Race Face provided me with a pre-production version of the post to try out in Whistler, BC, in order to get a feel for how the post functioned. I headed away from the Crankworx crowds and onto a section of Comfortably Numb, a trail that was either built by a genius or a sadist, a twisting and turning roller coaster of rocks and roots that can't decide if it wants to go uphill or downhill. Basically, the ideal terrain for a dropper post.



The post was very easy to activate, and even in panic mode I didn't have any trouble quickly reaching it to get the seat out of my way. The lever's width makes a nice thumb perch, but I wouldn't mind seeing the shape become even more rounded to make it less likely to poke a knee or snag on clothing. At about the halfway point of my ride, I did run into a snafu - the post started refusing to stop at any position other than fully extended or fully compressed. The mechanical brake wasn't engaging at any of the middle positions, causing it to move freely up and down rather than supporting my weight.



According to Race Face, they're working on a fix for this issue, and it should be sorted out for the full production run. We've been testing 9point8's Fall Line post, which uses the same design concept, for the last three months and haven't had any trouble, so it's likely that making the switch to a different facility has brought on some unforeseen difficulties for Race Face and Easton. As soon as a production version is on hand we'll be putting it to the test, at which time we'll be able to truly see how much of a contender this new dropper post will be. - Mike Kazimer