Is a Carbon Seatpost Worth the Expense?
06-11-06, 01:38 PM
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Is a Carbon Seatpost Worth the Expense?
I have a plain nashbar aluminum seatpost on my bike right now that I can't complain about. It weighs approximately 250 grams. I found a carbon seatpost on nashbar on sale for only $44.95. https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?...oreid=&pagename=
It weighs 229 grams so no significant weight decrease but I hear the carbon seatpost makes the ride much smoother but don't know.
I have some extra money right now for once and just wonder is it really worth the expense?
It weighs 229 grams so no significant weight decrease but I hear the carbon seatpost makes the ride much smoother but don't know.
I have some extra money right now for once and just wonder is it really worth the expense?
06-11-06, 01:42 PM
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On my aluminum frame, I do think my carbon post helps take some buzz out of the road. If you already ride a steel, Ti, or CF bike it might not make as much of a difference.
Just my $0.02...
DrPete
Just my $0.02...
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06-11-06, 01:44 PM
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Why in would you want to risk a carbon post when there are Ritchey's, Thomsens, USE's and a whole host of other aluminum ones that are as light or lighter?
06-11-06, 01:53 PM
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your current set up is fine, the industry has to keep coming up with ways to market wierd *****
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06-11-06, 01:57 PM
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Nope ... it's not worth the expense.
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06-11-06, 02:40 PM
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No.. I have an aluminum one on my new bike thats like 50 grams heavier than an easton ec90 and cost like 1/3 the price.
06-11-06, 04:46 PM
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when I put a new group on my bike I got sucked into a CF FSA seatpost. Its exactly 5 grams lighter than the D/A post it was going to replace. I couldn't feel any difference inthe ride, and the real kicker is it has too much set back to get my position right, so its adorning my work bench now. IMHO , no its not worth it. (and this is coming from a guy who will buy anything form a powertap, to zipp wheels, to the little tt booties if it gives you any edge).
06-11-06, 04:55 PM
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Only if it's something you have to have... Don't do it for the performance, because there is none, rather do it because you like it and want it.... Isn't that what free money is for?
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06-11-06, 04:58 PM
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It's not going to make a bit of difference to comfort. It may make your bike look cooler, but that's an entirely different argument.
06-11-06, 05:38 PM
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Originally Posted by barba
Buy nicer shorts or bibs and you will get more comfort for your buck.
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06-11-06, 05:40 PM
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I put a CF seatpost that I had laying around on my old steelie, replacing an AL one, and I couldn't tell the difference. I find that it takes more than a single component change to make much difference, except for the wheels.
06-11-06, 05:49 PM
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I bought that seatpost about three weeks ago when it was on sale for $34.95. I bought it because I wanted the straight post with the two bolt adjustment. It is a very nice post and well made. One of the better investments I have made.
06-11-06, 07:04 PM
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I swapped Performance points for a carbon post to get my bike to 18 lb. It was worth it to me. I have some wheels in the works to get it to 17. I'll admit it's a lame excuse to "buy" a seat post.
06-11-06, 07:31 PM
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Eh...I guess it depends.
When I went from the stock Litespeed seat post to an EC70, I felt a difference well worth 90 bucks...
When I went from the stock Litespeed seat post to an EC70, I felt a difference well worth 90 bucks...
06-11-06, 07:45 PM
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Cheap carbon is probably cheap for a reason, and even more likely to crack if you haven't purchased a torque wrench to tighten properly, no savings after wrench purchase
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06-11-06, 08:18 PM
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Know that a lot of inexpensive carbon posts are "carbon wrapped", its an aluminum shaft with carbon over it. Stupidest thing I have ever seen.
06-11-06, 08:19 PM
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Know that a lot of inexpensive carbon posts are "carbon wrapped", its an aluminum shaft with carbon over it. Stupidest thing I have ever seen.
06-11-06, 08:23 PM
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Not quite a carbon issue, but the current Record and Chorus carbon seatposts have the finest (smallest) adjustment serrations I've seen. I value this feature greatly.
06-11-06, 08:53 PM
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Carbon seatposts are known to slide down through the seat clamp more easily than alloy. So I've been told.
06-11-06, 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted by seely
Know that a lot of inexpensive carbon posts are "carbon wrapped", its an aluminum shaft with carbon over it. Stupidest thing I have ever seen.
06-12-06, 09:45 AM
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In my experience: You MAY feel a difference in ride damping between an aluminum and a carbon seatpost if you have a compact frame with a lot of seatpost exposed. On a traditional frame there simply isn't enough seatpost to make a difference. My bike came with a pretty light carbon post and I've been very happy with it, but bear in mind that many carbon seatposts are actually heavier than they're aluminum counterparts.
06-12-06, 10:13 AM
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No difference in comfort, I don't believe you will gain a weight savings, plus I use my aluminum seat post to hang my bike to the bike stand while working on it.
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06-12-06, 10:21 AM
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Al post bends; CF tube can break. The possiblility of jagged CF near my naughty bits makes me cringe.
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