Carbon seatpost - worth it?

[honesty]

I've got an idea of getting a carbon seat post to help with comfort (Rather than the very negligible weight benefit). My question is really on a steel frame (Reynolds 631) is it going to be worth it, or am I throwing away money here?

[simonineaston]

I used a carbon fibre seat post on a cycle with a 531 frame, as well as an alloy one, and coming to think of it a stonking great steel thing when I first got it... have to say that, comfort wise, I couldn't tell the difference between any of 'em. What difference were you expecting?
However. between the steel thing and the fibre thing there was a about a kilo

[Si]

You'd find much more benefit from wider (if you can fit them) or more subtle tyres (if yours happen to be very stiff).

Some people say that they can feel the benefit of adding carbon components, personally I haven't. And if the seat post does give any extra 'spring' it would also depend on how much post you have sticking out the frame - a compact frame ought to allow it to be more effective than a traditional one (if it actually works at all).

Oh, and changing saddle might help more too - but that's a bit of a minefield!

If you are relatively new to cycling you might find that you find things more comfortable as you get more miles in too. One has to accustom one's posterior to the act of riding.

[honesty]

A little bit of flex in the post soaking up the buzz from the badly tarmac'd roads round here (not potholes, just really bad tarmac jobs!) I think the current one is an alloy one so weight saving is not going to be massive.

New saddle already on order

And tyre's I've actually changed from schwable marathon 32's (old style ones) to Ultra gators at 25. So going to wrong way for comfort there really, but I'm not planning on touring at the moment.

As you say though, its a traditional frame geometry, so I only have around 6in of post sticking out, so probably not worth it.

I'm sure my wife will be happy about the money saving!!

[reohn2]

I'm extemely dubious of CF's claims of added comfort especially forks,seatposts and handlebars.
Wider supple tyres at the correct PSI for the load, will definately be more comfortable and if those wider tyres are light ie;P/racer Pasela or Ribmo or Schwalbe Kojak, they'll be quicker than an equivelent sized tyre with stiffer carcass too.

[cycleruk]

I have a carbon seat post in my 631 frame. I can't say it is any more comfortable than the alloy post and weight difference was zero.
The CF post was second hand so the price was right. .
I have had a problem in it slipping and, using the proper CF paste, it takes a lot of tightening up to secure it.

So is it worth it - NO. (not at normal prices anyway but, as I needed a new post, this one was.)

[steady eddy]

Some carbon posts are wrapped round aluminium and weigh more than the aluminium ones alone!! - Quite why you would want to mix those two materials in one component unless you were making a battery defeats me.

[Swallow]

I have a Tricross with a carbon wrap seat post. The only reason I can think is to make it appear like a proper carbon seat post. Absolutely pointless.

[Ayesha]

I have a carbon post ( FSA K-Force ) in my SWorks. The bike has Conti Supersonic 20 - 622 up at 140 psi in the rear.
TBH, I don't feel the saddle when the bike is being put to its proper use. The saddle ( Fizik Arione ) is just a platform to rest my butt when I'm warming up before the event.

[stoobs]

I have an Easton post and handlebars (carbon). I find them both to be stiffer than their predecessors, and hence give a harsher ride, which my body rapidly had to get used to.

[Vantage]

Have you considered a suspension seatpost? Mine is about as cheap and nasty as they come but does make a huge difference over a days riding. Plenty others out there of better quality though.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001 ... 00_s00_i01

[roadvader]

i personally think carbon is a fad and can be very dangerous,i was very lucky when my carbon frame decided to let go,could have been a lot worse,id would advise against carbon posts,bars and stems to,i have broke them all,stay with alloy for longevity and value.

[bogmyrtle]

Have you considered a suspension seatpost? Mine is about as cheap and nasty as they come but does make a huge difference over a days riding. Plenty others out there of better quality though.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001 ... 00_s00_i01

+1

[bigjim]

id would advise against carbon posts,bars and stems

And forks?

[honesty]

Yeh, interested in people's views of carbon forks as well. I can see that the weight saving is going to be much better with carbon forks, but anything else?