Carbon seatposts....?

[Mushroomgodmat]

I'm thinking of upgrading my (£25) 300g Ali seatpost on my carbon road bike to a 200g (ish) carbon seatpost.

I'm thinking about this one - can get it for £99

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/categ...ct/review-syntace-p6-hiflex-seatpost-12-46314

It's my understanding this will help make the ride smoother, and my bike a little lighter, but I am a little concerned about safety...has anyone had a seatpost fail on them?

Other than not over tighting and cracking the post, is there anything else I should be worried about?

Cheers for any advice

 

[youngoldbloke]

That seatpost has no layback - make sure your current one is the same. I have a carbon post on one bike, and an alloy one on another - I am not sure I notice any difference. Seems a lot of money to save 100gms, I would look at tyre weight first (after rider weight)

 

[accountantpete]

Personally I find the seatpost to be the least noticeable improvement as regards carbon upgrades ( It may be my rather well-padded behind speaking here though).

You can also usually cut down the existing alloy post by 50-75g quite safely.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I'm not scare mongering, merely passing on my experience, but I have seen a snapped carbon seatpost, which was why I swapped the carbon one that came on my Cannodale for an alu one.

I did a couple of rides on it while I was waiting for my alu replacement to arrive, and TBH I could not perceive any improvement in ride quality over any alu one I've ever used before or since.

I have no doubt alu ones have also snapped on people, but I've never seen it happen.

It seems an astonishing amount of money for such a minimal persceived improvement IMO.

Of course if money is not an issue then fill your boots

+1 for both above comments.

 

[amaferanga]

I'm not scare mongering, merely passing on my experience, but I have seen a snapped carbon seatpost, which was why I swapped the carbon one that came on my Cannodale for an alu one.

Sounds like you're scare mongering to me when you don't actually say what caused it to snap.

Snapped carbon seatposts are generally down to user error - too much torque on the seatpost clamp. It's very easy to not over-torque them by buying a Rickey torque key (or a proper torque wrench) and a little carbon assembly paste.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Sounds like you're scare mongering to me when you don't actually say what caused it to snap.

Definitely not scare mongering, I know that because I said,

I'm not scare mongering.

So not sure why you are attacking me for it? Especially as I was at pains to point out the fact I've no doubt alu ones have snapped too.

I didn't say what caused it to snap because we don't know what caused it to snap.

It was fitted by a competant person and torqued just under the manufactuers instructional recommendation with a correctly calibrated torque wrench.

Remember OP, quoted torque settings are the maximum, it doesn't mean they must be tightened to that level IME.

Ride safe

 

[Psyclist]

FSA are the best seatpost'. Read here.

 

[black'n'yellow]

It's my understanding this will help make the ride smoother, and my bike a little lighter, but I am a little concerned about safety...has anyone had a seatpost fail on them?

Smoother - you will probably notice no difference at all. Letting 10psi out of your tyres will probably make more difference, and costs nothing.

Lighter - you will probably notice no difference from a 100g saving. Apart from financially, as it is effectively costing you £1 per gramme.

Safety - no issue.

 

[Rob3rt]

Carbon seatpost are not more comfortable IME, I have used at least 4 different seatposts in the last couple of years, 2 x alu, carbon /w alu clamp, full carbon etc etc. My seatpost of choice is Zipp Service Course SL, it is alu, I still have a carbon post on one bike since it cost so much I can not bring myself to replace it with a Zipp.

Going carbon with regards to seatposts is not necessarily the best way to shed weight as they typically have a reasonably large wall thicknes to withstand the clamping force, you would shed more weight by buying a well designed seatpost with a good clamp design. Not only does this shed weight, it makes it a lot less frustrating to set up and adjust.

IME carbon railed saddles seem to make more difference to comfort than a carbon seatpost, but that could be placebo.