How far can I stick a post into my steamroller seat tube? I got a deal on a Thomson post, but mtb length (410mm) when I really only need 350. It's only a couple of inches, but I don't want to start plumbing the depths and find that I've crimped the end of a fancy post, or worse, cracked the tubing on the frame. 62cm frame.

i'd say just cut that **** down. then no problems, and it will be a little lighter too. i mean, not a ton, but stuff adds up.

Don't wanna cut it though - most common post size, and would work on one of my other bikes which actually needs a post that long, just doesn't deserve a Thomson.

+1 for cutting it. Buy a used seatpost for the other bike for $15.

Cut it, your surly deserves a nice post. Bring it into an auto garage and they will make a nice clean cut for you. I went to a muffler place and the guy cut it for free. I gave him a decent tip of course.

it'll probably fit with-out cutting. try and see. as long as you don't force it and use plenty of grease you're not going to damage anything by trying.

go to right to move and cut that beastly creation down

we have a guide so its a straight cut and files to make sure you dont scratch the **** out of your tube

it should def fit

Heh, come to think of it, I did see some giant german courier on a fancy track bike in there once, but I'd feel kind of funny in there with a new post and frame.

I guess my membership is just to say I'm a member. Maybe I'll use the headset press one day...

why don't you email derby@surlybikes.com?
they get back to me in under a day when i have questions about my frame. plus they're really nice and friendly.

I wouldn't cut. The post will def. not be damaged, however deep you insert it. And I never heard of a frame being damaged by a too long post, either.

If you cut it, make sure the end of the post still goes well below the bottom of the top tube. Under load, the bottom front of the post will press against the front of the down tube. You don't want that happening in the middle of all those welds. Insufficient seat post insertion => wrecked frame + no warranty.

I'm a heavy rider, so I never ever ride a post not inserted a couple of inches below the tt, regardless of the min insertion on the post.

Andy at Surly got back to me in like hours btw:

The butting on the Steamroller's seat tube (and most of our models) is on the outside of the tube (at least on the seat post end). You can feel it if you run your fingers along the seat tube near the top. You should have no trouble running a longer post in that frame. The ony thing I'd say is that you might want to look inside the tube with a flashlight and make sure there are no burrs or anything else that might stop it from inserting all the way, but this would be rare, and anyway it would be solvable.

+1

Try applying grease inside the seat tube before you insert the post, instead of simply applying grease to the post itself. I had a super-long MTB post on my previous bike that probably went 6-7" into the frame. Even though I greased the post, I think a lot rubbed off during insertion. After several weeks of wet riding, the post was cemented into the frame. When I finally extracted it (no small feat), it was the very end of the post that had corroded to the frame.