spinner5339

I ride Kalloy Seat post on both my MTB and road bike and is looking for a carbon seat post for the aluminium road bike.
What are the benefits if any of carbon seat post?

Chuvak

Less weight and more shock obsorbshion.

Davet

It lightens your wallet considerably! I've had more than a few carbon posts, and have found no discernable benefit, other than perhaps looks or the cool factor.

" Less weight and more shock obsorbshion." There are good aluminum posts that weigh less than some carbon posts. Shock absorbtion?... not that my butt dould feel. Plus some carbon posts from supposedly reputable manufacturers (Campy comes to mind) have a reputation for breaking as well as being expensive.

You want light as well as strong? Look at some good Ti posts.

Chuvak

I guess we have different experiences. Next time speak for yourself

SipperPhoto

As far as ride quality, I can't really tell you... but I bought an AL Bontrager Race Lite Seatpost today... It was sitting next to a Carbon Fiber post... They weighted about the same to me... the CF post was $135, the AL post I bought was $19...

... now the Handlebars is where I feel the big difference in weight :-)

Jeff

Kev

As far as strength, some are extremely light like the USE CF seatpost, which won't be as strong.. but there are some that are stronger. For example take a look at Easton's different CF handlebars they make 3 different versions for MTB, since some want a real light bar, others want a slightly heavier stronger bar. Ti would give you about the same characteristics and they are in the same price range.

Cipher

I would have to agree with everything you have said about CF seat posts Dave. I saw no discernible improvement in ride quality w/a CF seat post over Aluminum... I'd save the money!

Davet

I did speak for myself, and no one else. I merely quoted what you stated. You gave no explanation of any experience that you had with carbon seatposts, so take a chill pill.

Kev

One big factor if you notice a difference will be the amount of post exposed.. if you have very little you will notice nothing, same with titanium. I just got a carbon seatpost for my old road bike, I wanted a Ti or Carbon since I have noticed a difference, I went with Carbon since I could find correct size in CF (try finding a 26.6 seat post). Anotehr big difference will be the saddle you use, the rails on the saddle can also absorb some road vibration.

Chuvak

What part of "Less weight and more shock absorption." needs more explanation?

Davet

According to whom? What you are doing is throwing out a blanket statement, with no qualifying experience or opinions.

I have had four carbon seatposts (three of which I have sold), three Ti seatposts (all of which I still have), and three aluminum seatposts (which I still have). The only carbon 'post' that I still own is attached to my SoftRide, because it's sort of necessary. It is my opinion there is very little, if any difference in the feel of the seatposts I have owned. It is my opinion that carbon seatposts are not worth the dollars spent, either to reduce weight, to improve the ride qualities of the bike or both. There are other posts, made from other materials, aluminum and Ti are two, that can achieve the same results and a greater cost cost saving.

All that said, it is also my opinion that carbon posts are some the the best looking, sexiest seatposts on the planet. And if that's why you want one, go for it! There's nothing wrong with that.

spinner5339

thanks a lot for all your input. Looks like the carbon seat post will be on hold for a while.

Walter

".....that carbon posts are some the the best looking, sexiest seatposts on the planet. "

Good looking? OK I can see that but sexy? If my wife heard me describe a seatpost that way we'd have issues. (just joking around..)

Davet

Walter: I very sure you wife is sexy, and please tell her I said so. But as far as seatposts go, carbon is sexy, in a seatpost way you understand,.......well, nevermind...........oh man, I am getting in trouble with this one!

SipperPhoto

Carbon is waaaaaay sexy.. especially when mixed with Titanium in a frame... if you doubt me on this.. go to Merlin;s website, and gaze in awe at the Merlin Cielo... that bike is a work of art suitable for framing and being hung in a museum...

Jeff

mnppunky

Here is my opinion of a carbon seatpost: I currently ride a LEMOND steel frame which came stock with an aluminum seatpost.Steel frames are known for their nice ride qualities so I thought that the aluminum post contradicted the ride quality of my steel frame. Last week I did some shopping on e-bay and purchased a new carbon post made by KALLOY FOR $41.00. I installed it on my bike and rode with on sat. & sun. "" voila"" it seemed like I was riding a different bike both days, maybe it was psyche maybe not , but it felt like the carbon post took out some of the road vibration i was feeling with the al. post. I think that the $41.00 I spent was well worth it!!!