youknowimright

I've got an older french frame. I'm looking for a setback seatpost. Does anyone know of any good sources?

Grand Bois

Ebay. That's where mine came from.

tatfiend 

My LBS ordered me a Kalloy in that diameter. I have also seen them on Amazon.

Grand Bois

A french bike should have a Simplex. The 70's posts have become very expensive. but they made some nice posts in the 80's that you can still get fairly cheap.

T-Mar

Yes, my supplier lists the Kalloy in 26.4mm. It should be available through most LBS. Only 12.00 US last year. They also list a gneric,$9.00 US post. I haven't got the 2009 catalog yet.

scozim 

I just bought a 26.4 Kalloy via Niagra Cycles for $16 plus shipping to put on my son's Raleigh.

abarth

There are a few on ebay right now. Why buy new when vintage are readily available?

T-Mar

Well, we don't know the OP's criteria. If he's not concerned about originality and wants sometimes inexpensive, Ebay is not the way to go. The vintage posts on Ebay are substantially more expensive than buying through an LBS and the history and condition is always questionable. At least with an LBS you know it's new and can look it over, before you buy.

Charles Wahl

if searching on eBay for a French mfgr/size, one should also use (26.4, 26.4mm) (seatpost, "seat post", seatpin, "seat pin", "tige de selle") and turn on the "worldwide" option.

Grand Bois

I wouldn't have a Kalloy on any of my vintage French bikes.

scozim 

For me it was speed and convenience. I needed the post for my son's Raleigh to get him back on it and didn't want to wait to bid and take a chance on not winning, etc. I had already put on Tektro aero levers so it's not like it was completely vintage.

All depends on the goals for the bike - I keep the original parts, but I also ride all my C&V bikes and sometimes need convenience over "period" parts.

youknowimright

Dirtdrop, The pic of your green bike w/the B-17 is exactly the set up I'm looking for. I've got a simplex on there now (no set back) w/a Brooks Pro and can't quite move the saddle back far enough. I just really don't like ebay. I was wondering if anyone knew of a site/store. I know of a couple, but they don't carry what I want.

As far a new vs vintage, well... I'd rather have vintage. NOS would be perfect. I love this bike (panasonic team color scheme), but it is only an '85 peugeot.

unworthy1

one of mine goes in a different direction: I found a straight Thomson in 26.4 at a very good price so, it's not vintage but I'm happy with it...I know they make a really cranked-back version but not sure it that one comes in 26.4 (plus it would look very strange unless you really need that much set-back to ride)

youknowimright

It's not too bad now, It's just not right. I'm picky about position.

Grand Bois

I don't understand your statement that your Simplex has no setback. I recall an article in the Rivendell reader with illustrations showing that the old Simplex posts had more setback than other posts. If your bike is French and it takes a 26.4 seatpost, you have a butted Reynolds 531 frame. It deserves better than a Kalloy and a Thomson would just be wrong. Maybe the bike just doesn't fit you?

You don't like eBay? If I couldn't use eBay to hunt for parts, I'd have to get another hobby.

T-Mar

Not everything inexpensive is bad. I had a Kalloy on my ATB and it withstood for seasons of racing and hard core trail riding, before the rest of the bicycle wore out.

ginsoakedboy

The setback on the Thomson post really just looks dramatic because it is accomplished by angling the post itself. In reality, the total amount of setback is about the same as the ones where the setback is accomplished at the clamp.

Nice suggestions from Charles Wahl on alternate search terms to get you hits outside the US where the 26.4 size might be more prevalent.

I have a nice Sakae, '80's vintage, sitting in my spare parts bin. It came off a touring bike, so for some reason the clamp is a beast of a thing, and I'm not sure whether it has any greater setback than the one pictured. It also isn't terribly long. That being said, if you want to check it out, PM me.

Grand Bois

I don't think I said that vintage seatposts last longer. I just think that a modern post looks out of place on a vintage high end French bike.

A Brooks or Ideale clamp and aluminum post is a cheaper alternative that looks right on anything mid 70's or older.

SingeDebile

.....and thus the mixed blessing of having a steel simplex seatpost (with the riveted headbadge), did I really need to add a pound to my bike... nope, but the seatpost is impossibly pretty.

youknowimright

Not like the one in your pic. I'm looking for a bit more. Bike fit was perfect, before I put the Brooks on. Like I wrote, it's close, I'm just picky.

Grand Bois

I'm not talking about the one on my Gitane. I'm talking about the early ones. I still say the bike may not fit you if you need that much setback.

youknowimright

I'm only talking ~5-7mm further back. 10mm would be way too much. I could probably push the saddle back far enough, but I'm afraid the rails would push the leather out? Maybe not. I'll have to check further.

When I wrote "not like the one in your pic", I meant the one I have is not like that one. If I had that one, I be fine.