Carbon Fibre seatpost and electrical tape - advice wanted

[bobdaspider]

I'd just purchased a Cube Attain and took it to my LBS to be setup. They said that I needed to have the seatpost cut because based on my normal saddle height - there was a risk of the post touching part of the inside of the seat tube - which narrows. I was reticent but went along with the advice of the LBS. I think they removed about 4cm off the seat post. However, they then struggled to get the post back in with the rubber pieces (see pic) that were part of the seatpost. Note, the battery for the Di2 is located in the seatpost. They suggested using electrical tape instead of the rubber pieces!! At this stage, I hadn't even ridden the bike - a brand new bike.

I told the LBS that I wasn't happy having electrical tape used instead of the rubber pieces that were originally intended by the bike manufacturer, to be used etc. When I read through the warranty document, there is a section that states that 'the person who modifies the bicycle is also liable'.

I was reluctant about getting the seatpost cut but am able to go along with the reasoning but having to use electrical tape on a brand new bike is not right. I have already forewarned the LBS that I will likely require a new seatpost. Thoughts?

 

[wafter]

Tbh this sounds wrong on so many levels (and without wishing to labour the point most seem related to trends in modern bikes).

No, bugger using electrical tape on the seatpost IMO. I've tried this in the past on the Brompton (which, granted given the length of the post probably gives any packing material a hard time) - PVC tape is soft, deforms easily and the adhesive creeps in shear. While I stand to be corrected I'd be very surprised if it was up to the job of keeping the seatpost in place.

Unless you're freakishly short It sounds like the bike is poorly designed / incapable of offering sufficient adjustment to be fit for purpose, and / or the bike shop has cocked up. Unfortunately this seems like a minefield given all the factors involved - the proclivities of the seatpost arrangement, (presumably) the fact you've had the work done by someone who didn't supply the bike..

I think I'd be inclined to tell the bike shop to sit on it while you speak to Cube - perhaps best to post the situation as a hypothetical question; stating your height / inseam, asking wheather / how the seatpost should be cut and if it is, whether the inserts should still work (and if bizarrely they don't, what they suggest as an alternative).

It might also be worth measuring the bit the bike shop have chopped off and the equivalent section on the seatpost that's now expected to sit inside the inserts..