[Poser]

Has anyone used these much or have one that they recommend or is there something else I should be doing.

The problem that I am having is I bought a Giant AC1 and it works great but I am busting my arse getting up the hills. I am 6'3" and weigh 215lbs.

I dont have enough post to get the seat up high enough for me to get up the hills effectivly. My legs never really extend when I am peddling and I am wasting a lot of energy. So I was thinking of getting the telescopic seatpost but not sure how good they are and if it is worth it.

Yes most of the rides I do I have to peddle my arse up the hills so this means sometimes 40min-90min of uphill to get to the good dh stuff.

Thanks
Kosin Trouble

 

[EBasil]

I think what you're after is a longer seatpost, rather than one that "telescopes" like a radio antenna.

Now, it's possible that you've got a bike that came with too short a post, but it's sounding like the whole bike is too small. Let's leave that alone for now and just leave it at these:

1) you can get seatposts 330 or more millimeters long, and that should be long enough. If not, the bike is too small.

2) the close-to-optimum seat height is found like this: sitting on the bike upright against the house/fence with the pedal as low as it will go on the rotation and your heel on the center/axle area of the pedal, you should just barely be able to lift your weight off the saddle. Set it at that height, and when you ride with your foot in the proper position the extension of your foot will give you adequate room to get off the seat, but with full extension of your leg (without hyper extension of the knee). You may need to lower the saddle for descending, so get a Hite Rite or a Sharpie and mark the post.


Whoops, I saw several other posts you've made. If your question was a joke, I missed it.

 

[Poser]

Originally posted by EBasil
I think what you're after is a longer seatpost, rather than one that "telescopes" like a radio antenna.

Now, it's possible that you've got a bike that came with too short a post, but it's sounding like the whole bike is too small. Let's leave that alone for now and just leave it at these:

1) you can get seatposts 330 or more millimeters long, and that should be long enough. If not, the bike is too small.

2) the close-to-optimum seat height is found like this: sitting on the bike upright against the house/fence with the pedal as low as it will go on the rotation and your heel on the center/axle area of the pedal, you should just barely be able to lift your weight off the saddle. Set it at that height, and when you ride with your foot in the proper position the extension of your foot will give you adequate room to get off the seat, but with full extension of your leg (without hyper extension of the knee). You may need to lower the saddle for descending, so get a Hite Rite or a Sharpie and mark the post.


Whoops, I saw several other posts you've made. If your question was a joke, I missed it.

No I am not joking about this. Let me elaberate (I think I spelled that wrong but ohh well I am a computer geek not a english major)

With the AC1 I cant put a typical 300mm post all the way down or as low as what I want it. For the dh part I like to lower the seat as low as possable for obvious reasons. I know the bike size is right, that is not an issue. Now this is the kicker, so please dont bash me to hard... With out thinking when I bought the bike, I put the seat as low as I could and it just felt to high so I cut off just over an inch so the post could be lowered to the height that I like for the dh part. What I wasnt expecting was the riding up hill to take so much out of me. Now I am used to a hard tail, so I am not used to the flex so with the flex (even when I stiffen the rear spring as much as I can (about as close to a lock out as you can get)) I loose a bit there too.

Basically it was my screw up for cutting the post to begin with. That is why I am looking at the telescopic posts. So I can get the seat as low as I like it but at the same time get it as high as I like it too.

thanks for the help.

Kosin Trouble

 

[binary visions]

Nah, EBasil, the problem with the AC is that it has an interrupted seat tube that allows almost no seatpost range. I think you'd be shocked at how little range you have if you haven't actually ridden one. So, if you want a tiny seatpost for freeriding/urban/dh, you can't have a long post for climbing.

Kosin: I gotta say, I tough it out with my tiny post (I just chopped the heck out of the stock post) on my AC2. But you can look into the Axiom post, it'll fit: my buddy has one. Your LBS should be able to order one... The only reason I haven't done that yet is because I heard some bad things about them bending so they stop telescoping - not to mention it voids the warrenty if you care (you can't use the shim, they don't make a 27.2 size).

edit: You posted a reply to EBasil before I finished typing my response!

 

[Poser]

Originally posted by binary visions
Nah, EBasil, the problem with the AC is that it has an interrupted seat tube that allows almost no seatpost range. I think you'd be shocked at how little range you have if you haven't actually ridden one. So, if you want a tiny seatpost for freeriding/urban/dh, you can't have a long post for climbing.


YEAH! Thats what I was trying to say... Sorry still new to this so not up on the terminology and how to properly explain things...

