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Carbon seatpost - lifespan?

by bechdan
Wed, Apr 29, 2015 14:50
9

Hi all, just a question regarding Carbon seatposts, Ive got a Bontrager that came with my bike, so its about 9 years old now, had light / moderate use mostly on B roads, Im 73kg and dont usually have anything else attached to the post (other than the saddle)

I know there are discussions regarding Carbon forks and that they can fail suddenly, just got me wondering about the seatpost.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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9 comments

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bechdan | 9 years ago
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Wow £180 for a seatpost

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wellcoordinated | 9 years ago
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I can't recommend this post too much. http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/product/cf3procarbon. Not sure about its durability, but it's excellent over potholes!!

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timb27 | 9 years ago
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The first one (that came with my first bike) was overtightened. You could see this because it failed under the seatpost clamp, with severe compression to the carbon at that point. I overtightened it to stop it slipping, whereas had I used carbon paste I wouldn't have needed to have clamped so tight.

I then replaced it with the USE one, but the problem with that was the stupid seat clamp design failed.

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bechdan | 9 years ago
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interesting, ive not done anything to my seatpost, neither cleaned, nor lubed, nor used a torque wrench. Can you elaborate on your findings please?

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timb27 | 9 years ago
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I had 2 carbon seat posts, a Bontrager and a USE. The first one failed at the seat post clamp, the second one failed at the saddle end. That second one meant I had to ride the best part of 40 miles on a sportive without sitting down. I now ride alloy posts on both bikes.

Had I bothered to learn how to look after them and bought some proper paste and a torque wrench, I'm sure the first one would have been fine. The USE was a crap design, irrespective of the material.

Now I know a little more, I might be tempted to give carbon another go, but tbh the alloy ones are perfectly fine, cheap and bombproof.

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bechdan | 9 years ago
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Good stuff, glad to know.

And cant say I'm surprised about the Boardman, dunno why I just wouldn't trust that brand

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Batchy | 9 years ago
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Had a Ritchey Pro carbon/alloy clamp seat post for 10 years/80,000miles now and it is still going strong. It has also been cleaned up and re lacquered with no problems !

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tao24 | 9 years ago
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I have just binned a carbon/alloy seatpost (boardman) because the alloy head came loose from the carbon post. I have replaced with a carbon monocoque, which I hope will be useable almost eternally. Clearly any damage would cause a replacement to be needed, but the impression I have is that well made carbon parts should last indefinitely unless damaged, that normal road riding is unlikely to damage carbon parts and that failures are likely to be either manufacturing, installation (overtightening) or collisions.

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DamienB | 9 years ago
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Not heard that one - had a couple crack/de-laminate around the seat clamp bolt/s so chucked them away and gone back to carbon post with alloy head. Heavier, but no more worrying that I will end up sitting on the end of the post when the saddle disappears.

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