Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

Why a expensive seat post

Search
Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

Why a expensive seat post

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-03-10 | 10:04 AM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Why a expensive seat post

I need a new seat post

Can someone tell me why one would by a 90$ Nitto Crystal seat post like this? As opposed to a cheaper one from a LBS?

What would a upgrade do?

Lighter?

Absorb more shock then other material?

Just to be cool

thanks

https://www.velo-orange.com/nidy626secrf.html

https://www.rivbike.com/products/show...eatpost/11-031

Last edited by stormlight; 04-03-10 at 11:55 AM.
stormlight is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 10:37 AM
  #2  
AdamDZ's Avatar
Bike addict, dreamer
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,165
Likes: 1
From: Queens, New York
You mean a seat post, I guess? The more expensive one will be lighter and look cooler and leave a larger dent in your budget. If it's carbon it may even absorb some more shock but you won't notice that unless you make yourself believe that it does. So get a $20 aluminum seatpost and spend the $70 on something useful. Although you won't be able to brag about your seatpost.

Adam
AdamDZ is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 10:42 AM
  #3  
Banned
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 252
Likes: 0

Bikes: 87 Miyata 512

First of it's a seat stem not steam, steam is liquid vapor.

The Nitto is expensive because it's the best aluminum stem with more adjustments, as well as the most polished looking stem on the market, and will last a lifetime. If you don't need a stem to last a long time or look great then just get the el cheapo stem.

The upgrade may be lighter, but I don't know what your comparing it to, no stem will absorb shock unless it's got a built in suspension system; you'll have to get a seat that can do that to some degree.
cia dog is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 10:44 AM
  #4  
fuzz2050's Avatar
Real Men Ride Ordinaries
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,723
Likes: 3
more money gets you lugs.
fuzz2050 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 11:36 AM
  #5  
GATC
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 180
From: south Puget Sound
Originally Posted by fuzz2050
Can lugged pedals be far behind.
HardyWeinberg is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 11:51 AM
  #6  
Banned
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 252
Likes: 0

Bikes: 87 Miyata 512

lugged seat posts? I've seen lugged handlebar stems but I think their ugly and their very heavy.
cia dog is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 12:03 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by cia dog
First of it's a seat stem not steam, steam is liquid vapor.

The Nitto is expensive because it's the best aluminum stem with more adjustments, as well as the most polished looking stem on the market, and will last a lifetime. If you don't need a stem to last a long time or look great then just get the el cheapo stem.
First off it's first off, not first of.
TFS Jake is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 12:07 PM
  #8  
Banned
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 252
Likes: 0

Bikes: 87 Miyata 512

Originally Posted by TFS Jake
First off it's first off, not first of.
Ohh, what we have here boys and girls is the perfect typist who never makes a error while typing, I bow before your presence, and have mercy on my soul oh god of typing.
cia dog is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 12:28 PM
  #9  
beerfilter's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by cia dog
First of it's a seat stem not steam, steam is liquid vapor.
Originally Posted by TFS Jake
First off it's first off, not first of.
Originally Posted by cia dog
Ohh, what we have here boys and girls is the perfect typist who never makes a error while typing, I bow before your presence, and have mercy on my soul oh god of typing.
Ha ha! That's great guys! An old Abbott and Costello routine, am I right?

(To the OP, get the cheaper seatpost, in my opinion)
beerfilter is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 12:56 PM
  #10  
Surfindixon's Avatar
Vegetable Rights!
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Glasgow, Scotland

Bikes: Cube Nature 2009

Seat posts...

A super thin, super light aluminium job came with my hybrid. To use a very popular phrase, it was a jarring experience for my rear. The clamp bust after about 5000miles. New post required

So I went to my LBS and purchased a carbon number. In fact it was a carbon wrap post but what it really was was a heavier guage of tubing. So where the tubing on the original piece was very very thin (and not very comfortable) the tubing on the new piece was substabtially thicker and probably the real reason it was infinitely more comfortable.

The new piece lasted about three weeks when the clamp (allegedly milled from forged alloy ingots) failed in spectacular fashion. In fact if I wasn't on the ball i would've been in the hospital receiving reconstructive surgery to an area where you'd want it least.

I returned the failed unit to the LBS and cut a good deal on a Thomson Elite which seems to be living up to it's reputation as a tough unit. Excellent clamp assembly, sturdy and comfortable. The tubing features some interesting butting where the tubing is substantially thicker at the front and rear than it is at the sides. It is expensive but the money spent seems to have bought a very good quality component

As far as carbon is concerned...I'm not a fan..especially on a commuter. They really are disposable items when you have an accident. Even if they look OK the general concensus is, post incident, they can't be trusted as the damage to a carbon unit may not be apparent.
Surfindixon is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 01:23 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by cia dog
Ohh, what we have here boys and girls is the perfect typist who never makes a error while typing, I bow before your presence, and have mercy on my soul oh god of typing.
*an error

HTH
MWPdx is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 02:08 PM
  #12  
CliftonGK1's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,373
Likes: 8
From: Columbus, OH

Bikes: '08 Surly Cross-Check, 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, 2012 Spesh FSR Comp EVO, 2015 Trek Domane 6.2 disc

For most expensive posts, you're paying for the name brand. I have a Thomson on my brevet bike. There are other ovalized posts that have similar strength, and other 2-bolt posts with the same adjustability. They're even around the same weight... but mine says Thomson on the side.

