We’ve teamed up with UBYK, the high-end bike website and custom build specialists, to celebrate the opening of their brand new Oxford store. Up for grabs is a highly desirable RockShox Reverb dropper post worth £299.99! If you haven’t already got a dropper post on your trail bike then you better get entered fast!

The UBYK Oxford store offers bikes and components from high end brands such as Lapierre, Ibis, Yeti and Santa Cruz as well as a level of service above that of many ‘normal’ bike shops with expert riders, coaches and mechanics making up the staff and their experience and service coming into use with every customer query. If you’re serious about mountain bikes then UBYK is a great go-to for sales, service and repairs.

The UBYK Oxford store. Get down there for high end treats and superb service.

The Reverb prize is a generous offering and it would make for a fantastic upgrade to a trail bike. If you haven’t already got one, then get entered!

If you need a little more convincing (which you probably don’t), then here’s RockShox’s description of the Reverb:

When you’re ripping through rolling terrain, cranking the pedals one minute and getting off the back of the bike the next, no seat height is “just right.” The all-new Reverb gives you infinite seat-height adjustment and control of your return speed in a hydraulically actuated remote package. A custom sealing system means the plush and consistent feel of this seat post won’t degrade, no matter how much the weather does.

So there you have it, in our experience the Reverb is the smoothest operating and most advanced dropper post on the market and therefore the most desirable, making this one of the best prize draws we’ve had on Bike Magic.

Simply answer the easy multiple choice question to be in for a chance to win this great prize thanks to UBYK:

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Closing date for this competition is Thursday 23rd May so get yourself entered to be in with a chance of winning the Reverb! Good luck.

TERMS & CONDITIONS: By entering you are agreeing to receive details of future offers and promotions from Factory Media and related third parties. This competition will close on May 23rd, 2013.

PERSONAL STATEMENT: By entering I also confirm I have read and accept the terms & conditions of the prize draw, competition rules and privacy policy.

Specialized’s second generation Command Post is one of the most reliable mechanical dropper posts I’ve tested.

The Command Post offers 125mm of drop with air sprung internals and a mechanical remote lever. You can either slam the saddle, or drop it just 35mm. More limiting than a post with infinite adjustment, but in use that 35mm drop proves very useful for a lot riding. For instance, those trails that don’t need the full 125mm drop, but you want the saddle a little out of the way, it’s in these situations that it is very useful.

Weight is 550g, which puts it in the same ballpark as other mechanical dropper posts. It uses an expanding collet design to lock the post into position, and the cable is attached to the activation arm at the front of the seat clamp. Two bushes are located inside and it has proved well sealed from the elements. It’s been ridden through horrific mud and jet washed repeatedly, yet it’s still sliding up and down very smoothly.

The remote lever for the dropper post – it’s fitted to the grip collar to save bar space

There’s no hint of saddle play even after all the abuse it’s received. The low pressure of the air spring means it’s easy to drop the saddle down when needed, you’re not fighting much force. Some may prefer an unlimited drop option, like the Crank Brothers Kronolog or RockShox Reverb, but you get used to the three positions options quickly.l I have to admit to really favouring the middle option for a lot of my local trails.

Up top is a neat single-bolt saddle clamp. It’s easy to use and only takes a few minutes to get the saddle in and set up correctly. The remote lever is reasonably ergonomic but it’s not as nice to use as the Kronolog’s lever, plus there’s no split clamp so you need to remove the grips to slide it into place first. An in-line barrel adjuster makes it easy to remove any slack in the cable as it stretches.

It’s available in 30.9mm and 31.6mm sizes, and you can choose from three drop options; 125mm, 100mm, and 75mm.

At £250 it’s the same price as the Crank Brothers Kronolog, and every bit as good in terms of performance. It’s worth shopping around though, I’ve seen it for around £200. Both are still cheaper than the market leader, the RockShox Reverb. The latter’s hydraulic remote push button is still a clear performance benefit though.

Verdict

One of the most reliable mechanical dropper posts currently available.

More information: Specialized Command Post BlackLite
Price: £249.99

What Specialized says:

All-new Specialized Command Post BlackLite uses 3 remote-actuated saddle height position to maximise climbing and descending performance. Modern cross-country riders realise the benefit of the perfect riding position achieved by utilising the on-the-fly saddle height adjustment for a more fun, safer and hassle-free riding experience.

