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MountainBikeReview.com's Forum Archives - General Discussion
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would this Be A Sweet , High-Tech Seat-Post Idea?? (13 posts)
|  would this Be A Sweet , High-Tech Seat-Post Idea?? | bagz
Apr 24, 2003 3:35 PM | | heres my idea........have a seatpost that mounts the saddle and connects to the seat tube just as all of them do..........but heres the thing, have a hydraulic lowering, elevating mechanism built into the seatpost that can be controlled be either a button on the post itself, or on the handlebars (just like shifters and the SID world cup). This would allow changing seat-post height position without unclipping, getting off the bike, and doing everything the 'normal' way. I think this would be very usefull for those long, epic rides where u get long flat trails where more leg extension is better, and also more technical steeper areas where lower is better. I know price and weight would be issues. Oh well, just a thought i wanted to share.
Rob |
| re: would this Be A Sweet , High-Tech Seat-Post Idea?? | Jee Young
Apr 24, 2003 3:43 PM | | They had something like that a few years back, but instead of hydraulic, it was a mechanical linkage, somewhat like the thudbuster linkage I believe. I'm pretty sure it was heavy as heck, but for DH, I guess that's not really a problem. I forget who made it, but they had problems with using plastic bushing I believe and died out. Could have been an interesting product though. |
| That's got to be the dumbest idea ever... | Fat-tire
Apr 24, 2003 4:13 PM | | oh, btw, I mentioned the same idea to some riding buddies about 4 months ago. Did you steal my idea?
Seriously, I did have the same idea, and I thought it was a good one. |
| re: would this Be A Sweet , High-Tech Seat-Post Idea?? | dirtdemon
Apr 24, 2003 4:36 PM | | I think that would be cool. Kind of like an office chair setup- you know how if you pick your ass up & hit the lever, the chair goes up, and if you hit the lever when sitting the chair goes down? Well instead of the lever being on the post, have it on a remote location. Come on you engineers! Make it happen! |
| re: would this Be A Sweet , High-Tech Seat-Post Idea?? | Buster McNutt
Apr 24, 2003 5:06 PM | | It's called a Hite-Rite or something like that. Anyway back in the ancient days of mountain biking there was a little springy thing that would allow you to just flip the qr and sit down to lower your seat, and then you could oopen up the qr and stand up and the seat would go right back where it was before. Nobody makes them anymore, but if you find an old mountain bike geezer or a shop with a bunch of junk in the back you might be able to find one.
Buster McNutt |
| Seems like everyone bagz on the Hite Rite... | næstep
Apr 24, 2003 5:30 PM | | ...but then this idea continues to float around, basically an upgrade of that old design.
I don't know if it was the poster above, or some other enterprising soul who showed off some concept drawings or photos here on mtbr, just in the past 6 to 12 months. It's out there though, only a matter of time until someone produces it.
I'm curious. I used a Hite Rite on my early bikes and found it useful, but geometry and suspension has changed riding styles so I wonder how much use I'd get from it now.
næstep |
| I got one... | pimpbot
Apr 24, 2003 6:50 PM | | ... and use it regularly. It works great. I got it off ebay for $12 for a new one.
I like the hydraulic idea. That may add a layer of suspention post goodness to the mix as well. |
| Its already being done bt Hurricane | B1
Apr 24, 2003 7:15 PM | | Hurricane Components has been working on a seatpost that does exactly that, in fact they had working prototype's at the 2002 Sea Otter.
Hurricane had a 1 proto that had a bar mounted lever to lower or raise the post and another proto that had a knob where you reach between your legs at the post to raise and lower. Both models use a spring and keyed upper and lower tubes to keep the nose of the saddle facing forward.
The last I heard, they are working on a patent, and then a production schedule. Hurricane the company was also sold in September, but Jeff still does some work for the new owners |
| ^^That's the one I was thinking of.^^ (nm) | næstep
Apr 24, 2003 7:44 PM | | |
| <a href="http://forums13.consumerreview.com/crforum?viewall@213.eGyTa1Rgx14.910010@.ef55a9f">Here's a link to pics & description of Hurricane's prototype</a> | næstep
Apr 24, 2003 7:51 PM | | http://forums13.consumerreview.com/crforum?viewall@@.ef55a9f |
| it's already been done | club
Apr 25, 2003 8:07 AM | | back in the late 80s, Interloc Racing Designs (IRD) had a remote lever that operated a HiteRite from the handlebar. It wasn't hydraulic, it basically opened the seat quick release, the rider's weight on the saddle did the lowering/raising.
even earlier, the Oly Training Ctr had a remotely operated seatpost on a bike on a trainer, the operator could raise and lower the saddle in tiny, like 1mm, increments, while sampling the rider's blood gases and oxygen use. this to determine the optimal seat height for the rider. upshot: low robs power but can lower heart rate, high increases oxygen use but can provide more power.
I never feel the need to lower my saddle for descents. for me, the perfect saddle height is perfect all the time. |
| BTW this is a HiteRite | shiggy
Apr 25, 2003 10:02 AM | | 
I do not have a pic of one on a bike. I used them for years and still have (parts) of several in the workshop.
The clamp goes around the seatpost and the bottom of the spring attaches to the seat clamp QR. "In the day" some frames had a braze-on mount on the seat tube for a HiteRite.
Without the IRD remote QR you reached down and opened the seat post QR, sat on the saddle to lower the post and then close the QR.
To raise the saddle you kept light pressure on the saddle, opened the QR, let the saddle come up, close the QR. |
| BTW this is a HiteRite | Crazy Cooter
Apr 26, 2003 10:04 AM | | The problem with the Hite Rite is that is was made before almost all frames came with a aluminum seatpost collar. Most frames from the day of the Hite Rite had brazed on seat binder bolts. I'ved tried with limited success to adapt the Hite Rite to a seatpost collar.
I think when Hurricane does come out with the Elevator seatpost, I think it will be the hot ticket for riders who do like to lower their saddles, such as freeriders. |
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