Seat post question
 

I've got my seat as far back as possible on the stock post (redline 925).

I thought I saw a bike that had a seat post with curve/bend to it (effectively placing the saddle further back.)

Anybody know of these types of posts... comments.... reviews.... suggestions.... ?

I know they're out there, I was considering using one on a mountain bike to change the fit. The one consideration on a road type frame is that it will change your riding position by effectively moving the bottom bracket further forward, changing the muscles you use (i.e. more hamstring, less glute/quad). Changing riding positions like this is referred to as "getting your legs", and takes some adjustment getting used to using new muscles. I'd consider changing the fit with a longer stem, instead, providing the same increased reach up top, but keeping your hips over the bottom bracket like they are now.

A couple I've come across are the Thomson Elite setback seatposts and the Titec El Norte. I was investigating them to adjust my fit as well (got the seat right back), but decided to go with a longer straight seatpost, as legot73 says, with maybe a bit of layback.

I have a Thompson Elite setback post on my road bike. Very nice, but a little pricey at $86.00 list. I found mine on sale at www.blueskycycling.com for $59.00 last winter.

I'm running setback posts on all of my bikes. 3 have Thomsons. I bought one new and the other two used for much less. They are great posts.

strong
great range of adjustment
solid clamp
reasonably light
attractive
made in USA

On bike #4 I'm using a Salsa Shaft, which I got a good deal on used. It has slightly more setback which is nice for my Brooks Swift which has shorter rails. The cam tilt adjustment feature is kind of cool and allows for quick and very minute adjustments, but it's also ugly and heavier.

if you need a seat post with serious set back, chances are your frame is too small and/or the seat tube angle too steep. is it a sub 54 cm road frame or a 15 inch or smaller hybrid? anyway, that being said, if it is either of those, ie a small frame, you'll probably never get enough set back even with a set back post. frames like those have super steep angles resulting in too forward a riding position. then only solution is a smaller wheeled bike. 700c wheels are overrated by those who use them.

What's a 'typical' range of seat tube angles?

I have a Titec, although when I bought it, it was called the Hellbent. It has lots of setback but it also puts lots of strain on the seat tube/top tube junction. My bike had an extended seat tube (about 1.5" higher than the top tube) and it broke because of the extra stress. And this bike wasn't one that I rode hard. No jumps or off-roading, just riding back and forth to work.

Probably not a good idea unless you have a stout frame.

58cm. i was just curious about the seatposts i saw that seemed to give more variety of back adjustment.

Not sure what the intent of this post is. I think I understand what the poster is alluding to, but to make these statements without regard to the size person or the desired use of the bike (racing, touring, track, etc)... I don't see the utility in such generalizations. Especially the 700c comments; if the intent is that geometry on very small frames could be improved with smaller wheels, that is fine... but simply stating that 700c's are overrated without justification could certainly confuse people.

Is there a particular fit problem you are trying to address? Or you were just curious what they were and how they worked?

not a particular fit problem that i'm struggling with.....but due to the fact that my seat is as far back as possible with no room for further adjustments, I couldn't help but wonder (when i saw one of those curved seat posts) if further adjustment could be beneficial.

I have an Easton set back post on my road bike and the saddle is pushed as far back as I can get it (same situation with my commuter bike). The bike isn't too small for me. I just happen to have long legs especially the femurs. If you can afford a Thomson setback post then get it; they are the gold standard. The Easton is a very good post for the money.

I have a 54cm Specialized Sequoia (my all weather road bike, and sometimes commuter) which due to it's "comfort" nature, uses a steep seat tube to bring the rider closer to the handlebars and consequently towards the bottom bracket. For long rides, my knees don't like that position so i used a set back seatpost to bring the geometry more in line with a typical road bike geometry. On a larger frame, I would have issues with standover clearance. I got my Easton post new along with a Fizik Pave seat ($70 on it's own) for $30 shipped off Ebay. I also picked up another FSA seatpost online for $15 during a closeout sale just in case I run into the same problem on another bike.

Another option to get the seat further back without a setback seat post is one of the SDG I-Beam seat and seat post combos. Probably will cost you more and it will limit your choice in saddles but the i-beams do allow more fore aft adjustment than normal rails ... I also happen to like the fit and feel of the sdg i-beams.

Everyone and their mother is suggesting the Thomson Elite setback when people need a setback seatpost... It is not a friggin' setback seatpost, for God's sake. Forget it now. It's "setback" as compared to other, straight Thomsons, which makes it normal for all intents and purposes. It gets the saddle as far back as most of the normal, clamp-behind-the-tube posts. Just look at a damned picture of the stock 925 post and the Thomson.


This is a setback post:
http://www.dropnzone.com/images/prod...stonea70sm.jpg

This isn't:
http://www.probikeoutlet.com/images/ST7621.jpg
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sorry my post was confusing. a logical road bike seat post angle: between 72 and 74. yes steeper, unless timetrialing/triathaloning is stupid. you dont use enough glutes... whats your pubic bone height?
do your knees hurt? how tall are you? do you find your legs getting prematurely fatigued?