Words by Josh Poulsen
After a recent epiphany, I can now understand the importance of an adjustable seatpost for my trail bike. The Rock Shox Reverb is the best option. Let me explain:
I vividly remember the first time I had fun on the way UP the hill. In the past I was exclusively a downhill rider. In fact, the only reason I would climb was for the wind-in-my-face descent. Then I moved to Washington. With the overcast clouds, short days, and incessant rain, the DH bike spent weeks in the shed. It became mandatory to get a trail bike, dual chainring and all, to ride the ever expanding, 40 plus miles of single-track in Bellingham. Galbraith Mountain looks out over stunning vistas of Bellingham Bay to the west ringed by the San Juan Islands with a backdrop provided by Vancouver Island. To the North are the white-capped Canadian Rockies; look East to find Lake Whatcom, Mt. Baker and the snow dusted Twin Sisters. Blessed are we who live here.
At first, I went at trail riding by putting my seat post in the high position to crank out the climb following the most direct route in order to "get it over with." That sufficed for a while, but I could never find a position that was right for any trail. I began noticing riders with adjustable seatposts. The benefits were obvious — gain some height for this section, drop it down and out of the way for the next one. Everyone I spoke with said they loved theirs.... when it worked. I was hesitant to get one after learning of their unreliable nature. In addition, they were expensive. Enter the RockShox Reverb, a SRAM product backed by the best customer service in the industry. If I'm going to buy a product that may wear out or have mechanical issues, why not have the only adjustable seatpost with the "in the mail next day" 2-year SRAM warranty? I made the purchase. $300 well spent.
And that's when my trail riding changed. My routes were no longer direct and efficient. I began exploring, trying to find each and every trail. I realized how much amazing riding I had been missing out on. All the trails I avoided because of the inconvenience of constant seat adjustment were some of the best trails on the hill. With the push of a button my uphill riding became more aggressive. I began hammering up the hills, then dropping the saddle and reaping the benefits of a rippin' descent. Not having to take my hands off the bars to adjust seat height made my trail riding progress from a one-way ascent/descent mindset to an all directions, all day, smile inducing spin.
The Reverb has unveiled countless trails for me. It is my favorite discovery in years. With 125mm of generous vertical adjustment and solid rebound control, I haven't been this impressed by a bike improvement since I traded in my V brakes for a set of disc brakes. Backed by SRAM's 2-year warranty and excellent customer service, it gets my vote for "must have gadget of the year." Thank you Reverb for raising the bar... I mean saddle.
