aluminum post ride quality & carbon frames

[Miranda]

I found one old thread on here asking about putting an alum post on a carbon frame. I know there are peeps that do it just fine. But, how is the ride quality? Do you think the alum post makes the carbon ride rougher?

My current ride is alum frame w/carbon post and fork (looking for new ride). Part of the reason I want the cabon frame is to smooth out the ride from alum. At first, I thought the idea was going backwards. But, one of my complaints to the lbs that suggested it was the design of my current post. I hate the single bolt micro groove design in terms of saddle adjustability. I have an old thread about it below in this link...

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=27326&highlight=aluminum+post+carbon+frame


The shop suggested a Thompson post for great adjustability (alum). I knew right away what it was from it being suggested here on TE in my old thread. The shop also commented that there are not that many posts out there in the market that have almost infinate adjustability. After some short Googling again, I started to see what he meant when I got home to my pc.

Thoughts on the matter? Thanks!

[Cataboo]

The carbon frame is going to be deadening most of the vibrations... I don't think you'll really notice vibrations from the seatpost.

Vibrations for me are worst around the wrist.... my bum can take a fair amount without complaining. But... I can't say other than my mountain bike I've got any bikes with an aluminum seatpost.

And changing materials also contributes to deadening vibrations... as in vibrations go through the carbon (or mostly not), then they get to the aluminum which needs a different frequency or energy of vibration and making that shift deadens the vibrations somehow as well (I am completely explaining this wrong, I'm sure. I'd have the bf say it in some way that made sense, but he's not here right now)

[Andrea]

I love Thompson posts, and I don't think they change ride quality at all! I've found that tires/tire pressure have the biggest impact on vibration dampening. On a road bike, a 25c tire @ ~100psi will make rough patches of road much more bearable than any carbon part could even begin to!

[Bluetree]

I've had both carbon and alum seatposts on my carbon frames. No difference at all. If you're looking to save weight if might make a tiny difference, but the Thomson Masterpiece I settled with is as light as most carbon posts.

As mentioned, tires will do a lot more for comfort.

[Mr. SR500]

I've had both carbon and alum seatposts on my carbon frames. No difference at all. If you're looking to save weight if might make a tiny difference, but the Thomson Masterpiece I settled with is as light as most carbon posts.

As mentioned, tires will do a lot more for comfort.

+1 I love my Thomson Masterpiece on my Madone!

[Bluetree]

Thomson makes great seatposts.

Stay away from Alien seatposts...I've heard more complaints about broken seatposts than all other brands combined - by far!

[VeloVT]

I think you can't go wrong with a Thomson post. I don't think it will feel "harsher" in a carbon frame. That said, I have an FSA K-Force carbon seatpost on my roadbike:

http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=reparto&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=727764308&Count2=644904732&ProductID=602&Target=products.asp&utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase

I bought it largely because it is available with a lot of setback, but I was also looking for a two bolt design, and this one is infinitely adjustable and just as easy to adjust as the Thomson post on my cx bike.

Not crazy light though. I think it's probably heavier than the masterpiece.

[Miranda]

Thx to everyone that chimed in thus far:).

Liza... I knew there was some type of carbon post that had that two bolt design. Thx for posting that link!

Well, it sounds like people are happy with this type of set up. It looks like the post that my shop put on the spec sheet must be the Thomson Elite by the weight listed, and not the Masterpiece (lighter version). Both look to be a nice design.

[parity]

Maybe you already know this but you should also consider what the setback is for your seat post when considering buying another seat post. I have a Thompson masterpiece and like it a lot. But they only have two options and one is a zero setback and the other is 16mm. So whatever you buy you should make sure you have sufficient setback. I use the Thomson masterpiece with the 16mm setback. It doesn't look as nice as the zero setback version. But its good enough for this guy:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2009/tech/probikes/index.php?id=/photos/2009/tech/probikes/cvv_felt_f1sl09/CVV_F1SL_saddle_and_post

[Miranda]

Maybe you already know this but you should also consider what the setback is for your seat post when considering buying another seat post. I have a Thompson masterpiece and like it a lot. But they only have two options and one is a zero setback and the other is 16mm. So whatever you buy you should make sure you have sufficient setback. I use the Thomson masterpiece with the 16mm setback. It doesn't look as nice as the zero setback version. But its good enough for this guy:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2009/tech/probikes/index.php?id=/photos/2009/tech/probikes/cvv_felt_f1sl09/CVV_F1SL_saddle_and_post


Thx for that link! That is a great pic of a Thomson for sure. As far as I know, I should be ok with a zero set back post. But, I appreciate you pointing that out about the one lay back option length. The STA on the bike I'm considering has me going back a wee bit on the saddle rails... but I think that is all I need to get a good KOP. I went to the lbs that did the spec sheet for a fitting first. Then geeked out bike brands as close as possible to what was ideal. I let the shop pick the post. So... if the sucker doesn't work out they 'got some splain'in to do Lucy!:mad:' :plol. Appreciate the input:).

[VeloVT]

What Parity posted makes me remember that I actually had wanted to put a Thomson on my (newish) road bike when I got it around this time last year, and the reason I didn't was that I needed more than 16mm of setback. I remember trying to justify it anyway :). Thomsons are great.

FWIW -- other than weight, the Elite and the Masterpiece are identical. I think maybe the Masterpiece is more elaborately butted? I have both -- an Elite that's on my CX and a Masterpiece I had on my old road bike (I sold the bike but kept the post) that I can't bring myself to get rid of even though it doesn't fit any of the other bikes we have right now. Anyway, side-to-side, if you took off the decals, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference by looking at them. So if you are not in super weight-weenie mode, you will not lose anything by going with the less expensive Elite.

Also -- Campy and Deda both have gorgeous two bolt carbon posts, but both were just too spendy for me.

And the one-bolt design on Bontrager carbon posts is extremely easy to use -- maybe even easier than two-bolt posts. But be forewarned that the cheaper carbon post is carbon-wrapped aluminum :(. And if I remember correctly the diameter/setback options are limited.

[Miranda]

What Parity posted makes me remember that I actually had wanted to put a Thomson on my (newish) road bike when I got it around this time last year, and the reason I didn't was that I needed more than 16mm of setback. I remember trying to justify it anyway :). Thomsons are great.

FWIW -- other than weight, the Elite and the Masterpiece are identical. I think maybe the Masterpiece is more elaborately butted? I have both -- an Elite that's on my CX and a Masterpiece I had on my old road bike (I sold the bike but kept the post) that I can't bring myself to get rid of even though it doesn't fit any of the other bikes we have right now. Anyway, side-to-side, if you took off the decals, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference by looking at them. So if you are not in super weight-weenie mode, you will not lose anything by going with the less expensive Elite.

Also -- Campy and Deda both have gorgeous two bolt carbon posts, but both were just too spendy for me.

And the one-bolt design on Bontrager carbon posts is extremely easy to use -- maybe even easier than two-bolt posts. But be forewarned that the cheaper carbon post is carbon-wrapped aluminum :(. And if I remember correctly the diameter/setback options are limited.


Thx, that's good to know of a couple other options for carbon. I think the Bontrager post is one that someone I know has. But I didn't know that about the wrap, hmm.