Norglide Bearings Teams up With Thomson Elite Dropper Post
Various Norglide bushings surround Thomson's Elite Dropper seatpost. Norglide composite bushings use a hard metal backing, impregnated with a slippery plastic compound. The nature of the design enables the bushings to be custom-designed to fit specific applications.
When Thomson decided to make its first dropper seatpost, long-term reliability was their number one concern. The following promo video documents the decision making process that brought the two companies together on the project. Thomson's Elite dropper uses Norglide composite bushings in the internal, nitrogen-charged cartridge, as well as for the sliding surfaces between the body and stanchion tube (seat post extension). Norglide is part of Saint Gobain Performance Plastics, who are suppliers to Thomson and other key players in the bike industry who use the self-lubricated composite bushings inside shocks, for dual-suspension pivots and for other highly-stressed rotating components.
The following video, produced in cooperation with Norglide and Thomson, underscores the importance of industry partnerships that begin at the initial concept stage and continue through final production, in order to optimize the performance of a particular bearing application:
Thomson's dropper post uses an internal cartridge, which introduces additional sliding surfaces. Norglide's ability to maintain close tolerances helps to keep the post wiggle free, while providing smooth action for both of the post's telescoping components.
As the bicycle industry gains more experience with modern composite bushing technology, such as those manufactured by Norglide/Saint Gobain, we expect to see them appear in many applications that presently use ball bearings. The fact that bushings take up very little space increases the potential strength of critical suspension pivots and the weight reduction benefits are substantial. Industry partnerships, as the relationship between Norglide and Thomson demonstrate, will be key to the success of the concept.
Visit Thomson for a closer look at the Elite Dropper seatpost.
Visit Norglide/Saint Gobain for the inside on bushings vs ball bearings
About Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Bearings and Tolerance Rings SBU
Saint-Gobain is a global leader in the design, production and distribution of innovative, high performance materials for industry and employs around 195,000 people. With 15 sites and six R&D centres globally, the Bearings and Tolerance Rings Group, a division of Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, provides ‘engineer-to-engineer solutions-in-motion’ to high volume international OEMs in the automotive, leisure, energy, industrial, and other markets. Backed by a heritage of product innovation, technology, advanced materials and market leadership, they are dedicated to working with customers using their extensive engineering expertise to deliver standard and custom solutions in NORGLIDE® bearings, RENCOL® tolerance rings, SOLGLIDE® bearings, JOINSHIM® rings, and NORSLIDE® cable liners that meet the most demanding applications.
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I don't see any claims that Thomson makes this new post in the U.S. They partnered with a company in Taiwan "basically helping manufacturers from other countries to produce things in Taiwan." It's in the vid.
@rbriers +1 about the laziness, neg props are coming from the guilty
and as far as the extra security... i'd take it i notice a huge difference in my descending ability with a 1" drop, and a 4" drop it's like it's not even there and i'm not even super great so noobs like droppers too....
People don't NEED motorbikes, smartphone, or others gadget, but a lot of them have it. Are they lazy too? Or did they just bought something for the pleasure?
now I am back riding a hardtail (Stumpjumper Expert Carbon 29er) with a Thomson Elite fixed seat post. I find my hardtail way more fun to ride, but still miss the dropper post because it changed my riding in a beneficial way
my Stumpy uses 27.2mm seat tube so cannot run Reverb. I believe Thomson are producing a 27.2 dropper, have not seen it in the UK yet?
gravitydropper.com
yeah I am aware of the G.D. its been available in the UK many years. the guys I used to work with swore by those posts
crude looking, but very effective and once a year service at home
Sorry Thomson - you missed a big opportunity by coming out so late and with a dated design IMO.
Am torn between the LEV and this. But so far the LEV is winning, but only because of its cable routing.
I'm staggered that a company like Thomson would have such a vulnerable design. At least it will be simple to replace though
Anyway, for a "luxury" item, imo it shouldn't cost as much as a good pair of brakes, rear shock, wheelset, etc nomsaiyin? ._.
www.bikeradar.com/news/article/eurobike-2010-chris-king-tweaks-headset-design-for-2011-27701
Light, 'strong', cheap: pick two, 'cause you can't have all three.
