Odd seatpost sizes...
 

Ive got a 93 Bridgestone XO-5 that ive been fixing up, but i cannot find a seatpost anywhere that will fit it. it takes a 26.2 seatpost; the only people who make one that size seems to be Kalloy. Unfortunately, the original seatpost is a Kalloy and its complete crap. anyone know where a new post can be had? thanks.

seatpost
 

i'll say that is a strange size for that bike. i have a '93 XO-3 and it takes a 27.0 seat post and the original was a Kalloy #242 and according to the '93 catalogue the x0-4 and XO- took the same post. check out this link:

file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/terry/My%20Documents/bridgestone%20xo-3/64%20copy.htm

correction
 

that size is 26.2, NOT 22.6. im apparently not paying attention to this, or the work im supposed to be doing now... the kalloy #242 was stock on the XO-5 also, but the Kalloy on mine is 26.2 (i assume that it is the stock post because it was just as dirty as the rest of the bike when i started)... wouldnt that be too small to fit in a 27.0-specific tube and bend the frame when you tighten it? if not that would make things much easier.

seatpost
 

it sounds as if whoever had it before you used the 26.2 to make it easier. i would try to find a 27.o and spread the opening abit and try to fit the 27.o. the seatpost might just be cinched in at the top. of course with all things of this nature use a little grease:) kalloy 27.0 posts are pretty easy to come by and reasonable enough. i think i paid 19.00CDN for mine a couple of years ago.

thanks for the advice... im looking to get someting a bit flashier then kalloy, this should give me some options.

Unfortunately for you, 26.2 is the same size for Cinelli frames and they are willing to spend money on that relatively rare size. I bought a Campagnolo 26.4 and had it machined down to 26.2 and spent less than I would have on a 26.2. I also bought a 26.2 chrome steel domed top post for $6 off of ebay. Just be patient, they will come.

seatpost
 

if you want to go flashier i would start by using a cheap used 27'0 to get everything where it should be and then replace it with the flashier one. saves getting the good one all marked up.:)

uh oh. I was looking for 26.2 too and just ordered this one. So, it's gonna be crap?:eek:

I've never had any problems with Kalloy.

Nah. That's a good seatpost, and has a long enough pedigree that it even works on most vintage lightweights. It just is probably not the right one. Look to see if the little ears that the binder bolt passes through are squished-looking. The outsides should be very parallel to the direction that the bike will be going...

I'm not following you. Why is it not the right one?

Me neither. I've had some decent Kalloy bars and seat posts.Might be crap because it's worn out?,,,,BD

seatpost
 

as far as sizing goes you are best to stick with the spec'd size, in this case the 27.0

I think that your frame came spec'ed with a 27.0 seatpost...and some hamfisted mechanic squoshed in a 26.2 and squeezed the clamp down too tightly, deforming the clamp. The problem with this is that the post is only held up by the metal that is squished...meaning that a big bump will probably cause the post to get shorter in the frame. Because the bike is steel, you can bend it back to rights, though.

nothing wrong with Kalloy, and only old campy seatpost in 26.2 are sought after. I happen to have one but it is sort of beat up and no one wants it.

There are several NIB Campy Xeneon MTB seatposts on ebay in 26.2mm. Price is steep though. Good luck

Tim

+1

Got the seatpost. It's fine, just not fluted like I thought I was ordering.

Grease the new seatpost and tube? Yes or no? (with what?) Do it cause your seat to slip?

seatpost
 

i always put a little grease on the seatpost. if it is tight enough it won't slip. i also like the plain post better than the fluted ones. if the seatpost happens to be at a height where the flutes are a bit inside the downtube it allows water/moisture to get in. also you can get any multi-purpose grease at a hardware store, a tub of it is pretty cheap. oh by the way what bike is your seat post for? hopefully you did not get a 26.2 for a bike that is spec'd for 27.0

YES, definitely grease the seatpost. Actually, I usually grease the inside of the seat tube. You're lessening the chance of galvanic corrosion (chemical process that bonds aluminum to steel), and you're making a watertight seal at the top of the seat tube to keep water from getting into the frame and bottom bracket. Use any old grease for this (auto, bike, whatever). As long as the seatpost is the right diameter and you secure it properly, it won't slip because of the grease.

Hard to find? Here are 7 to choose from, cheap!

http://www.niagaracycle.com/advanced...s=26.2&x=0&y=0

+2 for Kalloy.
There's nothing wrong with their stuff. They make low end and high end product.
Actually they OEM for a lot of other companies. (cough, cough Cannondale).

The seatpost is for a 1985 Raleigh Marathon. I'm thinking it was the original seatpost on the bike, just too short. The LBS measured it and said it was a 26.2. It seems to work fine. Do you suppose I really needed 27?

http://retroraleighs.com/catalogs/19...-marathon.html

In the world of seatpost sizing, there's a HUGE difference between a 26.2mm post and a 27.0mm. Since you say the 26.2 works fine, and on top of that the LBS measured and got 26.2, then that's the right size.

seatpost size
 

i would tend to disagree with 'well biked' on this point. if as stated previously the top part was squashed in by an incompetent it would be hard to measure the correct size and given that the 26.2 fits doesn't mean it is the correct one at this point. i couldn't find the specs for the raleigh marathon but at sheldon brown's seatpost data base there are many sizes for raleigh's and only two i think are 26.2. i think some more research is needed because you don't want a seatpost sitting in there that is too small and only pinched at the top. i think the closest would be the 'olympian' 1985 at 26.6. it was in the same group as the marathon.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/seatpost-sizes-m-z.html#r