Originally Posted by cavernmech
GOLD Jerry...GOLD!
As for the seatpost. What is it made of..steel or alu? Tap the seattube with a screwdriver and try to determine how deep the post is in the frame....the tone will dull as you move up the tube. If it is Alu remove the B.B. and squirt some ammonia down the seattube. This may free it up. If it is at a height close to where you need it, remove the binder bolt and spray it religiously with a Liquid Wrench type product and keep riding it....at some point it will move on its own. If it is steel some heat may help free it up. Last resort is cutting it out. I have become an expert at this particular task.
I used the time honoured traditional way to get it out. Gently pry the seat clamp with a screwdriver, a little wd40, vice grips around the tube and them smacked the crap out of it with a hammer. Gone in 60 seconds. Now to see if I have a seat tube that fits.