Name: captainsnappy
Age: 18
Life: All figured out.
What kind of bushings does Thomson want for their post? The best available (in the video). What brand are those? Norglide bushings. Are they relatively more expensive to manufacture than others? Yes. So the fixed costs to manufacture the post are higher than other posts... then Thomson also has to recoup their R&D costs as well and they have the right to make a profit off what they sell.
And then it comes back to my original point about brand recognition. Thomson ain't gonna risk making a crap product when their stated company values revolve around high quality engineering and products, manufactured in the US. To manufacture sub-par products (in or out of Taiwan) would be branding suicide. Why would they risk that?
As for my age, thank you for the compliment.
Good luck with your hyperbole goals of 2013.
Here is my experience with Thomson: I ran a Masterpiece on a frame with a seat tube tolerance issue. It took me a while to diagnose the issue was the seat tube outer diameter and thickness being out of tolerance. Because I rode the post for a full season on that frame, it got damaged. The post got crushed where the clamp held it in place. When I sent the frame to the manufacturer, I told them about the seat post being damaged and even though they replaced the frame they told me they would not take responsibility for the seat post because it wasn't their fault in their opinion. I contacted Thomson about it wondering if the seat tube problem could have caused such damage. Dave Parrett answered back, his answer was simple : "Yes an out of tolerance seat tube can cause such damage. Send us the post back and we will replace it." And they did, they didn't ask for proof of purchase (it was a legit post), they simply took the responsibility for the frame builder and sent me a brand new post.
Guess what now... I only buy Thomson seatposts and stems (if they have the right angle and length combo). Thumbs up to Dave and his team. I'm well aware that I pay an extra for the name but I'm fine with it because they stand behind their product and have amazing CS. I feel I owe them one and I'm a loyal customer.
Thomson parts are beautifully engineered and manufactured but whilst this design like the Fox DOSS may well be beautifully engineered and functioning with the highest technology doodah bushings in, the fact still stands the bandwagon left over a year ago and is on its return trip now.
KS is developing carbon models, in addition to the trusty LEV.
Rock shock is running stealth now.
Specialized have fixed their bugs in their early posts .
And Fox is even entered in the market.
The post itself works well, but the cable demands a lot of attention.
I have found the lightest DH worthy seat and seatpost is the SLR and Masterpiece
Yes it costs a lot but remember, Thompson is the post everyone uses and therefore they have the most to lose, and therefore the biggest incentive to get it right.
I think they nailed it with this one. I would have no reservations at this juncture recommending it.
And in what parallel universe does this give them the right to charge almost $500 for a dropper post? You clearly do not understand the simple economic functions of pricing.
Your condescending remark about my understanding of pricing is laughable. Are you 15? You don't even know what a "right" is and obviously don't know the proper context for a sentence. So why is your concept if pricing superior to the guys that make a product, market it and provide the warranty?
If you can't afford something that doesn't make it bad or overpriced but rather an aspiration.
And yes, by economists standards there is a "right" price or at least a range of prices that is "right", its the supply demand function. This market and product is clearly demand driven and not supply driven, thus consumers ultimately set the price via the quantity they demand. What comparable products are offered within this market? Comprable by price: KS Lev Carbon ($450) added benefits, recessed cable that stays out of the way with no exposed lever, carbon, weight savings and more travel. Comparable by style and function: Rcokshox Reverb ($299) - same functions, same weight, same adjustments, same travel, $150 cheaper. The thompson seat post is way outside the supply demand equilibrium considering its price and features and thus only irrational buyers will purchase.
The ONLY possible added benefit I see to this thompson seatpost is the norglide bearings and that is NOT worth 50% more than a rockshox. And the added value of the KS over the thompson requires the buyer to overpay for a product which means it is priced incorrectly, not the "right" price.
You're welcome.
Try a saddle
As for rear suspension designs, bearings are great but also not without their drawbacks.
Of course bushings are used in almost every suspension fork or shock or suspension seatpost, no one questions that. It's questionable to assert that bushings can take the place of bearings in other areas of bike design though.
Out of the 4 the Reverb will fail on you sooner or later. I own all 3 except the Elite which is old tech.