Have just got myself a rather lovely Maverick ML7/5 frame and as I need a new seatpost I am tempted to get a new seat too!
Wiggle have some stonking deals on SDG Bel-Air SL which comes with a free I-Beam seatpost. Have read good things about them, but have always been a Flite/Thomson type person so am wary that I might not like it?
Apart from being a little ugly, is there any negatives to do with the I-Beam system for general XC use?
Cheers
Chris
stories on here.........do a search.
Hi Chris, I've got a ML7/2 and use a ibeam and fly saddle, I've had no trouble and love the adjustability.
I suppose the ugly is only an opinion but I reckon it looks great. I have seen a Maverick on the mtbr forum with
a layback thomson post used but in reverse, now that looks weird but so right! I think the owner is kidsuma?
Look on the Maverick mtbr forum.
Matt.
Hughjayteens
I have a Thomson Elite layback with an SDG Ti Fly C Seat. I thought that my setup was quite light. Yesterday I was at my mate's house checking out his new hardtail which had the SDG I beam post and SDG seat and to be honest it was way lighter than my setup (considerably lighter). If weight is your main concern go for it as you wont be dissapointed and im pretty sure the SDG setup is just as good as a Thomson Elite setup.
Snappeda big chunk out of the rail on my I-beam and was forced to ride with the saddle way further forward than I would have liked. This was on an 05 DHI. Your mileage, however, may vary
Got one (a Kore carbon and ST Ble Air combo) have to say it is very very nice. Makes the back end of my Chameleon a comfy place to be.
I like my I-beam post and saddle. No problems, no creaking, no breakage. It's the bog standard one, no carbon.
I quite like the looks and it sits there and does its job. It was cheap for a saddle and post too. Whats not to like?
When i worked as a guide the hire bikes all had them and they all broke and were replaced with standard posts and saddles. They were cracking on the beam. These would've been OE ones and maybe the aftermarket ones are different?
mtbmaff - MemberHi Chris, I've got a ML7/2 and use a ibeam and fly saddle, I've had no trouble and love the adjustability.
I suppose the ugly is only an opinion but I reckon it looks great. I have seen a Maverick on the mtbr forum with
a layback thomson post used but in reverse, now that looks weird but so right! I think the owner is kidsuma?
Look on the Maverick mtbr forum.
Matt.
Have you got a picture of your bike with the i-beam on it? Saw that reversed layback and agree it looks a little 'odd' but quite cool at the same time!
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I had a carbon post snap, that hurt, lots!
I have changed to my alloy back up, not much difference really, the saddle makes a lot more difference, try to find one with 'rails' like the FX, much more comfortable than the standard bellair on a HT, & less noticeable on the FS.
I have a few bellairs if you want to try them, but then I guess you have to buy the post first, it may not make sense.
Cheers.
I've got I-Beams on three bikes, with the standard post, rather than the micro-adjust one. The standard is all one piece, no joints, so I think they're stronger. I have the FX saddles, with the space between hull and beam, and my oldest one is now three years old, with no issues at all. They're also the most comfortable saddles I've used in twenty+ years of mountain biking. Previous best saddle was a cowskin pattern Bel Air Ti, so the fact I bought three I-Beams should give a clue.
Hi Chris, mail me email addy and I'll send you a photo.
Matt.
make sure you get one of the 'flex' saddles. I got a BelAir thinking it would be the same as the railed BelAir I used to love - NO WAY! It is absolutely solid!!
For about the first 2 months of riding with it (before callouses formed on my bumcheeks), I came home from every ride feeling like Mike had repeatedly [s]abused[/s] punched my ass.
I have two I fly saddles and I-Beam Micro posts, brilliant bits of kit £69 for a saddle and seat post combination that weighs 375g, it's a no brainer for my back side.
Snapped my i-beam saddle right at the start of qualifying at the mega (dropping off the first snow bit) couple of years ago, had to do the full run seatless 🙄 obviously removed the seatpost to prevent any painful and embarassing er, 'intrusions'...
Personally i would never buy another one, i'd imagine they would be fine for a full on lightweight xc build tho.
Thomson post and gobi saddle for me at the minute, sayin that i've also manged to crack the corner of the gobi saddle, hmmmm...
😀