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Do I really need a Thomson one? How do they differ from cheaper stuff? Is carbon a sensible idea for an aggressive hardtail?
I ran a carbon post on a Chameleon for a while, and whilst I'm no abuser of kit, I didn't pay any special attention to the fact it was plastic. Having said that it's the only bit of carbon kit I've actually seen break IRL. Thomson is pretty much the start middle and finish of "what seat post" threads really. Can't go wrong, they're reasonably light, the finish is superb and will still look like new 10 years later, they are simple, the clamp is straightforward, and works (you wouldn't have thought it would be difficult to make a clamp that works, but let's just say USE and leave it there) and you can get spares for the loose bits...
If ever there was a no-brainer part a Thomson post is as close as it's possible to get.
USE SUMO, just as well finished as a Thomson, 70g lighter than a Thomson and a far better clamp design than a Thomson.
the NC17 empire jobbys are 29.99 off CRC< and while are a bit porky as seatposts go, they are excellent. (got one on my rufty tufty bike)
thomson on the trance 🙂 not the most expensive seatpost one could get, but certainly the last word.
Good deals on SDG I-beam posts with Bel-Air saddles on Wiggle at the moment. First bit of kit for my new 5spot 🙂
Good deals on SDG I-beam posts with Bel-Air saddles on Wiggle at the moment. First bit of kit for my new 5spot
I beams are great on a full suss, but tear you a new poopchute on a HT.
Gerra SDG micro and stick a nice comfy saddle on it. Then you have strong (compared to carbon) light and comfy.
Oops didn't see that^
I wouldn't bother trying to loose too much weight on your seat post much bigger saving to be made elsewhere though I suppose it's one area where the weight/ strength argument is a bit less important.
[i]I beams are great on a full suss, but tear you a new poopchute on a HT. [/i]
I run one on my Chameleon now, it's perhaps one of the more comfy saddles I've ever sat on... Doncha love forums...
I beams are great on a full suss, but tear you a new poopchute on a HT.
Bit firmer than usual then? Or did you forget to fit the saddle? 😉
Wiggle offer- [url] http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/SDG_Bel_Air_SL_Saddle_With_Free_SDG_Seatpost/5360036946/ [/url] (not much choice admittedly)
Ah yes but Thomson look so good...
I spent ages deciding and went for an Elite. It's very nicely made.
TBH the opinion depends entirely on who is posting - some with claim a £4 Taiwanese copy made of bog roll tubes is better than a Thomson if that's what they chose.
Thomson are a waste of money. Heavy and expensive. People will go on about nice engineering, but heavy and expensive to me does NOT mean good engineering.
If you drop the saddle a lot then I'd steer clear of carbon (The lacquer on mine soon came off when I was raising/dropping it) and, in fact, I suggest just getting a cheap seatpost that does the job. The seatpost on my PA is just some FSA job and looks well tatty from being dropped and raised but cost under £20 in the first place. The finish on a Thomson will last longer but it'll still under up tatty eventually.
Care to elaborate on your preferred alternatives molgrips?
USE for me, personally. I have carbon ones all round (apart from one bike that came with a Thomson!) and they've been fine for my 14st. I think I am going to replace the one on my 5 for an alu though because I thin I might want to be dropping the seat a bit more.
USE are the lightest around (or were, without paying silliness), the Sumo is a bit heaver but stronger - but to be honest, any will do. It's only a seatpost, most don't break - just look for one that's a decent price and the weight you want.
I bought a Taiwanese made titanium post off eBay for about 30 quid. Plenty long. Strong. And much comfier than the standard ally post that came with the bike. Clamp looks a bit like a USE Alien from a few years back but it's been rock solid. Ti bolts too. Worth a look if you don't wanna join the Thomson crew.
Thomson are a waste of money. Heavy and expensive. People will go on about nice engineering, but heavy and expensive to me does NOT mean good engineering.
2nd hand they are good value, but even then, for the same £40-ish, you can get a Control Tech which is lighter and has a less fiddly clamp. Having had a Thomson, I wouldn't rush to buy another. The OE one on my Pitch is better, IMO.
Broken 2 SDG ibeams on a hardtail in a month Jan and Feb. Swapped to a thomson as not keen to carry on snapping posts - probably did not need to thomson but I figure it will last a good while.
Cheap option: Easton EA50
General Option: Thompson
Light Option: Easton Carbon
That's what I mostly use. I've had a USE post and wouldn't use one again. I've also used Raceface ones and they seem ok.
The layback Thomsons look a bit silly. 🙂 Also Thomsons don't have height markers, which I like, as I drop my seatpost quite a lot. I had a Thomson when I had my Soul and it tended to slip a bit but otherwise its finish lasted pretty well and it seemed to survive fine.
I-Beams aren't too bad on hardtails if you get an FX-style saddle.
Only 2 posts i've never bent / snapped. 1 x Original Syncros and 1 Thomson. Thats why both my bikes have Thomsons on them...
Had a easton ea70 on my old sub 5.Snapped in half that left me on the floor in the middle of the road with a car nearly running me over 8O.Kinda lost confidence in easton after that.Got a thompson on my new bike.
Bent my NC17 empire pro at cannock a while ago. I'm pretty heavy at about 17.5st so thats probably what did it! Currently running a Thomson so we'll see how that goes. Always have a load going for reasonable prices on ebay, especially the 27.2mm version which seemed in abundance when I was looking for a rarer 26.8!