Planned to change my saddle today and took the seat post out to do it. Annoyed to find a deep gouge/crack just below the clamp.
Replacing it tomorrow if LBS have a sensibly priced alternative in stock, but a bit puzzled about how it happened as I've only ever used a torque wrench to tighten it. I'm hoping if I buy it from them they'll swap it over while I wait...
The clamp is a bit weird - annoyingly tight even with the bolts removed - and I suppose it could have happened while twisting the saddle to remove the post. The only other thing I can think of is that someone knocked my bike over a year ago which did twist the saddle.
Is there a trick to installing these without damaging them? No grease been near it, only a smear of carbon paste. Do you position them without the clamp in place and then slide that down and tighten it afterward?
Was it £12.99 from Ali express?
Don't be so cynic-al 😁😁
Nope, Deda I think. Came with the bike. Not going out to check but all the other finishing kit is Deda so assume so.
I'm sure you have checked but no rough/sharp edge at the seat tube interface?
I don't think so. The seatpost and tube are a tight fit even without carbon paste, and I'm beginning to wonder whether I damaged it myself by twisting the post to get it out.
If I am going to blame something the edge of the clamp does look sharper than I'd like. I suspect it might be this as the crack is more or less in the same location as the gap in the clamp (vertically, not horizontally). Live and learn, eh?
Might change the clamp too just to be on the safe side.