• 2nd generation
• Bonded head for a lighter and more secure fitting on seatpost
• Two versions of drop-adjustability for bike and rider size: 125mm & 100mm
• Quick-release engagement cable on the post head makes setup and removal simple
• Diameter: 30.9mm

Unlike the Joplin, a hydraulic dropper post, the Kronolog has simpler mechanical internals. It has 127mm (5in) of infinitely adjustable travel, operated by a cable remote lever (as opposed to a hydraulic system). The cable enters the front of the lower section of the seatpost which makes for dramatically tidier cable routing – no huge loop of cable hanging out behind the frame here. The potential pitfall is that the module sitting on the front of the post where the cable enters limits how low the post can be inserted into the frame. I have less than a centimetre showing on my large Santa Cruz Tallboy frame. Riders with short legs will therefore need to be aware the Kronolog might not fit their frame..

Crankbrothers Kronolog at full extension, it rides back to max height quickly, silently and smoothly.

Despite the fact that it’s a mechanical design, the Kronolog feels like a hydraulic post. It returns at a reasonable speed, quick enough certainly that you don’t need to stand up for too long. The last inch of travel is further damped so the saddle doesn’t smack into your undercarriage (there have been nasty results with other posts..). The downside is there’s little feedback that the saddle has returned to full extension. Here an audible sound would be appreciated, so you know the saddle is full up before you sit down again. An air valve on the bottom of the post lets you add or release pressure. Maximum is 100psi so you can, in effect, adjust the speed of return by adding more air.

The one-bolt clamp is a cinch to setup and holds the saddle securely.

The shaft of the post has a unique keyed quill design with flat sides. This stops any rotational movement from occurring, a factor that can happen to some dropper posts as the bearings wear out. There’s no play at the nose of the saddle at all. The locking mechanism locks the post in both directions, with the upshot that you can hang the bike from racks by the saddle, or just pick the bike up by the saddle without affecting saddle height.

The smart remote lever is easy to operate and can be mounted anywhere on the bars with the split clamp.

Norglide bushings limit lateral play and it’s a well sealed unit. In the two months I’ve been testing it in the depths of the British winter, it’s proved to be adequately sealed. I’ve had no problems at all, it’s still working as smoothly as the first ride. The fact that every ride has been one that has seen the bike caked in mud and slop requiring a full wash afterwards, is good evidence that post can survive such abusive conditions. I’ll report back again in a few months time and let you know how it’s getting on.

Setting the Kronolog up couldn’t be easier. It’s supplied with the remote lever cable already attached so it’s simply a case of inserting the post into the frame, fixing the lever to the handlebar and zip-tying the cable to the frame. The one-bolt clamp is easy to use and it couldn’t really be any simpler to fix the saddle rails into place. Once there the saddle is kept nice and securely in place.

The large chamber on the lower post is potentially a problem if you need to run the post lower than this.

The Kronolog weighs in at 556g for the complete system, including the remote lever, putting it in the same ballpark as the RockShox Reverb.

The RockShox Reverb is the undisputed king of dropper posts, but it’s very pricey. I reckon the Kronolog is a good match for the Reverb, with its smooth operation and (so far) extremely reliable service. Yes the Reverb’s hydraulic remote feels that bit nicer than the cable and is less susceptible to dirt and grit, but the Kronolog’s lever is ergonomic and doesn’t require too much force at the finger and, so far, is still working smoothly.

At £250 (though it can be picked up for £225) it’s a good deal cheaper than the Reverb. I suspect many will save up a little longer and go for the Reverb, but so far, two months in, the Kronolog has proven to be nearly every bit as good.

It’s available in 30.9mm and 31.6mm sizes.

Verdict

The Crankbrothers Kronolog is a well designed dropper post that works reliably and simply, offers infinite adjustment and is reasonably light. After two months of solid use it’s had no hiccups, but time will tell how it fares in the long term. So far it’s easily the best mechanical cable operated dropper post I’ve ever tested.

Pros

Smooth operation
Cheaper than a Reverb
Infinite adjustment
Reliable – so far

Cons

It’s not light
The housing for the cable limits post insertion

Price: £249.99
More information: Crankbrothers Kronolog Seatpost

What Crank Brothers says:

All new adjustable seatpost from Crank Brothers – 125mm of infinite adjustment. Mechanical design – hydraulic feel.

Crank Brothers Kronolog Seatpost Specifications:

1. Material: aluminum.
2. Post length: 405mm.
3. Weight: 465g 28g (30.9mm remote*) / 477g 28g (31.6mm remote*).
4. Adjustment range: 125mm / 5in.
5. Adjustment type: standard shift cable.
6. Diameters: 30.9mm and 31.6mm.
7. Colour kits: clamp & lever color kits available in gold, blue, orange (sold separately).
8. Warranty: 2 years with proper maintenance.

Relevant links

RockShox Reverb first ride here.

Dropper post article on BM here.