XC rig with a good pedalling saddle height down a hill quickly and you'll find the saddle to be in an unfortunate position. Stay in the saddle and you're likely to go over the bars.

Old hite rights did slow down the saddle/seatpost thefts, a bit.


I want it for someone who has a bit of difficulty swinging their leg over the saddle.

Lay the bike on the ground , stand over it , pick the bike up,.. problem solved.

Lay the bike on the ground , stand over it , pick the bike up,.. problem solved.I guess I could just buy an old step through hybrid to put on the trainer for the winter where dignity is not an issue.