Originally Posted by
guy153
Almost every commercial bike I've owned suffered from the seat post slipping down. I didn't know about carbon paste and ended up using things like linseed oil (which goes sticky). Then I started making my own frames a few years ago. Zero slippage, just using regular grease, and modest torque on the binder bolt. I wonder if mass-manufacturers aren't reaming their seat tubes. A seat-tube should come with the ID slightly undersized and then be reamed after brazing/welding so that the seatpost fits perfectly and is gripped evenly all the way around (some people hone them as well although I don't bother). But I'm surprised you had problems on a Rivendell because I thought they were low-volume and hand-made to a high standard.
I would be curious to know what frames and how you were installing things and your weight and riding style and so many other factors.
Being a larger rider and having various different bikes from various different frame manufacturers I haven't yet had a seat post slip and pretty much all of them are using either grease or anti-seize (though one years ago did have a carbon wrapped post so I used carbon paste) Nothing special no crazy mods or anything, a bunch of different clamps or bolts (for some of the vintage frames)
Not saying seat post slipping cannot happen I have seen it but usually not all the bikes from a single person and probably most of them have been QR or on a BSO.