I Don't Know Parts!

[Aggie_Ama]

Hmmm my bike is very twitchy I didn't think about the bars being the issue. I am leaning toward some Salsas and maybe won't cut them down so much. What really makes a difference in seat posts? I don't really have an issue with mine except I was my bike to not have the silver. But I probably will get them a bit lighter just to upgrade.

On another note, how can I tell what size clamp I need? I have a quick release but since I don't ever desire to adjust my seat I want to take it off. I find the quick release ones don't clamp as tight and the seat slides down.

[Becky]

For me, the most important part about a seatpost is its adjustability. The balance between weight and strength comes next...

Take the existing QR seat clamp off, and see if its diameter is stamped inside. They're often marked. Otherwise, the easiest way is to a) look up the bike's spec online or b) have you shop measure the outside of the frame with calipers.

As for bar width, the Salsa bar on my single speed started life as a 710mm bar, and is now ~660 mm wide. I cut it down in 1/2 centimeter increments until I liked the way that it felt and stopped hooking it on trees

[tzvia]

Aggie_Ama-
If your bike is twitchy feeling, a longer stem and/or wider bars will slow the steering input. If you like the stem length (not cramped or stretched out), go wider on the bars. I rode a mid-90s Proflex with the short flat bars and bar ends that were all the rage back then, and when I bought my Anthem I went 'what the heck??' Riser bars- and wide?? But I stuck with it and now realize it works well and can't imagine going back to short/flat bars.

As for seatposts, it's about three things; durability, adjust-ability, weight. Thomson rules. Not the lightest, but that's a trade off to get the other two. The head and post are milled out of one piece, not a tube with a pressed on head. Hard to break, and the two bolt adjustment is easy to get it exactly where you want. They make an 'Elite' and a 'Masterpiece', I have both, they look the same but the Masterpiece is milled out more for lighter weight and more $$.

[Aggie_Ama]

I didn't even think about durability, on my Scott I had to walk out one day because the seat post broke. Remembering that I guess durability would be number one for me. Since handlebars can often be cut but not added back I may try something wider. I am pretty narrow shouldered so I think 660 might be okay. Anything wider feels odd, I test rode a bike with something wider and I felt spread out. I know the stem length on my Fisher should stay, I love the fit length wise of my bike. I also like the riser bars, even though it is all I have rode I just know I like that position and why mess with a good thing?

[ikkin]

Buy my bars and stem! Seriously, they're great, really nice, black, in great shape, pretty darn close to what you want...I bet you'll love them. I love 'em...they're really damp, stiff and light thanks to the carbon. I could do $55 shipped if that sounds good.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=40381

Also, thomson seatposts are awesome. Set it and forget it.

[Aggie_Ama]

What is the width? It is very tempting since new bars would cost me about that much....