Similar to getting a Carradice saddlebag or a Berthoud frontbag instead of a Velo-Orange. They're all similar quality and styling.
__________________
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
CliftonGK1 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 02:31 PM
  #13  
Banned
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 252
Likes: 0

Bikes: 87 Miyata 512

Originally Posted by MWPdx
*an error

HTH
Oh crap I made another error? by the way there's not enough room on this forum for two gods of typing, please fight the other god for supremacy and to the victor I shall bow.
cia dog is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 02:43 PM
  #14  
Surfindixon's Avatar
Vegetable Rights!
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Glasgow, Scotland

Bikes: Cube Nature 2009

Originally Posted by cia dog
Oh crap I made another error? by the way there's not enough room on this forum for two gods of typing, please fight the other god for supremacy and to the victor I shall bow.
Your punctuation and capitalisation\capitalization are questionable:

Oh crap! I made another error? By the way there's not enough room on this forum for two gods of typing. Please fight the other god for supremacy and to the victor I shall bow.

Last edited by Surfindixon; 04-03-10 at 02:49 PM.
Surfindixon is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 02:52 PM
  #15  
Banned
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 252
Likes: 0

Bikes: 87 Miyata 512

Originally Posted by Surfindixon
Your punctuation and capitalisation\capitalization are questionable:

Oh crap! I made another error? By the way there's not enough room on this forum for two gods of typing. Please fight the other god for supremacy and to the victor I shall bow.
Don't tell me there's 3 potential god's to the throne...hell I gave upty i jst spil an pncutate wattevr i fellin lik.
cia dog is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 03:21 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
I only corrected you because you corrected you. He just mistyped it, it's not a big deal, but you felt the need to correct him.
TFS Jake is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 03:34 PM
  #17  
bugly64's Avatar
Share the road.
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 45
From: Marysville, CA

Bikes: 1992 Rocky Mountain Fusion, Yuba Mundo, Specialized Venge

That nitto wayback seatpost will forever occupy my day dreams.
bugly64 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 03:36 PM
  #18  
Banned
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 252
Likes: 0

Bikes: 87 Miyata 512

Originally Posted by TFS Jake
I only corrected you because you corrected you. He just mistyped it, it's not a big deal, but you felt the need to correct him.
I corrected myself? You said "I only corrected you because you corrected you". Sorry but you fail. I corrected the spelling not a mistype, and the spelling for stem as steam was done several times in the post which the poster has now corrected, a mistype is an error that occurs once. So I was only correcting the reoccurring error, I don't care about mistype or punctuation errors, just as I really don't care about me correcting me error you made just that you brought it up so I highlighted your error...actually I thought your error was funny!!!
cia dog is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 03:42 PM
  #19  
CliftonGK1's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,373
Likes: 8
From: Columbus, OH

Bikes: '08 Surly Cross-Check, 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, 2012 Spesh FSR Comp EVO, 2015 Trek Domane 6.2 disc

Can't resist any longer...





Bugly64: The Nitto Wayback is awesome with that lugwork, but the V-O Grand Cru long setback is pretty sexy in its own right.
__________________
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
CliftonGK1 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 03:44 PM
  #20  
gerv's Avatar
In the right lane
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,556
Likes: 8
From: Des Moines

Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed

Originally Posted by CliftonGK1
For most expensive posts, you're paying for the name brand. I have a Thomson on my brevet bike. There are other ovalized posts that have similar strength, and other 2-bolt posts with the same adjustability. They're even around the same weight... but mine says Thomson on the side.

Similar to getting a Carradice saddlebag or a Berthoud frontbag instead of a Velo-Orange. They're all similar quality and styling.
Yes. That's why I'm a Kalloy fan. $20 seatpost keeps your butt off the ground. What more do you need?
gerv is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 04:13 PM
  #21  
CliftonGK1's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,373
Likes: 8
From: Columbus, OH

Bikes: '08 Surly Cross-Check, 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, 2012 Spesh FSR Comp EVO, 2015 Trek Domane 6.2 disc

Originally Posted by gerv
Yes. That's why I'm a Kalloy fan. $20 seatpost keeps your butt off the ground. What more do you need?
For a lightweight post like the Thomson, and a big dude like me (230 pounds), the ovalized interiour section is important to keeping it from bending in half during 40 mile sections of potholed chip-seal or 15 miles of gravel mountain service road.
Of course, a V-O post does the same thing for $50 less.
__________________
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
CliftonGK1 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 04:27 PM
  #22  
rm -rf's Avatar
don't try this at home.
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,220
Likes: 704
From: N. KY
Originally Posted by CliftonGK1
Can't resist any longer...





Bugly64: The Nitto Wayback is awesome with that lugwork, but the V-O Grand Cru long setback is pretty sexy in its own right.






Back on topic: Cheaper seatposts use a one-bolt design with grooves on the adjustable clamp. If the clamp is a bit loose, it can tilt and wear down the grooves. Then it won't keep the seat locked in place. So make sure the grooves are lined up, then tighten the bolt securely.

Last edited by rm -rf; 04-03-10 at 04:38 PM.
rm -rf is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 04:45 PM
  #23  
electrik's Avatar
Single-serving poster
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,098
Likes: 3
From: Toronto, Canada
Adjustability, material(lightness and vibration dampening)

The single bolt ones just fail and never really stay put
electrik is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 06:28 PM
  #24  
ortcutt's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Cambridge MA
Originally Posted by electrik
Adjustability, material(lightness and vibration dampening)

The single bolt ones just fail and never really stay put
The Crystal Fellow is a single-bolt seatpost. Did you mean to claim that it too will "fail and never really stay put"?
ortcutt is offline  
Reply
Old 04-03-10 | 06:43 PM
  #25  
electrik's Avatar
Single-serving poster
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,098
Likes: 3
From: Toronto, Canada
Originally Posted by ortcutt
The Crystal Fellow is a single-bolt seatpost. Did you mean to claim that it too will "fail and never really stay put"?
Who is this magical Crystal fellow you speak of?
electrik is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.