Road Cycling - Squeaky Seat

On my recent 150 mile ride, I started hammering out a cadence like a metronome... Every rotation I would deliver a squeak/tick. It made it easy to stay on track...But embarrassing - as if I had not serviced my bike in months.

My first thought was pedals or a loose crank. But I discovered it was coming off my seat. I have a Try Fly with Ti rails and a Specialized carbon post with an AL head. I took it all a part last night and found a lot of black deposits where the rail meets the AL. I'm thinking this is just dirt - but could be some type of corrosion?? Once I wiped it off and put it all together it seems fine...for now.

Can I or should I be lubing up those parts... If so would Pedro's Ice Wax work?

Any other thoughts would be appreciated.

Also the rails on my seat seem loose. They move side to side with little effort - is that normal?

Thanks for the input.

The last time mine started squeaking and popping, it was because the bolt had loosened itself.

It's a Ti thang. Put a light coat of Ti prep on the rails where they contact the seatpost and clamp. Don't know about the loose rails.

ahh ok.. I noticed the same thing with my new seat.. a Selle Italia Flite Ti... I couldn;t figure out where the damned noise was coming from... when I was hammering in the seat.. it was there.. out of the seat.. nothing... it was driving me nuts... so Ti Prep huh ?? LBS would have it ?

Jeff

Originally posted by Raedeke
On my recent 150 mile ride, I started hammering out a cadence like a metronome... Every rotation I would deliver a squeak/tick...

if i rode 150 miles, i'd worry about the sounds my body was making than the sounds my seat was making...

clean it up, tighten it down good, and keep riding. if it still squeaks, ride faster so the wind blows and you can't hear it.

Originally posted by SipperPhoto
so Ti Prep huh ?? LBS would have it ?
They'd have it or can get it. But actually, if the seat rails are the only Ti you have, any grease will work. Ti Prep prevents Ti from bonding to Al, but seat rails are always twisting and moving... I don't think they'd have a chance to bond to the seatpost.

On the other hand, some people swear by it for greasing bolts, seatposts, etc., even for non-Ti bikes.

LBS uses it, but doesn't sell it off the shelf - but could order it for me.
He suggested that I might try a little pledge. Lemon fresh and everything...
His indication is if I was just using it for the seat post - a can could last a couple lifetimes... I'll let you know how it goes.
R