Classic & Vintage - Help leveling saddle?

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braingel
04-05-07, 09:51 AM
It's so weird...I've got an SR Laprade seatpost on a bike, like this one:

http://www.bikepro.com/arch_products/seatposts/jpg/d1d_la_prade_side.jpg

The rails are aimed upwards of level when the post in the seat tube, and I can't figure out how to adjust it...the only adjustment I can find is just tightening or loosening th clamp bolt:o What am I missing?

dbakl
04-05-07, 09:55 AM
The bolt/clamp rotate front to back to change the angle. Not the best design ever.
USAZorro
04-05-07, 09:58 AM
Loosen the top bolt all the way, then lift the cradle up and set it at the angle you want it. The design doesn't allow for a great range of motion though. :(

Sammyboy
04-05-07, 10:17 AM
Probably better on a bike with a steeper seat tube angle.
Six jours
04-05-07, 10:43 AM
Sometimes the thing sticks, especially on older posts. You may have to give the saddle a few whacks with the heel of a hand to free it up. Worst case, you have to remove the saddle completely and go at the clamp with a mallet.

I really hate those things.
astrodaimler
04-05-07, 10:55 AM
Remove the top half completely (or unscrew it so that the top half is turned sideways to the bottom)
Put seatpost in seat tube
Put saddle on
Kinda eyeball the level
put top back on
Put that nut thing back on
screw from bottom
There are groves in it so if you get it wrong, you have to undo a bunch of threads
Use a torpedo level
Once you think its level and start to tighten, its almost always "off", you'll have to back off and move the top unit again.
I don't think I ever got the saddle level on the first try with those things. I still have that post on my Gios.
Road Fan
04-05-07, 11:44 AM
Remove the top half completely (or unscrew it so that the top half is turned sideways to the bottom)
Put seatpost in seat tube
Put saddle on
Kinda eyeball the level
put top back on
Put that nut thing back on
screw from bottom
There are groves in it so if you get it wrong, you have to undo a bunch of threads
Use a torpedo level
Once you think its level and start to tighten, its almost always "off", you'll have to back off and move the top unit again.
I don't think I ever got the saddle level on the first try with those things. I still have that post on my Gios.

Overall I think this is good advice, but with the folloiwng added caveat:

I think the angle adjustment is notched, so that only certain discrete angles can be achieved. If these constraints don't turn out to be level for your saddle, you'lll have to get as close as you can. Personally, this is why I gaveup on these long ago. I need micro-adjusting.

Road Fan
cuda2k
04-05-07, 01:42 PM
Just pulled the one of these that I had on my Gazelle out and replaced with a Campagnolo post. I've used with a Selle Italia Flite, a Performance Forte SLX and were able to get both pretty close to level. The above advise should get you as close as you can get with this post, if you need to get closer, a new post is in your future.