Originally Posted by
CyclingMTB
Greetings everyone! How important would you say dropper post is? Do you think it's a must have on a bicycle or you think you can it's possible to ride a bicycle in rough terrain even without a dropper post? Also, in the case I don't have a dropper post, if I adjust the saddle height very often during a day in the case I encounter different types of terrains or a succession of hills and valleys, would the friction force between the rod of the saddle and the seat tube damage the seat tube over time ?
Yes, friction from dirt and muck on the post will wear the tubes over time when frequently raising and lowering. There is also a specific torque value for the clamp, hard to do when fatigued on a trail.
Steep descent without a dropper requires moving behind the saddle, but new bikes have a longer front center so they require a dropper to get low.
Without a dropper one needs to run the seat an inch or so lower than is optimal for pedaling power in order to be balanced in varying off road conditions. With a dropper, when things get weird the seat is quickly moved out of the way. But you still get full leg extension when it is up.
The bunny hop is important to learn, and that is best done with the seat down.