mht7159

Out on a easy recovery ride with my wife and 3 miles in and suddenly I hear a cracking sound and feel my seat start to fall back thankfully we were only going 7-8 mph at the time with no traffic, I was able to find all the pieces and ride back the 3 miles standing up so thankful this didn't happen yesterday on my 44 mile ride.

RonH

Glad you're ok. Sounds like you'll be making a trip to the hardware store or bike shop.

oilman_15106

I had to ride 18 miles standing up on a group ride due to a seatpost bolt issue. No fun at all.

John E

This is why a torque wrench is a good idea.

Fortunately, I have never experienced seat binder bolt failure on the road, but I do recall young bicycle mechanics snapping bolts periodically, much to the boss's chagrin.

qcpmsame 

+1, so simple to use and so neglected.

Bill

mht7159

When the bolt broke I couldn't find one of the parts for my old original sr laprade seatpost so I broke down and replaced at my LBS Pedal Power the owner Chuck set me up with nice new one with 2 bolts instead of one. the new one doesn't have the same set back as the old style.

jimmuller 

Pardon me, but what good is a torque wrench (I have two) if you don't have a torque-to spec? Do you know the spec for a binder bolt? Ah. Of course, it's "until the seatpost doesn't move".

OP, just go to your LBS and get another. Trivial fix, fortunately.

(I've never heard of one breaking. I have had the threads bind up to where I had to cut it out with a hacksaw blade, but that another story.)

NOS88

Before I started using a torque wrench I had three bolts break on me. Well, actually one was a failure of the braze-on that the bolt went through. On really long rides I carry a spare in the under-saddle bag I carry my patch kit and tube in. I also now carry the Ritchey 5Nm multi torque wrench in my under-saddle bag to. I’ve compared it to my larger (much more expensive) torque wrench and it seems to be quite accurate. It was one of the best $20 investments I’ve made, in terms of tools.
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...400155__400155

leob1

On my new bike, the torque spec is printed on the stem and seat post collar. Also it's easy to find on the component manufacturer web sites.

jimmuller 

Ah. Emphasis on the word "new". In the old days no one every used torque specs.

fietsbob

So It's the bolt that holds the saddle to the seat post , that broke

not the frame bolt holding the seat post at the Height needed.

Might be a good time to consider a new seat post if you cannot find the perfect bolt to fit.

might be a post used in the original parts pick chosen for lowest cost , so marginal in the 1st place..




By the way Torque wrenches answer the question How tight? with a specific standardized Number.

jimmuller 

FYI, the term binder bolt is usually used for the bolt, a double-hex-wrench thingy on modern bikes, which sets the seat post height in the seat tube. The bolt on the seat post is usually referred to as the seat clamp bolt or something similar.

I've never seen a clamp bolt break but anything is possible. What kind of seat post and clamp would it be? An integrated post and clamp or a separate straight post with a lateral bolt, nut on each side, holding a set of flanges on each side?

fietsbob

Old LaPrade posts seem to have a soft aluminum pair of pieces holding the saddle rails ,
as they bend the saddle feels looser so people crank on the bolt more , until it breaks.

mht7159

My mistake it was not the seatpost binder bolt that broke but the bolt that clamps the rails to the seatpost, I hadn't touched that bolt since i replaced my seat at least 5 years ago.