And thanks for letting me know about the warrenty... good to know!

Kosin Trouble

 

[binary visions]

Not sure if I was clear on the warrenty thing, just to clarify: the warrenty is void if you use a seatpost size bigger than 27.2. Axiom seatpost is made in a 30.8 which fits the seat tube perfectly without the shim. But, no shim = no warrenty!

Let me know if you get one and tell me if it works out for you!

 

[Tenchiro]

Damn, you must be all legs... I am 6'2" and have a 19" AC2 and haven't noticed the seatpost being too short.

 

[Poser]

Originally posted by Tenchiro
Damn, you must be all legs... I am 6'2" and have a 19" AC2 and haven't noticed the seatpost being too short.

ROFL... actually yes, I do have long legs.

My wife told me one of the things that attracted her to me was my long MUSCULAR legs...

If I was a women I could be a leg model... well maybe not too much hair and to many bumps and scares on them...

But like I say you do have to rember that I do weigh 215 so that flex I lose some height and with me taking over over an inch off the seat post that is why it causes he troubles when I raise it.

Kosin Trouble

 

[Tenchiro]

I hear ya, I weigh 230 and flex stuff like a mofo. Have you had any problems getting your rear disc aligned properly?

 

[EBasil]

Originally posted by binary visions
Nah, EBasil, the problem with the AC is that it has an interrupted seat tube that allows almost no seatpost range. I think you'd be shocked at how little range you have if you haven't actually ridden one. So, if you want a tiny seatpost for freeriding/urban/dh, you can't have a long post for climbing.

Kosin: I gotta say, I tough it out with my tiny post (I just chopped the heck out of the stock post) on my AC2. But you can look into the Axiom post, it'll fit: my buddy has one. Your LBS should be able to order one... The only reason I haven't done that yet is because I heard some bad things about them bending so they stop telescoping - not to mention it voids the warrenty if you care (you can't use the shim, they don't make a 27.2 size).

edit: You posted a reply to EBasil before I finished typing my response!

Okay, I get it now and feel goofy for having overlooked the interrupted seat tube thing. Sounds like that triathlon seatpost, the one that flips the seat forward/up or down/back might be the ticket.

 

[E-Man]

I just ordered an Axiom post for my Intense Uzzi SLX. I had the same problem - frame design does not allow you to slam the seat down far enough for the steep stuff if you've got it long enough to climb well. I should have the post Monday and I can let you know how well it works.

Also, they only make this post in two sizes: 30.0 and 30.9 (Specialized) and only offer shims for the 30.0 to fit a 31.6. I'd call 123bikes.com and see if they can help you.

 

[binary visions]

The 30.9 works for the AC series. It's a snug fit but all you have to do is run your clamp a little looser than with the shim. My buddy built up an AC frame from scratch and that's what he uses. It's pretty nice : just leave a little more seatpost than you think you want to cut off. You can always cut again...

That's the only thing I don't like about my bike... I want to be able to slam the seat almost on top of the seat tube... Which means I have to stand up the whole climb.

 

[Poser]

Originally posted by Tenchiro
I hear ya, I weigh 230 and flex stuff like a mofo. Have you had any problems getting your rear disc aligned properly?

sorry, if I am way off on this... You talking about aligning up the discs with the caliper? If thats the case it hasnt been too bad.. It is the first time I have had disc brakes so I just keep bringing it back to the LBS and get them to fix it until I can ride and turn without it squealing like a stuck pig.

Kosin Trouble

 

[binary visions]

Originally posted by Tenchiro
I hear ya, I weigh 230 and flex stuff like a mofo. Have you had any problems getting your rear disc aligned properly?

My rear disc is perfect, but I only weigh 145. It rubbed when I got it, I realigned it once and it hasn't rubbed since. However, my damn front disc makes this awful metallic "zing" noise when I turn the front wheel, which I assume must be the fork flexing and zinging the rotor against the pads. No matter how much I mess with it, I can't get it to stop. I've realigned the caliper numerous times, cranked down the rotor bolts, and checked to make sure the rotor isn't warped. I'm almost ready to set up the front brake to rub a little, because it's quieter to have a small amount of constant rub than to hear "ZING, ZIIIING" when I turn.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Toshi]

My discs make that "zing" too. I think it's unavoidable, and a result of weak springs in the pads letting them fall out a little from their retracted position when they're on the top side (when one's bike is leaned over in turns).

 

[binary visions]

I wonder if it's the little clips (on the back of the pads) that are weak.. And if replacing them would help?