cohophysh

Hey gang,
Do any of you use carbon seat post...and I am not talking to the skinnies of this group like Beanz I am talking about us near (and just under) 300 lbs big boys.
Thanks
B

B.S.

Short Answer: No

I can't trust a material that come with UV light and weight limitations, or carries an expected lifespan of 1-3 years. Stabbing myself in the rear with a 30mm CF needle just doesn't appeal to me.

Thomson all the way!

This might not make people happy, but if you're borderline 300 lbs like me, quibbling over grams on components seems a little silly...

However, if the intent is to reduce road vibration, there are much better alternatives.

Saint1970

I am 285# and everything on my bike is carbon except for the seatpost-- I don't think the difference is worth the risk. If you do go carbon I have heard the Easton EC90 is a good one

mkadam68

I used a carbon post for almost 3 years and about 20,000 miles. It did finally break, but that was my fault as I had over-tightened the clamp.

When it did break, it didn't snap off and stab me up the posterior. The fibers aren't aligned that way. It kinda slowly gave out, so I could feel it moving around under me. When I finally looked at it, I could see it breaking. Plenty of time.

bbeck

My2008 Sequoia Elite came with a Specialized carbon post. I never have thought much about it. I have almost 1000 miles on it from time of purchase and was 350 or so pounds then. I'm down to 315 now with no intension's of changing it out.

dbikingman

I'm going along with the group on this. I have a carbon seat post, it came with the bike. It hasn't given me any problems. I wouldn't spend extra to get carbon, but since I have it I have left it there. I can't say if there is a difference because I haven't ridden this particular bike without the carbon post. I agree I would look at tires if my concern was to get a smoother ride rather than at a carbon seat post, especially for a clyde.

fc_

I don't, even at my current weight, which is well below the clydesdale classification for weight these days (and proud of it! ), and having heard of a club member suffering a catastrophic failure with a carbon fiber fork this past week during a ride(not a clyde), its unlikely that my position of avoiding carbon fiber bike parts will change in the foreseeable future (ok, maybe a cf water bottle cage would be acceptable)

socalrider

Why bother with carbon when there are plenty of lightweight aluminum posts, like Thomson - Weight - 197g for 250mm, 237g for 330mm

So you may save 20-30 grams going carbon, less than 1 ounce..

IAmCosmo

If you are posting in this section of the forum, the weight of components doesn't make any difference. If you are over 200 lbs., a few ounces (or even a pound) on your bike will make no difference.

That said, I have crbon posts on all my bikes (they came with them). I have no problem trusting them. Carbon bars, on the other hand...

cohophysh

This was strictly a question...I really don't care about saving weight or smoothing out a ride...just pure curiosity

Mr. Beanz

Me, skinny? I'm just a few less than 300 myself!...... 4 years on my stock Bontrager, over 20,000 miles and no problems, but never crashed it.

I do know a skinny lady that snapped one, but that was after a crash. Some of the snapping cf claims are after crashes or drops. Some just don't post all the details , or don't want to admit them for warranty puposes.

CliftonGK1

No torque wrench in my toolbox == no carbon parts on my bike.

jgjulio

bbeck my 2009 Sequoia Elite has what looks like a carbon seat post but it really is an aluminum seat post wrapped with a thin layer of something that looks like carbon. Take a look at yours ...

Herbie53

+1 to that. Until you get up to the more spendy ones the Thompson post is probably lighter and works really well (you never need to think about it).

I do think a light bike is a good thing, even if you're a Clyde. It helps in my head when starting a climb if nothing else.

irclean

Just curious - what are some of the alternatives? I have a suspension seat post on my bike; I adjusted it to zero travel for the sake of my knees and now I'm looking to replace it. My bike has an aluminum frame and I run 35mm tires. I would love to use a seat post that reduces vibration.

PlatyPius

I have carbon posts on some of my bikes. Only thing I refuse to own is a carbon handlebar.

(306lbs at the moment)

spthealien

I have a carbon post (I can't change it out--it's an aero type on my Giant Defy Advanced) and I push about 260 with the spandex on. It seems pretty nice. It feels pretty solid. Just make sure you don't over-tighten.

deep_sky

While I am just borderline Athena at 180, I have had no problems with carbon seatposts other than the fact that if you are not a twig, them single bolt clamps (such as is found on the bontrager race x lite) are not enough no matter how much of your back you put into it. Replaced it with a 3t doric, and no problems once I got the saddle alignment all dialed in (the clamping mechanism makes it a bit tricky).

bbeck

i did and its full carbon i think they used wrapped in 09 and looks like they did away with the sequoia all together in 2010

cod.peace

lol, good line. I think the only carbon on my bike is on the X.0 derailleur. Then again, at a hefty 37 lbs, it'd take more than a few carbon bits to make a noticeable difference in the weight!

professorbob

I remember a couple of years back watching the Tour de France and seeing someone (I think Jens Voight) riding around Paris with no seat and a dagger pointed at his privates. I also remember seeing George Hincappie snap his CF stem in Paris/Robaix. That was enough to scare me.

cyclist2000

I have one bike with a cf seat post, but I prefer an aluminum seat post so I can clamp a seatpost rack on it, can't do that with a CF seat post same with stem and bars I like clip on aero bars or a front bag, these don't clamp to cf parts.

evblazer

I have a carbon seatpost on my road bike. The seat clamp on the old aluminum one gave out and the carbon is all my LBS had that fit my seat tube. I was nervous at first about it but I'd rather a carbon seat post break then say a carbon frame break.
I'm just under 300 apparantly for the long run.

CliftonGK1

How bad are your roads that a 35mm tire isn't soaking everything up like a sponge? I ride 28mm tires and an unpadded leather saddle on one of my bikes with aluminum bars and unpadded cloth bar tape, and only have vibration issues on the worst of chip-sealed roads.