Pnw Components / Cascade Dropper
These days if you ride a bike just about anywhere aside from tarmac, dropper posts are so handy. The onset of the dropper has definitely changed mountain biking. At the beginning there were only a few options and the cost was quite high for what seemed like a simple luxury that only did away with the qr seatpost collar. Now however, there are a ton of options... everything from hydraulic to cable actuated, external and internal (stealth if you want to sound cool) routing, different lever positioning, etc. For some dropper posts, the cost is still outrageously high and others still can be quite temperamental. Choosing a post that will keep you happy for the long haul without breaking the bank can be tough!
When I first looked into PNW Components I was definitely impressed by the branding and how through and through they preach their mission of providing high quality product at a fraction of the cost. "What this means for you is high quality parts for a fraction of the cost, leaving money in your wallet to do other things with. Like buy burritos." The company is run by a husband/wife duo that both shred just as much (if not more) than the rest of us. Not only are they creating a brand worth backing but their product holds its own when put up against other posts on the market.
This year alone I can't count how many reverb bleeds I've had to do... nothing against the reverb, just the honest truth. When it comes to dropper posts, reliability is key. The service that comes with hydraulic lines is undoubtably more than what comes with a cable and housing. In my time of have the Cascade dropper from PNW (the last 8 months), I haven't touched it since I set it up. No barrel adjustment, no adding air, nothing. Thats impressive. I tend to ride 3-5 times a week and I'm not easy on anything.
The Cascade dropper is an externally routed post that comes in a 30.9 and a 31.6. Many "older" frames (mine is a 2015) didn't come with a stealth port. The external post is a great way to update frames that didn't come designed around a dropper. At 125mm, the Cascade has been the perfect post to get the saddle out of the way and commence full send mode on my Chromag Stylus; at $229 how can you say no? I'd highly recommend one of PNW Component's droppers on all of your bikes, from bikepacking to full fledged mtb, they do their job well.