As in title really. I've heard carbon may be more comfortable and a bit lighter. But is it all that special?
Discuss.
James x
Bike Forum
[closed]
Carbon vs Alloy Seatpost, much difference?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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Heavy carbon weighs more than light alu.
The diameter affects the flex and perceived 'comfort'.
Budget often dictates which material you go for.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Weightwise It depends what alu seat post you are comparing it to, having seen a couple of MTB carbon posts snap at races it is one area I am very hesitant to put carbon on my MTB as I have quite a lot of post showing, which will out extra strain on it at the clamp area.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Three carbon things to avoid would be seat post, bars and steerer tube, any of those three snap and you'll know about it. A Thompson Master piece would be a good choice.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I've got all 3 of those, and I've not died.
Weirdly, alu bars/seatposts/steerers are able to break too.
Carbon bars are probably the most commonly used carbon part, after headset spacers!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I've got a Ti seatpost which is very comfortable and a bit more 'twangy' than the Alu posts I've used.
Posted 2 years ago # -
ive seen alloy posts snap at races ive done too ...
im with nick ....
running a ritchey wcs carbonpro post - and a raceface next SL and a giant carbon Aero pin on my bikes ...
wouldnt dream of running cheap carbon - all the snapped carbon posts ive seen have either been cheap or over tightened or both - neither are a good reason not to buy a good quality carbon post and look after it !
Posted 2 years ago # -
what about frames ? if that snaps youll know about it ....
still got a carbon frame here
Posted 2 years ago # -
yea, but ti costs an effin' fortune!
I've broken 2 aluminium (one EA70, one cheep) posts, should I stick to a solid steel bar to be on the safe side? Having dished out untold abuse on carbon components for my degree, I'm more scared of aluminium bits snapping!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Don't get me wrong I've seen alu ones go as well and I run a carbon post on my road bike, but something inside me just doesn't trust carbon posts with a long extension on an MTB.
Posted 2 years ago # -
On the road where you're incredibly unlikely to land on it hard and (unless you've got a very compact frame) there's not much sticking out of the frame you'll be fine. Carbon is able to absorb high-frequency vibrations, arguably making it more suited to road use than alu.
I'd personally go for something lighter than the Syncros, which is a tough MTB one. I use a USE Alien on the road, and have done for about 7 years.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'd agree with Njee, the USE Aliens are nice (as are all USE posts) just understand how the clamp works before going at it with an allen key!
Posted 2 years ago # -
and unless you wish to negate having to use a seat clamp (for weight saving) then get some carbon paste - its never pleasent telling folk their thousand pound frame has bonded to there seat post - esp when they want to drop it quarter of an inch
Posted 2 years ago # -
As far as comfort goes, maybe my a**e needs calibrated but I can't tell any difference at all between my cheap FSA 27.2 ally post, my Raceface Next 27.2 carbon post, or my Gravity Dropper. Maybe there's a difference I can't feel though but to hear some people talk it's a huge night and day difference, not at all convinced. Same with bars for that matter.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Posted 2 years ago #
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got a shock for you - you cant cnc carbon
thus thomson would require heavy investment in tooling
thus its easier to put a page on your website listing all the problems with none of the benifits !
Posted 2 years ago # -
He he..
Posted 2 years ago # -
Ti every time. Carbon 2nd and then aluminium 3rd as its way too uncomfortable!
Posted 2 years ago # -
The only bits of carbon I've ever seen break were both seatposts. One was a USE, the other was a cheap FSA one. Make of that what you will. Doesn't stop me from using one though. But agree with njee20, dimension more important than material
Posted 2 years ago # -
nickc - what happened when they broke? Did anyone die?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I've got a carbon one on my Roadie and alloy ones on my MTB's.
I've seen 2 el cheapo alloy ones bend most triumphantly on my mates bikes, therefor I'd never use a cheap alloy post on a bike, ever.
Posted 2 years ago # -
the carbon entered their bloodstream and went to their heart !
Posted 2 years ago # -
I've got a carbon Speccy Pave seatpost on the road bike.
It hasn't snapped and I don't have RSI in my nethers so I guess it works.Posted 2 years ago # -
Nah, nothing so dramatic, I'm trying to remember which one broke at clamp.., the USE I think, where the carbon post was bonded to the clamp. and the FSA was probably just badly made as it just snapped as the rider sat on it. Just XC stuff, nothing full on
Posted 2 years ago # -
on this whole carbon snapping thing, can someone actually post up an image of a snapped carbon post with loads of jagged edges showing? I still don't believe that this is the way carbon fails.
Posted 2 years ago # -
First watch thisYouTube vid of a Niner carbon fork being bashed with a hammer, then read about the same bashed up fork passing the CEN test.
If carbon is used properly it will be just as impact resistant as common alloys used in bike construction.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I had a carbon seatpost once and it got scratched all to hell whenever I raised and lowered my saddle. Never got another one.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Agreed it's a slightly daft choice if you insist on putting your seatpost up and down, but one would hope that that's not necessary on a road bike!
I've seen a few carbon posts fail over the years, in most ways, from clamps coming unbonded to full on snapping leaving jagged shards. I've seen plenty of alu posts break too!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I notice a huge difference with my carbon seatpost. It doesn't vibrate like mad when going across dried mud fields, certainly takes the sting out.
My carbon bars have saved my wrist too, I don't get bad pains, as it doesn't vibrate as much either.
Posted 2 years ago # -
So we can conclude that stuff breaks sometimes, irrelevent of material?
Posted 2 years ago #
(shameful i know)Topic Closed
This topic has been closed to new replies.
