should i replace my steel seatpost with an aluminum one?
09-07-16, 08:44 AM
#1
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 69
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
should i replace my steel seatpost with an aluminum one?
i have an old steel frame bike, currently it has a steel seat post. should i replace it with an alu one? i am afraid the alu one won't be as strong as a steel one, is that right? i am planning to get the cheapest alu post, something like this: https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5021-4...lloy-Seat-Post
and how much weight will i save if i switch over to an alu seatpost?
and how much weight will i save if i switch over to an alu seatpost?
09-07-16, 08:49 AM
#2
Banned
Got a scale to weigh things to the fraction of a gram?
why worry about 6 Oz or so?
there are many alloys of aluminum
though less dense per cubic CM , it is common to use a thicker wall in the shaft of the seat post to make it as strong.
Do you know to the tenth of a MM how big a seat post you need? & How long an extension is it
how much do you weigh and how much are you willing to Spend?
./.
why worry about 6 Oz or so?
there are many alloys of aluminum
though less dense per cubic CM , it is common to use a thicker wall in the shaft of the seat post to make it as strong.
Do you know to the tenth of a MM how big a seat post you need? & How long an extension is it
how much do you weigh and how much are you willing to Spend?
./.
Last edited by fietsbob; 09-07-16 at 08:55 AM.
09-07-16, 08:51 AM
#3
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,614
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10964 Post(s)
Liked 7,491 Times
in
4,189 Posts
The seatpost you linked weighs 350g. Weigh your steel seatpost and clamp. Subtract 350g from what yours weights. Thats how much weight you will save.
Aluminum seatposts arent weaker. Please apply a thin layer of grease to the seatpost/inside of seat tube before using the new seatpost. This will help ensure it doesnt get stuck and also help keep water out of the seatpost.
Aluminum seatposts arent weaker. Please apply a thin layer of grease to the seatpost/inside of seat tube before using the new seatpost. This will help ensure it doesnt get stuck and also help keep water out of the seatpost.
09-07-16, 10:55 AM
#4
Mechanic/Tourist
My advice is don't bother. The minor weight savings are not going to make you faster. You've already lost speed by focusing on this instead of riding.
Last edited by cny-bikeman; 09-07-16 at 11:12 AM.
09-07-16, 03:44 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,522
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1422 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
5 Posts
Steel posts usually have clamp brackets with indexed teeth that are large increments apart.
09-07-16, 03:51 PM
#8
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26423 Post(s)
Liked 10,380 Times
in
7,208 Posts
...+1 to this ^^^. I don't know MEC, but Kalloy has been making very good posts that are not glamorous but cheap for many years now. They work well, and are probably about the same cost on amazon.
09-07-16, 06:32 PM
#9
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
+2. Who cares if you end up going faster or slower when you can do away with those miserable clamp brackets?
09-08-16, 07:02 AM
#11
Mechanic/Tourist
That is true and I could have mentioned that aspect, but the OP did not say he was dissatisfied with anything but weight.
09-08-16, 07:06 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Cabot, Arkansas
Posts: 1,538
Bikes: Lynskey Twisted Helix Di2 Ti, 1987 Orbea steel single speed/fixie, Orbea Avant M30, Trek Fuel EX9.8 29, Trek Madone 5 series, Specialized Epic Carbon Comp 29er, Trek 7.1F
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Galvanic Corrosion
09-08-16, 07:29 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
Depends. What's the dominate side of your brain?
Left brain people are logical but they can be boring. Honestly, you won't save enough weight with a seatpost change to feel any difference. If you were having an actual problem with your existing seatpost you wouldn't need to ask the question. If you are a left brain person, the answer is clearly "No."
Right brain people are more artistic. They tend to do a lot of things just for the hell of it. They are fun to be with if you can tolerate the goofiness. If you are a right brain person and you want to make your bike more beautiful or just want to buy your bike a present to show your gratitude, I say go for it. Your steel seatpost should have the size stamped on it near the bottom. Be sure to get that exact size.
Now the question becomes - which type of person do you want others to think that you are?
Left brain people are logical but they can be boring. Honestly, you won't save enough weight with a seatpost change to feel any difference. If you were having an actual problem with your existing seatpost you wouldn't need to ask the question. If you are a left brain person, the answer is clearly "No."
Right brain people are more artistic. They tend to do a lot of things just for the hell of it. They are fun to be with if you can tolerate the goofiness. If you are a right brain person and you want to make your bike more beautiful or just want to buy your bike a present to show your gratitude, I say go for it. Your steel seatpost should have the size stamped on it near the bottom. Be sure to get that exact size.
Now the question becomes - which type of person do you want others to think that you are?
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
09-08-16, 08:56 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: NW Oregon
Posts: 2,975
Bikes: !982 Trek 930R Custom, Diamondback ascent with SERIOUS updates, Fuji Team Pro CF and a '09 Comencal Meta 5.5
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Liked 739 Times
in
534 Posts
you will not only save some weight by replacing with the aluminum post, you will lose the ENTIRE WEIGHT of those terrible steel seat clamp setups(160 grams, just weighed one)!. Do the swap, it's worth it, as the weight you will save is from up high on the bike, which makes it very noticeable! The bike WILL feel lighter, and BE lighter! find a lighter seat, too... what the heck! I've not personally ever seen one of the Aluminum ones like you linked fail. And that linked one has an aluminum clamp assembly, too, so it's a fairly light one... they are about 15 to 20 bucks on Ebay, sometimes cheaper, especially after the summer biking season...
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
seanpatrick76
Classic & Vintage
13
08-16-15 06:47 PM
E_is_Chill
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
14
05-02-13 12:48 PM
