Carbon fibre seatpost - Ruined?

[redjedi]

I've just taken the seatpost out of my new bike (less than a month old) and noticed it was quite badly scuffed. Is this a terminal problem, and do I need to replace it straight away?

This is the seatpost in question

I think it happened when I took it out. It was a bit stiff so I gave it a bit of a twist until it came out.

Is it just cosmetic damage which can be repaired?

This is the area where it clamps in

This bit looks a bit worse. I was always very careful when tightening the clamp, but perhaps I was a bit heavy handed.

I've moved the clamp around so it tightens on the front now, and the post slid back in fairly easily (no grease used), but this is my first CF seatpost and I'm a bit worried

What do you reckon?

 

[yenrod]

Red - its downhill after this with them ! i'm getting a Ti' variant of s.post as CF is a total and utter waste of money ! ! !

 

[hubcycles]

its not looking to healthy im afraid

 

[fossyant]

I'd be worried about where it's been clamped....

 

[Steve Austin]

looks like the lacquer is scratched. i would still use it

 

[ed_o_brain]

What Steve said.

I had a CF post slide into the frame once when I'd undertightened the clamp. That was about five years ago and it's still giving me good service.

 

[montage]

looks fine

 

[lukesdad]

used a carbon seat post for years doesnt look too bad, why are you taking it out if you do it to often it will get damaged especially if its not in a carbon frameset.

 

[MajorMantra]

It's hard to be sure from a photo but that looks purely cosmetic. If there's no 'give' or evidence of deeper cracking I'd use it without hesitation.

You know you can get some carbon-specific paste so you don't have to tighten it up quite as much? Note that this is very different to the grease you'd use on a metal seatpost.

Matthew

 

[yenrod]

Let me tell all you lot having a had a carbon fibre seatpost 'go' on myself which was a Campagnolo Record - I wont be rushing to buy one, again!

Though I do have a USE Ti variant lined up !

 

[Harry Street]

Seat Post

Looks fine you can always get it x-rayed if you want cost about £45 plus P&P but unless you have cracked it, it will be ok

 

[Globalti]

Yep - it's just the lacquer. Mine has looked exactly like that for years and it gets hammered on my hardtail MTB. I don't worry about it at all, it's far stronger than you can ever imagine.

 

[numbnuts]

What Steve said + whatever

 

[redjedi]

Phew.

So it's good to go.

I was dreading having to buy yet another bike part. I've just spent another £100 on bits and pieces, and even then I had to leave a few bits out until next month.

Thanks all