Would you rather ……

[clubby]

…… have suspension forks or a dropper post?

I’d have always said suspension but now depending on the bike, I’m starting to wonder.
I’m retiring my oldest modern bike to display/ special occasion use. It’s going to be hanging long term so I took off the wireless dropper ( see classifieds ) and replaced it with a rigid post. By the time I’d finished faffing around, the sun was out and I went for a ride on it. I’ve been using a dropper for about 14 years now and I think I’ve forgotten how to ride without one. Junctions, drop it so I can sit with feet down. Ditches, small stairs etc, drop it for going up and down. The long, steep grass bank was frankly terrifying with the seat giving my prostate a good nudge. Made me wonder if I’d rather ride a hard tail fully rigid but with a dropper, than suspension but a normal post.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

I've never had a bike with geometry requiring a dropper. I can get by with a quick release seatpost, simply drop the saddle when I get to the trailhead, or just work around the high post for longer xc/gravel rides. A couple of my bikes are rigid, I don't need the suspension fork, but I would choose it over a dropper 100% of the time

 

[Tootyred]

I've never understood dropper posts either......ive ne er though of the saddle as "in the way".
But then im very tall, so maybe that helps?

So for me if i had to have obe, it would be suspension fork....but then i dont use those either.

Probably why my wrists, knees and back are all ruined!

 

[Russell]

I couldn’t believe how much of a game changer a dropper post was.

Rigid with a dropper post = rocket.

 

[novocaine]

Dropper post is the next thing I'm fitting to the inbred when I can find a skinny enough one at a sensible price. I've always managed with out, but recently there's a been a few times where I've thought it would be nice to get the saddle out the way, possibly mid descent where I don't really want to stop.

that bike has been sprung and rigid, I prefer it sprung.

Do I have to choose?