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Seatpost clamp and saddle rail compatibility question

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Old 03-22-23 | 08:52 PM
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Seatpost clamp and saddle rail compatibility question

Hi all. Am looking at this saddle, which includes this line in the product description: "Oversized carbon rails for lightweight strength (specific seat post ear clamps required)." I believe the rails are 7x10mm.

Would be using the saddle with this seatpost, which includes this line in the product description: "and the clamp works with all saddle rail types." I have used this seatpost with 7x9 carbon rails, but not 7x10.

Opinions and experiences welcome. I know that I can just stick the saddle on the post and try it -- but, as with all things carbon fiber, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and all of that.
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Old 03-22-23 | 09:11 PM
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I would contact Zipp or Bontager if they have approved seatposts that can fit those rails. 1mm over the recommended max is a pretty big difference and you don't want to risk crushing the rails.
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Old 03-22-23 | 09:59 PM
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Different rails are different vertically. That seatpost clamps vertically, so it doesn't care about a few extra millimeters. Those clamp screws need to be extra long to be able to also change saddle angle.

Side clamping seatposts are the ones that need specific insert for different side-height rails. They are dumb.
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Old 03-22-23 | 10:49 PM
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Enve packs two different fittings with their seatpost; one for the normal sized rails and one for the carbon rail size. So I suspect it is the same with other manufacturers, or at least some will sell you the modified fitting.

I got the Enve side clamp one and although Kontact thinks it is dumb, it is a vast improvement over the other kind for micro-adjusting tilt etc.
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Old 03-23-23 | 06:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Polaris OBark
Enve packs two different fittings with their seatpost; one for the normal sized rails and one for the carbon rail size. So I suspect it is the same with other manufacturers, or at least some will sell you the modified fitting.

I got the Enve side clamp one and although Kontact thinks it is dumb, it is a vast improvement over the other kind for micro-adjusting tilt etc.
What's wrong with the two bolt Zipp stem for microadjusting vs the two bolt Enve system? You have to loosen one, tighten the other in both cases. But with the Enve you have to disassemble it to get the full angle range and you have different side plates for different rails, while the Zipp does both as is.
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Old 03-23-23 | 06:30 AM
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PSA: Miche Super Type will not accommodate other than round rails. Probably a contributing reason why it is no longer available.
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Old 03-23-23 | 10:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Crankycrank
I would contact Zipp or Bontager if they have approved seatposts that can fit those rails. 1mm over the recommended max is a pretty big difference and you don't want to risk crushing the rails.
Good idea! Called Zipp, and a human being answered(!) He says it is fine.

Originally Posted by Polaris OBark
I got the Enve side clamp one and although Kontact thinks it is dumb, it is a vast improvement over the other kind for micro-adjusting tilt etc.
Might be worth a try, then. The Zipp two-bolt head is rock-solid once it's all set up, but it's a ***** to set up. Hard to adjust the tilt and still have both bolts set at the torque spec. I once asked a mechanic if there's a trick to it...He laughed and said, "That's at least a two-beer job." Salsa used to sell a seatpost called "Shaft" which was a standard top clamp with a separate hex bolt that allowed easy tilt adjustment. It was pure genius: a tad heavier than a standard seatpost, but well worth it.
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