Originally Posted by
FBinNY
It sounds like the aligned slots of the clamp and seat tube are allowing the corners to dig in at the back of the post (where the maximum compression stress is anyway). This used to be a significan problem with thin carbon posts, and would often lead to post failure.
Try reversing the clamp so the clamp's slot is in front, while the frames, is in back. The non slotted part of the clamp and frame tube then support each other across their respective slots maintaining a uniform compression without corners digging in.
To make this work the clamp has to be greased well on the inside (outside of the seat tube) so the clamp and tube can slide over each other as they're tightened onto the post. This will give you a more uniform hold and may also solve the creaking, but at the very least will reduce the chances of buckling the post because of local stress.
One other note --- the corners digging in is often an indicator of a slightly loose (within the tolerance of a correct post) fit, and that may be the cause of your creaking. Ideally a post should be a snug running fit within the frame, such that you may need to twist slightly to move it up or down. If yours is easy to slip up and down, the fit is a bit loose. Sometimes you can solve this with a different brand post made closer to the high limit of the working tolerance.
Still crossing my fingers until I get a new post but that sound exactly what is happening because there are rub marks on the post where the corners may be digging in and there are rub marks on the seat clamp where the corners may be digging in. At the dented part of the seatpost, it is not a good fit at all, there is almost no resistance at the dented part. Looks like my wieght on the seat and caused the corners to push on the seatpost causing it to dent and deform.
At the very top of the seatpost and at the very bottom, it is indeed a tight fit meaning I have to push/pull and twist to remove/fit which is how it should be as you said
I'm going to get a new clamp which is deigned to to disperse the stress around the entire collar and grease it how you said.
Hopefully, I think that I set my seat too high and the faulty and/or cheap post couldn't take the leverage on the back with my weight on the seat. I set my seat so my legs are only slightly bent when the pedal is at the lowest point, I'm 6ft so you can imagine how high the seat might have been; although the post was still set in the frame well within the minimum insert amount.
Are Easton EA30 seatpsots known for being crap or failing ? It came as stock.
Hopefully this is the cause, hopefully. Will report back.