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..

 

[bobdaspider]

I have been in touch with the bike shop where I bought the bike from and asked if they could source another seatpost and if so - how much. The fact that it has electrical instead of the rubber pieces that came with the seatpost is a problem for me and have already mentioned this to LBS that was involved in cutting the seatpost etc.

 

[biggs682]

Some days I think about dumping all my retro bikes and go modern then I read a post like this and I am glad I like retro bikes 😀

 

[fossyant]

Some days I think about dumping all my retro bikes and go modern then I read a post like this and I am glad I like retro bikes 😀

It's a reason I'm holding off bidding on a very nice carbon bike - the ISP - integrated seat post. It will need cutting down for me.

 

[Elybazza61]

If they are cutting that much off it sounds like it might be too small ,a lot of smaller frame bikes do come with way too long seat-posts though.

Just had a look on Cube's website and I presume it looks like this ? If so there doesn't look like there is much room where it kinks down, the seat post looks a normal shape so dunno why the battery plug doesn't fit .

(had to copy and paste the link as it won't allow me to copy the pic)

https://www.cubestores.co.uk/produc...e-black?_pos=3&_fid=620179902&_ss=c#gallery-6

 

[cyberknight]

If they are cutting that much off it sounds like it might be too small ,a lot of smaller frame bikes do come with way too long seat-posts though.

Just had a look on Cube's website and I presume it looks like this ? If so there doesn't look like there is much room where it kinks down, the seat post looks a normal shape so dunno why the battery plug doesn't fit .

(had to copy and paste the link as it won't allow me to copy the pic)

https://www.cubestores.co.uk/produc...e-black?_pos=3&_fid=620179902&_ss=c#gallery-6

Dont you mean too big ? cutting the seatpost to make it effectively smaller .

 

[Elybazza61]

Dont you mean too big ? cutting the seatpost to make it effectively smaller .

Yes sorry, didn't proof read before posting.
(Was distracted with the news that Ipswich won today ).

 

[bobdaspider]

If they are cutting that much off it sounds like it might be too small ,a lot of smaller frame bikes do come with way too long seat-posts though.

Just had a look on Cube's website and I presume it looks like this ? If so there doesn't look like there is much room where it kinks down, the seat post looks a normal shape so dunno why the battery plug doesn't fit .

(had to copy and paste the link as it won't allow me to copy the pic)

https://www.cubestores.co.uk/produc...e-black?_pos=3&_fid=620179902&_ss=c#gallery-6

Here's a pic of the bike area which seemingly required the post to be cut - which I agreed to based on the advice from the LBS. I can handle cutting the seatpost there is a need to do so, but not being able then to get the rubber pieces back into the seatpost and instead use electrical tape is an issue - after all, it's a brand new bike and at this stage, hadn't even been ridden!! Not impressed and will expect the LBS to make a contribution to replacing the seatpost with a like for like Newmen post (see pic).

 

[Elybazza61]

So just a 27.2 post so the battery bung should still fit.

 

[bobdaspider]

So just a 27.2 post so the battery bung should still fit.

But the inside of the seatpost is not circular but oval - slightly quashed - this is something that the mechanic at the LBS hadn't been aware of...