Seat Post Recommendation
 

Hey all. Need a little direction on a new seat post. I bought a used Selle SMP Dynamic saddle in super nice condition. Upon fitting it to the existing post I see that I'm going to need a new post. I need to raise the nose of the saddle just a bit, but I'm at the very end on my adjustments on the existing post. It's a 20+ year-old "Skye" post that came with the bike (a BikeDirect "Motobecane Record".) So, what's a recommended post that comes with a large angle of micro adjustments? I prefer an aluminum post, but will jump for a carbon post if the price isn't crazy.

Also, I measured the diameter of the existing post and it's 25mm. In researching, I see the smallest diameter on modern posts appears to be 25.4mm. Will I need to get a shim of some sort, or will a 24.5 work? Again, I estimate the frame to be at least 20 years old.

Thanks all!

Here's a link to the exact bike: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products...e_record09.htm

Strange, but the seat post is described as a "M-Wings Systeme Aluminum alloy Micro Adjust 27.2mm". I used calipers to measure the outside of the diameter on my bike and it comes to 25mm. Maybe I'm doing something incorrectly?

I would trust the marking on the post. If it says 27.2, get a 27.2. If it doesn't fit, return it, but I'd be REALLY surprised if it didn't fit.

What do your calipers tell you about the ID of the seat tube? If it is 25mm as well, I'd believe them.

25.4 mm (one inch) has been a standard size for a long time, but French bikes were 'different' for a long time, too.

Edit: If Thomson makes their 'Elite' seatpost in your size, it's a good, light, two-bolt adjustable aluminum one.

[QUOTE=Fredo76;23168148]What do your calipers tell you about the ID of the seat tube? If it is 25mm as well, I'd believe them.

Thank you. I didn't measure the ID of the seat tube. I'll do that tonight. But I measured the diameter of the post itself, which came to 25mm. I used two types of calipers. I'll look on the post itself to see if it's marked with a measurement. I think I may be incorrect about the age of the frame. The link I provided was from a 2009 model. I think that I may have gotten the bike a year or two prior to that. It was likely made somewhere around 2006-2007. The frame specs probably stayed the same. As for the Thompson Elite, I think the smallest diameter is 27.2.

Thomson Elite is available in many sizes between 25mm and 32.4mm.

I would be shocked if a Kinesis frame from '09 uses a 25mm seatpost.

I agree. But that's why I'm going crazy! My vernier calipers both show the post diameter to be 25mm. I have to go with that. Especially since I'd have to estimate that my frame was actually build a few years before 2009. Maybe 2005-06?

you have a seat post in the frame and it is marked with a measurement. Go with that measurement.
If you have a 25mm seatpost, is it not original?

Is there a seatpost adapter? I went through something similar on my curb find Trek 730 and kept overlooking the adapter stuck in the frame. :twitchy: Once removed, a 27.2mm piece worked great.

Wow! I never even though about that! I pulled the post, and there's no adapter on it. But maybe one is lodged on the seat tube! I'll check...

What did it say on the post?

27.2! Turns out that I was misreading my little brass caliper. And my electronic one needed to be reset. No shim present. I cannot believe that I never thought to look at the post itself for a size! So now, I just need to buy a quality post that gives a larger range of angles and is micro-adjustable. Jensons has a Zipp Service Course post for $49. The Thompson Elite is about $120. Is it worth the extra $70? The Thompson is also offered in a "set back" position. That looks cool, but I have no idea what the functionality of that kind of post offers. There's also a Ritchey WCS for $99, but it's my understanding that that post is a real PITA to set up. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Keep in mind that I'm mounting a Selle SMP Dynamic saddle, which is a strange design to begin with, to include the angle I need to dial in. Thanks!

I picked up a Ritchey Classic post, I think it was around $70. They make them with setback or without, an unlike the Thomson, they don't do it by bending it. I really hate how the bent Thomson looks, like they said, "Hey, we need a setback version! Oh, hell, let's just bend this one."

I love my Thomson Elite posts (and stems) I have a bunch of them and they are all fantastic and at least all the aluminum ones are made in the U.S. Easy enough to adjust and stay put even under a heavy rider and some rougher riding sometimes.

A set back post is designed to help get you saddle back further if that is something you needed or wanted. Your saddle rails should be within the limits set on the saddle if they are not then a set back post can help achieve that.

I think I'm going to get the Easton EA90. It's about $100, but it appears to have a unique bolting system that lends itself to more easily setting the tilt angle. Good reviews also.

The CAAD4 that I bought came with a 27.2 mm Thomson (note: no "p") Elite set back seat post. Set back means that the saddle is further aft of the diameter of the seat tube, at least compared with a zero set back seat post.

I went back home at looked at the Thomson Elite seat post. The tube wall thickness is thinner at the front and back, to promote flex, just like the Syntace P6 Hiflex seat post. Fancy!

I can see you've resolved the issue, I was about to reply that I had a Moto from BD in 2007 and it came with a 27.2mm Ritchey post.

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products...forum_sale.htm

Still using the groupset and bars today :)

Pulled my 22yr old Thomson Elite out of my Bianchi to try a 3T Doric carbon post with carbon railed saddle. Much lighter than the 410mm Thomson with steel railed saddle, but I doubt it’ll be as reliable!

The cradle is not tilted to adjust for the difference between straight and bent versions!?

Dunno. All I know is it's ugly AF, and looks like an afterthought.

Thanks all. I ended up getting the Easton EA90 seat post. What drew me to it was the perceived ease by which I can mount the saddle. There Selle SMP saddles are a little tricky to work with.

You mentioned setback above. Look at your existing post and how the saddle sits on it - where it clamps onto the saddle rails. That will tell you if you need to get a post with the same or similar amount of setback. Seatpost setback ranges from 0 to about 25mm. Be sure to get the setback you need.

"French" BD Motobecane made my morning, and if a guy takes a seatpost (or stem) conversation into overtime, I'll just throw in a casual "It's a pipe that holds your saddle (or hbar) in place"