[jebfour]

I'm in the process of building an aluminum hardtail for XC riding right now. I have no doubts that riding a hardtail will be rougher than I'm used to....

I don't really want to go the suspension post route quite yet.....I was thinking about using a carbon post. Opinions? Also, if using a carbon post is not "death defying" does anyone have any links to so inexpensive posts?

Thanks!

 

[BurlyShirley]

Personally, I hate them with the fire of one thousand suns. Maybe they're good for a roadie, but I just couldnt keep the Easton one I had in one spot, and the post collar chewed it to pieces.

 

[jimmydean]

Soft, yet stylish:

 

[buildyourown]

Get a Ti one.
Less expensive than a good carbon one and less fragile to stuff that a mt bike would see.

 

[luelling]

I have a carbon post on my road and cyclocross bikes and I have no complaints, they are Ritchey posts. Altough, on both of those bikes there isn't a lot of post showing. My friend had an SDG I-Beam XC post (carbon of course) and it broke riding UP a hill, talk about a crummy post. It was a technical trail, but I was still shocked it broke.

If your looking for comfort, there are some seats that can offer a fair amount of "cush" and a good tire setup is a must. I personally wouldn't spend money on carbon posts, unless you are really concerned with weight

 

[OGRipper]

I have snapped the heads off of two easton carbon posts, and those were on an FS bike. A hardtail will put more stress on it. I know plenty of people that have no problems, but if you are on the heavy side I would second the suggestion to get a ti post. Or you could avoid the issue and get a gravity dropper. I love mine.

 

[jebfour]

Personally, I hate them with the fire of one thousand suns. Maybe they're good for a roadie, but I just couldnt keep the Easton one I had in one spot, and the post collar chewed it to pieces.

Burly,

So what are you using currently?

 

[BurlyShirley]

Thomson. But dont take advise from me. I suck.

 

[frznnomad]

man i can second the thompson post. the one on my dh bike is absolutly amazing. it is well worth the cash you drop on it, but they are on the heavy side. so if you are looking for weight reduction i say go ti. i dont have any experiances with carbon post but i really dont want to be concerned with a post snapping underneith my ass.lthumbsdown:

 

[Austin Bike]

Carbon seat posts? I've been through a few seats on my thomson seat post.

I can only imagine the shape of a carbon seat post at this point. Based on the fact that I have taken shots hard enough to trash ti rails on my seat, I can only imagine that would trash a carbon seat post.

 

[jebfour]

This is pretty much confirming what I thought that I should do.....buy a Thomson and call it a day.

 

[Wumpus]

Carbon seat posts? I've been through a few seats on my thomson seat post.

I can only imagine the shape of a carbon seat post at this point. Based on the fact that I have taken shots hard enough to trash ti rails on my seat, I can only imagine that would trash a carbon seat post.

As little as you ride, how do you do so much damage?

 

[MtnbikeMike]

Of the couple I have used, I've had no problems. Than again they weren't made by Easton, either

 

[maxyedor]

I have one on my road bike, mainly because I got it free (FSA K-Force, woot) and that my seat never moves on the road bike. For moutain I wouldn't go for carbon because all that movement up and down will destroy it and make it dangerous. Get a good Thomson or a Moots Ti, or go nuts and switch to the SDG I-beam.

 

[N8 v2.0]

I am using a Bontrager XXX Lite Carbon post on my singlespeed.

I like it ok so far.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/?action=view&current=1171254357.pbw

 

[luelling]

This is pretty much confirming what I thought that I should do.....buy a Thomson and call it a day.

Thomson is a bit heavier, but they kill it in reliability snd stiffness. Go for it

 

[MtnbikeMike]

I am using a Bontrager XXX Lite Carbon post on my singlespeed.

I like it ok so far.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v226/mtbnate/?action=view&current=1171254357.pbw

That's it, I'm selling mine.

 

[mastercycleman]

That's it, I'm selling mine.

Sell it to N8, afterall, im sure his could use new decals.....

 

[Angus]

I have used carbon, with no problems, but I prefer a Moots ti for comfort....

 

[zahgurim]

Thomsons are nice and are on every bikey I own, except for my XC hardtail. You'll appreciate a ti post on your hardtail a lot more. Try one if you're able to.
Thomsons are stiff as fook. Ti has a bit of sproingy goodness, and gets rid of the high-frequency trailbuzz.

 

[Trainwreck]

Likewise, I've got a Moots Ti seatpost on my xc hardtail-works great.

 

[stoney]

Thomson - Set your max ride height and cut the extra post.
Save your weight in wheels/tires, bar/stem, and pedals (see ti spindles)

 

[Dirt Merchant]

My friend had an SDG I-Beam XC post (carbon of course) and it broke riding UP a hill, talk about a crummy post.

Hard to believe: I've thoroughly abused my SDG I-Beam, and love it.
My Thomson was slightly bent when I replaced it.
The I-Beam does take the edge off a little, I guess...

 

[MikeOK]

I had an easton and it broke the first time I rode.

 

[BMXman]

hmm....I don't see how everyone is breaking seat posts...I mean they see very little abuse unless you crash. I have used both carbon and Thomson posts with absolutely no problems.....right now I have all Thomsons just because they're cheaper than carbon posts...D

 

[DRB]

I've never had an issue with the FSA carbon post on my Yeti.

I'd think that ti pedal spindles would be more suceptable to getting f'ed up than a carbon post.

 

[OGRipper]

hmm....I don't see how everyone is breaking seat posts...I mean they see very little abuse unless you crash. I have used both carbon and Thomson posts with absolutely no problems.....right now I have all Thomsons just because they're cheaper than carbon posts...D

200 lbs and seated climbing through rocky trails can put a surprising amount of load on a post.

From what I've seen, most fail where the head is bonded to the post. They also seem more sensitive to constant raising and lowering.

 

[Westy]

I saw a lot of people breaking carbon posts circa 2003, haven't seen problems since then. I still wouldn't use one on my Flux which has about 12" of post exposure.

 

[bluebug32]

I have one for sale right now on eBay....I guess that shows you how I feel about them

 

[BMXman]

I saw a lot of people breaking carbon posts circa 2003, haven't seen problems since then. I still wouldn't use one on my Flux which has about 12" of post exposure.

sounds like you have wrong size frame...D

 

[sanjuro]

It is funny how I have used 2 carbon handlebars (Easton only), but I would never use a carbon seatpost.

The clamp is certainly one issue, and changing the seat height frequently seems like a great way to gouge your post.

But there seems like there is a lot of stress coming in different directions, like constant sitting vs casing jumps. While you might think bars take the brunt of the force, during pedalling, it takes very little, particuarily compared to the load of a rider's full weight on the seatpost.