PNW Components

Pine 27.2 Dropper Seatpost

While dropper posts have become the new norm at the trailhead, we've been pretty limited when it comes to those for narrow seatposts. Just because our hard tails run a little bit on the skinny side doesn't mean they should miss out on all of the fun, and thankfully the handy engineers at PNW Components seem to agree, presenting an array of posts for those of us with slender-tubed steeds. The PNW Components Pine 27.2 Dropper Seatpost with External Routing allows riders with skinnier seat tubes blast through the descents behind the saddle, and climb to their hearts content, without fidgeting trailside every few minutes with fussy quick release levers. Whether you're idea of fun is hammering miles out on your local XC network, gravel grinding down a road to nowhere, or hopping in a sand pit for grueling CX laps, the Pine 27.2 allows you saddle up with the comfort of 105-millimeters of infinite adjustability on the bike.

The Pine was engineered as the follow up to PNW's much loved Rainier, featuring some of the same technology, but with a little more thought going into the external routing than the Rainier, with routing starting at the midcap for a cleaner feel that won't chatter around or bulge out when you're dropped down to the max. It brings you 105-millimiters of infinitely adjustable travel, which may sound short in stature compared to the lofty 150mm's we see on the market, but it gives you more than enough space to drop your post and get well behind the saddle on steep descents. This shorter drop also pairs much better with bikes that sport the smaller, 27.2mm seatpost diameter than longer posts do, which can end up feeling flexy underneath rider weight when shrunken down to a narrow diameter. This post hosts a full 390-millimeters in length, enabling you to find plenty of adjustability to dial in your saddle height for the ride.

If you had the opportunity to run with any dropper post when they were still the hot new thing, there's a good chance you experienced some major play in the saddle, wiggling all over the place when you're trying to stay focused on hammering up techy switchbacks. Once again, the engineers at PNW have thought it through, adding a keyed slider system to the post. The stanchion is fitted with brass keys that fit securely into the slotted lower, so while the dropper post has infinite adjustability from top to bottom, it won't end up sideways after you take a wicked digger on the rock garden.

Finally, a note on lever compatibility: The Pine doesn't include a dropper lever, but it is compatible with PNW's standard flat bar lever (as seen on the Rainier) and the drop bar-specific CX-lever. The former is obvious and expectated; the latter is a nice touch for those who have discovered the pleasure of a dropper post for crunchy bits of trail on the cyclocross course or to enjoy some sweet relief on long, rough descents on a gravel bike. We've been there, too. And we refuse to go back.