RASE Adjustable Seatpost

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REVIEW OF RASE ADJUSTABLE SEATPOST

RIDING WITH AN ADJUSTABLE SEAT POST is tantamount to using clipless pedals on a mountain bike. Not what you thought it would be, BETTER! Like the fact that clipless pedals not only help the climb easier and better, but also makes the ride safer by keeping ones feet on the pedals over the bumping and jarring of a technical trail ride. Something you did not expect to be a benefit? Just try riding now without your clipless pedals on a nice rough trail and you will see what I am talking about.

Same thing with using an adjustable seat post, yes the rider is now able to climb easier and better since the seat can be raised (on-the-fly) to the optimum leg extension for the most power to the pedal. Yet there is more, much more gained from an adjustable seat post. I am guessing that there are going to be two types of rider opinions when it comes to using an adjustable seat post: Those that are now able to run their seats higher on the climb and those that are able to run it lower on the down. Since, without the adjustability one has to choose where they want to run the fixed seat post; set on the lower side for the technical down or on the higher side for the climb. Either way, efficiency or safety are compromised.

That is where the cut and dry benefits of an adjustable seat post stops. I found myself raising the seat post as I rode down fast loose single track. Why raise it? Because having the seat up against my thighs actually made the descent faster and safer. Seems backwards, but my backside was able to both stabilize the tail of the bike and the weight placed on the seat helped with braking whenever I needed to scrub speed. Normally on those same areas I would have been standing on the pedals with the tail whipping around a bit, and a light occasional skid from the rear tire. With the seat post higher, neither of those things happened.

Additionally, what I assumed would help a small amount was actually a huge boost. That was the ability to pop the seat height up just before climbing short (15 -- 20 foot) steep and technical inclines. I probably did not go up that much faster, but at the top of those short climbs I had exerted half the energy that I would have with my "happy medium" fixed seat post setting. Further, rather than standing to get the power to the pedal, I was able to keep my ass on the saddle, giving my rear tire much more traction while sprinting up the loose rocky path.

For over a year I have chosen not to use an adjustable seat post. Not because I assumed they were not worth the money or effort, but rather because I did not want the additional failure probability. I say "probability" because everyone I know, that has an adjustable seat post, has had problems with slippage and loss of pressure. A mechanical seat post (like the RASE) pretty much can't have that problem. Since the RASE is not a compressed air system -- rather it uses a spring and a metal pin in hole locking system -- the chance of failure is almost zero. I like those odds.

Whenever I selected a height (20 positions to choose from across 9 inches of travel) I never felt like the seat would not stay, and it did not slip once. However, an annoyance I found in the RASE, because it uses a pin in a hole system, the hole needs to be a tad larger than the pin to ensure a quick lock. Thus, a slight (1/8 of an inch) left to right seat jiggle does occur. It is noticeable mostly when you move the bike around, holding onto the seat, and are not sitting on it. Occasionally I could feel it while riding, probably after a couple of rides I will not even notice it.

In the end, I will never ride a mountain bike without an adjustable seat post again. And, based on the design, quality and workmanship of the RASE that seat post will always be a RASE adjustable seat post.

Category:

Sports

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[OMGuuyy]

Written Review:

RIDING WITH AN ADJUSTABLE SEAT POST is tantamount to using clipless pedals on a mountain bike. Not what you thought it would be, BETTER! Like the fact that clipless pedals not only help the climb easier and better, but also makes the ride safer by keeping ones feet on the pedals ... the rest is in the description above.

[bobby210fm]

Any feedback now you've been using it for a while?

Thanks

[OMGuuyy]

@bobby210fm  Yes, just posted a written review in the description window above.

[HarborEdwin]

@Incipitone

The pin returns to one of 19 machined holes via spring action. It is automatic once you release the lever.

[Neoamore]

Nicely done bro. I'm not even interested in a product like this, but I enjoyed the video and it was informative.

[Incipitone]

How does the pin go back into the hole? Is it spring loaded or do you have to push the lever closed?

[geopablomac]

Terrific looking product, but I didn't expect it to cost $50 more than the Rock Shox Reverb. Hmmm…

[iComeRealStealth]

Nice job Eddy. Looks like a promising product.