also, is any specific seatpost material less prone to bending? this one looks like aluminum, but given its age, I'd say its not a very good alloy.
Well aluminum usually doesn't bend: it breaks. So it maybe cro-mo or something, I don't know. I've bent a post before but due to a crash (in teh dark, a chain across a shool drive way is almost invisible btw). If the bend is where the post meets the frame, then it's probably your belly. if it's bending anywhere else, then the post has just had it's day.
Yes! a longer post will help you out (more in the seat tube = less leverage at clamp) or a larger diameter post...but that requires a larger diameter frame
