Hiding in plain sight in Trek’s recent promo image announcing Jolanda Neff joining their XC race team could be a wireless, electronically controlled Rockshox Reverb dropper seatpost powered by their eTap battery system. What caught our eye was the tiny box sitting under her seat. It’s way too small to be a saddle bag, or even a tube, so we started poking around…
Turns out, Rockshox has been testing a wireless Reverb on the EWS circuit, too, under different riders. What gives it away here are the lack of additional cables and wires coming off the front of the bike:
Because Neff’s bike is running the (presumably) upcoming Eagle eTap group, there’s no shift cable, leaving only the two brake lines, and two remote shock/fork lockout cables coming off the top of the handlebar on the left hand side. Underneath is what looks like a shift pod that’s very similar in shape to the eTap shifter pod prototypes we’ve spotted (here, here and here)…with no wires or cables coming off it. The unit under the saddle is sized to fit an eTap battery, which makes sense – keep it easy to access for recharging. And let it save the day should your derailleur battery run out.
We like the idea of a wireless dropper post, and here’s hoping it has a quick response that can match hydraulic or mechanical systems. Why do we want something like this? For travel, it means the dropper can come in and out quickly and easily. Set up or moving it between bikes would take just seconds…effectively letting you buy one dropper post for all of your bikes, assuming they share the same diameter. Rockshox is keeping mum on official details, but it’s out in the field being tested by their sponsored riders, which is a pretty good indication it’s on its way.
Yolanda? Jolanda*
Yolanda, be cool honey bunny
what a bunch of clowns. it not like she is the biggest thing in women’s mountain biking or anything.
Mountain Biking. I’d argue that Jolanda is the biggest thing in all of MTB, XC at least.
It might not be as simple as just swapping over the posts. Would it be possible to have two remotes that control the one post? Probably have to swap the remote over too or pair it with the one on the second bike.
Hell yes- ditch the cable! Hopefully they won’t cost too much.
I loved my Veyron but it was just too damn slow!! I know the updated it but I haven’t played with the new version yet.
Any bike component that has electronics and batteries is a non-starter. One of the things I like about bikes is that they are 100% mechanical. Say no to electronic components! Say yes to low tech!
Would be great add if it can retrofit bikes a few years old not setup to run dropper posts originally.
Any bike run a dropped with an external cable
OEMs and bike shops are going to be all over this if the price is right. Builds will come together super quick.
Batteries on bikes aren’t my bag, but hopefully RS can make it reliable for those who don’t mind having another thing to charge.