Idea for dropper seat post. Would you buy something with these qualities?

[3speed]

It's an idea I had for a cheaper dropper post set-up that I think actually is a really good idea. Would you pay ~$50 for a dropper system that you add to your bike that raises and drops your current post through use of a seat post QR? It would weigh no more than a pound, and would be immune to the problems that the current posts seam to have. I don't want to divulge too much right now because the idea is pretty fresh and I'm still researching to make sure this hasn't been thought of, and if not, plan to patent it and then put together a test prototype on my bike before sharing the exacts of it.

[ShimmerFade]

So you would have to get off the bike? I would personally not be interested because getting off the bike is what takes the longest in terms of saddle height adjustment for me, but maybe others who have trouble quickly finding their sweet spot would like something like that. An extra pound is also quite a lot for something without the full functionality of a normal dropper post. $50 if it were durable and I didn't have to get off the bike would be pretty awesome though.

[3speed]

It would be very durable. It would basically last as long as you want to use it. And I suppose some might have to get off of the bike, but I doubt most would. The post will raise on it's own to your set high point and anywhere in between by you just taking your weight off of the seat and flipping the quick release. Then close the release to lock the seat there. If you want to lower it then just flip the release and sit on the seat until it's at the point you want it and close the quick release again.

[dminor]

Sounds basically like a spring-loaded Titec Scoper. I've toyed with that concept too; but could not get past the awkwardness of fooling with a QR on the fly.

[Zephyr11]

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Tech-Tu...pper-Post.html

?

[3speed]

dminor - Where the hell was that when I was searching the internet for hours looking for a stupid dropper post that didn't cost $200+?!?

Anyway, my idea is similar to that, but would be cheaper, and judging from reviews I just read online, better. Sounds like that one has clamping issues. And It wouldn't be limited to just 2 similar seat tube sizes.

[allroy71]

I thought this was done once before. I remember this back in the 90s, but never bought one!!

http://www.bikepro.com/arch_products...ts/ahiter.html

[jimc101]

Yep, Hite Rite

[dminor]

. . . could not get past the awkwardness of fooling with a QR on the fly.

I found out today that IRD (god bless that lil' Oregon company) actually made a remote seat post binder bolt at one time. Operated with a thumb shifter.





Dang!

[3speed]

[QUOTE=allroy71;14053684]I thought this was done once before. I remember this back in the 90s, but never bought one!!QUOTE]
Yeah, my first thought was how to make something like that easily for myself, but bending the metal didn't seem particularly doable. I wish they still made them! Then I came up with the idea I have now which I'm hoping I can produce.

I found out today that IRD (god bless that lil' Oregon company) actually made a remote seat post binder bolt at one time. Operated with a thumb shifter.
Dang!

Awesome! I was thinking about how to operate a QR by cable and couldn't figure it out. I'll have to look into this more.

[dminor]

. . . but bending the metal didn't seem particularly doable.

Someone already did it for you:



However, this guy came up with a fairly easy DIY solution using an automotive gas strut:

http://forums.mtbr.com/general-discu...st-695858.html

[3speed]

Holy Crap! I even have one of those. Thanks, dminor! You've either killed an idea for a small operation providing people with cheaper, decent dropper set-ups, or just saved me a lot of hassle on something that won't happen anyway(more likely ).