Posted by Paul Hoyle on 2nd Oct 2025
Mountain Bike Seat post guide
Recently in the world of mountain bikes we have seen the major innovation of dropper seat posts on bikes. These differ from a fixed seat post as they are able to move up and down via a lever or button on the handlebars, this is done via hydraulics controlling an internal shaft.
They were introduced to make riding easier as it means you can now move your saddle out of the way on descents for better body movement, whilst then being able to easily raise it to the perfect pedalling height for climbs or flats. We still see fixed seatposts on bikes such as downhill bikes as these don’t need to prioritise pedalling for climbs so they can save weight with a fixed seatpost.
Hydraulic Vs Cable:
We see dropper posts with both cable and hydraulic actuation, both are very similar and provide the same function
- Cable is very simple, easy to maintain and a lot more cost effective
- Hydraulic can provide more adjustability and cleaner cable management, but require regular maintenance with bleeding and a higher price
Once you ride with a dropper it's hard to go back! The ability to immediately switch between a high saddle for tackling climbs, to then dropping the seat down to head down a trail makes your ride both faster, safer and fun.
Please note:
This guide by MTB Monster is designed to help you understand the technical aspects of bike components. The information is drawn from industry knowledge and the experience of our team. While we strive for accuracy and unbiased comparisons, occasional errors or updates may occur. We always recommend doing your own research before making a final purchase decision.
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