Bicycle Mechanics - Thomson Elite Saddle Compatibility

I recently purchased a Thomson Elite seat post. I'm trying to put it on my bike but am slightly baffled by the fact that none of my saddles fit. For each saddle the rails are just slightly too far spaced.

Is this a common problem? I can clamp down on the saddle, but since the grooves don't line up neatly with the rails I'm nervous to ride it.

I am slightly baffled too. What kind of saddle? I have two Thomson elite seatposts and have used them with a variety of different saddles, (80s era Brooks leather, Fizik, Bontrager, and others) always fit spot on.

Sometimes I find that saddle rails are a little wider than the grooves. As you snug up the upper clamp on the Thomson seatpost I believe the rails will drop into the grooves nicely. But yeah, we would like to know, what saddles are you trying?

I seem to have this problem with most of my saddles and seatposts. They're always off a little bit, but are still close enough once you tighten the bolt(s) down. After nearly 3 decades (about 4 or 5 seats), I have yet to snap a rail or have a problem, and I'm not a wee fellow either.

One more thing, how far back or forward are you trying to position the saddle? Saddle rails aren't parallel along their entire length and installing the saddle at one or the other extreme can make the rails too close or too far apart to match the seatpost.

I've got a Thompson "set back" post on one bike and the Avocet's saddle rails match up just fine.

thomson has their grooves cut to the correct width.
but as you've found out, there's more than one rail width.

selle italia is one offender that makes their saddle rails to another spec.

As to the position of the saddle, I tried sliding it back and fowards, there was no location along the rails that seemed to fit.

Saddles tried... Selle Royal (this is the one I really want on there because it's the saddle my butt likes the best) ; Cannondale stock saddle that was laying around ; and a Fuji stock saddle that was equally lying around. The Fuji came the closest to fitting, but since it is a narrow little men's saddle, I can't really use it.