Skip to main content

Thomson Elite Covert dropper post


Thomson’s well-proven dropper is smoothly reliable, but it deserves a better remote lever. The twin-bolt head is as beautifully machined as we’ve come to expect from the US brand. Top-quality Norglide bushings and Motul oil keep operation smooth seemingly indefinitely (we’ve got three-year old posts that we’ve never had to service). It’s not too heavy or long and there’s a rare 27.2mm diameter option for the externally-routed version. Sitting the nipple at the post end and clamping the cable in the remote makes it easy to set up, and using a brake (not gear) cable outer makes for easier routing through frames. The extra compression means the small, vertical lever feels spongy, though, and its limited leverage makes it stiff to operate. It also drags the cable across a sharp edge, which soon wears through it.We’ve had great results swapping to an aftermarketWolf Tooth lever and gear outer, but at over $600 already, you shouldn’t have to do that.

Weight 649g
Stroke 100, 125, 150mm
Diameters 30.9, 31.6mm
Max length 485mm
Internal length 265mm

Price $645


Labels

Popular posts from this blog

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

READ MORE >>

Nukeproof Vector AM Comp Cro-Mo saddle

The Vector AM is pretty race focused, with minimal padding. There’s a deep (if narrow) pressurerelief channel to keep the blood flowing where it’s meant to. Used with bib shorts, we found it pretty comfortable for shorter rides and suffered no pain or discomfort in the central region. On steep climbs the slightly downturned nose provides a reasonable forward perch, while the svelte profile and smooth edges make it particularly unobtrusive when moving about on the descents. It’s quite stiff though, and can feel harsh on long rides or bumpy ground. We definitely wouldn’t want to spend much time on it without a chamois. It’s heavier than we’d expect for such a lightly padded perch too. There’s a lighter Pro version with titanium rails for $105, but at 241g it’s only 10g lighter. Weight 251g Price $67

READ MORE >>

GT Zaskar Evolution

While some bike models last just a couple of years, others change with the times to stay at the top of riders’ wishlists. In the second part of this series looking at the evolution of bikes that enjoy enduring popularity with UK riders, we turn to the GT Zaskar – a bike that was at the forefront of our sport for a long time and still has plenty of appeal today.

READ MORE >>

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

READ MORE >>

Merida Big Seven 100

We've rolled up to our local woods, with a meandering blue trail, some natural wooded tracks and a bit of fire road chucked into the mix to see how the Big Seven 100 tackles trails that entry-level riders are likely to cut their teeth on.

READ MORE >>