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review
Seatposts
Tifosi Carbon seat postTifosi Carbon seatpost

Tifosi Carbon seat post

7
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Aug 17, 2009

0
£29.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Good budget carbon post spoilt only by narrow range of sizes
Weight: 
255g
Contact: 
www.chickencyclekit.co.uk
How we test

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At first glance there’s nothing particularly remarkable about Tifosi’s carbon post. In keeping with most in this price bracket, it’s actually a carbon and glass fibre composite with a bonded alloy head but frankly, build quality and attention to detail are considerably better than I’ve come to expect and a bargain so long as your bike’s seat tube diameter measures either 27.2 or 31.6mm.

Three hundred millimetres long should be enough for most road applications except perhaps for taller riders on smaller compact frames in the interests of a stiffer, lighter machine. I’ve even fitted the Tifosi to my late 70s pure race crosser for a bit of green lane action. Detailing is good under the protective high lustre gloss lacquer accentuating the 3Kcarbon wave’s beauty, while clear limit and height markers ensure quick, easy adjustments.

It comes complete with a lightweight collar – which is a nice touch, although in practice I’ve experienced no problems with a traditional lugged steel seat collar. Tackling the typically potholed lanes of my test circuit or thundering through rutted woodland trails seated turned road bumps and trail buzz into ripples without feeling overly whippy, devoid of unnerving squeaks. And while 255g is nothing to write home about (longer 7000 series aluminium posts were tipping the scales some thirty grams lighter a good decade back) there’s a lot to be said in favour of reliability. Trimming too much fat from a budget model raises alarm bells with me.

The nicely finished alloy clamp gives thirty-degree setback and despite high polish does look slightly low rent, although you’d never notice-even with it sporting a minimalist perch and crucially it’s not going to break, nor the threads strip anytime soon.

The only drawback is one common to many brands, namely a lack of sizes-27.2 and 31.6mm might be two common diameters, keeping production and ultimately consumer prices low, offering more diameters would extend the appeal of an otherwise very good post.

Verdict

Good budget carbon post spoilt only by narrow range of sizes.

.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Tifosi Carbon seat post

Size tested: 27.2mm/300mm

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Tifosi's carbon post isn't a carbon post in the purest sense, like most at this end of the market, it's actually a carbon glass fibre composite aimed at budget conscious road riders. However it's quite solid enough for cross and similar duties too.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

3k carbon/glass fibre construction, bonded alloy clamp, high gloss lacquer finish 300m length and two diameters 27.2 and 31.6

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

Generally better than most at this end of the market.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

255g (27.2)

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Performance is generally very good-taking the sting out of trail buzz and rougher road surfaces without feeling overly whippy-even extendede close to the limit. However, look elsewhere if low weight is your primary consideration-it's not hefty but alloy posts can reliably eclipse 255g these days.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Comparatively good finish and low price tag.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing other than limited size availability.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, in the main

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

Tifosi Carbon seat post
Tifosi
seat post
carbon seat post
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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