Teravail has been making a name for itself in the tire world for a few years now, and more recently branched into components like handlebars and dropper posts for gravel bikes. Now, the QBP brand is taking its first crack at mountain bike dropper posts. I’ve been putting the 230mm travel Teravail Telec through its paces since November of last year, which has given me plenty of time to become intimately familiar with the new post. Needless to say, we’ve been through a lot of ups and downs together.
Teravail Telec key specs
- Weight: 661g, not including remote (30.9x230mm)
- Price: $229. Remote sold separately for $44.
- Buy from Teravail
The Telec is offered in a healthy range of size options: 125, 150, 170, 200, and 230mm travel lengths with either a 30.9 or 31.6mm diameter. There’s also a dedicated 27.2mm model for gravel bikes, released last month, available with 100 or 125mm travel.
I tested the 230mm option with a 30.9mm diameter, which weighs 661g without the remote. That weight is higher than comparable dropper posts from OneUp and Bike Yoke. In fact, it’s heavier than pretty much any similar-sized dropper post I’ve tested over the past couple of years.
Speed where it counts
The Teravail Telec boasts an impressive return speed. I captured several dropper posts with high speed video to see how quickly they rocketed from fully down to fully up. Out of the box, the Telec clocked 0.25 seconds during my testing, which puts it right in the sweet spot between the blazing-fast OneUp V3 (0.18s) and the slightly slower Fox Transfer Neo (0.29s). That quarter-second return is quick enough to feel responsive on technical climbs and transitions without being so abrupt that it catches you off guard.
The pressure is adjustable, which is nice for fine-tuning the feel and return speed. I tested the Telec throughout the winter and found the return speed stayed pretty consistent, even in sub-freezing temperatures.
Adjustable travel and a solid saddle clamp
The Teravail Telec offers adjustable travel in 10mm increments, up to 30mm, so you can get the most travel based on your height and frame size. For example, you can reduce the 230mm-travel post’s travel to 200mm to fit your bike. Travel adjust is tool-free, and Teravail has helpfully marked the increments on the post as shown in the photo above.
Though Teravail hadn’t published a fit guide at the time of publication, the 230mm post I tested has a maximum insertion length of about 355mm. That’s roughly 10mm longer than both the PNW Loam and OneUp V3 dropper posts.
The two-bolt saddle clamp uses a pretty standard design. It’s not completely frustration-free (is any saddle clamp?), but it’s easy enough to use and lets you dial in pretty much any saddle angle you’re after.
Share your Teravail Telec review
The Telec produces a pretty loud thunk as it rises to its full height, but otherwise it’s quiet on the way down. Some posts make distracting squishy noises as they go up and down; the Telec keeps the sounds to a minimum.
The included lever is high quality and feels good on the thumb. The throw seems to be about average — not overly long or short. Paired with the Telec post, it doesn’t take a lot of force to activate the dropper. Honestly, the Telec flat-bar remote is nice enough to be a worthy upgrade on its own if you’re in the market for a new lever.
Pros and cons of Teravail Telec
Pros
- Adjustable travel and air pressure
- Reliable and smooth operation, especially when paired with the Teravail flat-bar remote
Cons
- Max insertion is longer than some competing posts, which could limit fit
- Heavier than most competing posts
Bottom line
For a v1 dropper post, the Teravail Telec is surprisingly well put together, and the performance is on par with posts from better-known brands. Though it doesn’t offer any unique features to set it apart from other posts, it’s a reliable choice at an excellent price.
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