Is a Carbon Seatpost Worth the Expense?

[giant_guy]

I have a plain nashbar aluminum seatpost on my bike right now that I can't complain about. It weighs approximately 250 grams. I found a carbon seatpost on nashbar on sale for only $44.95. http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=14193&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

It weighs 229 grams so no significant weight decrease but I hear the carbon seatpost makes the ride much smoother but don't know.

I have some extra money right now for once and just wonder is it really worth the expense?

[waxbytes]

I have a plain nashbar aluminum seatpost on my bike right now that I can't complain about. It weighs approximately 250 grams. I found a carbon seatpost on nashbar on sale for only $44.95. http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=14193&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

It weighs 229 grams so no significant weight decrease but I hear the carbon seatpost makes the ride much smoother but don't know.

I have some extra money right now for once and just wonder is it really worth the expense?

No, buy something else if the money is burning a hole in your pocket. Spare tubes, a jersey, something like that is better use of the money.

[Dietmar]

I agree with the above post: If it's ride quality you seek to improve, then forget it. You won't feel a difference, other than you imagining you must have gotten something out of these dollars...

[free_rideman]

Plus a cheapo seatpost like that will only cause more trouble than anything. If buying carbon seatposts, at least get something better, which will obviously be more expensive. But I don't know why one would ever buy a carbon seatpost. They really don't do anything (cost more, break more, don't weigh that much less). Now a thomson, that is a whole different story.

http://www.lhthomson.com/elite_sizes.asp (Probably the best seatpost out there)

Use the money for something better. Not a seatpost.

[mikesbytes]

Carbon absorbes the bumps better than other materials. If you want a smoother ride, then go for it, otherwise don't bother.

[Dietmar]

Carbon absorbes the bumps better than other materials.
Yeah, but not in a seatpost. The effect of replacing the seatpost with a carbon one will be as close to zero as you can get.

[rudycyclist]

Carbon seatpost came on my ride. I agree with above posts. Basically if you want your seatpost to look cool then get it. Save up for some sweet wheels instead:p

[sfactual]

no.

[Rudy]

No...it's simply for the bling bling effect.....though I have one :p

[alfeng]

I have a plain nashbar aluminum seatpost on my bike right now that I can't complain about. It weighs approximately 250 grams. I found a carbon seatpost on nashbar on sale for only $44.95. http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=14193&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

It weighs 229 grams so no significant weight decrease but I hear the carbon seatpost makes the ride much smoother but don't know.

I have some extra money right now for once and just wonder is it really worth the expense?Changing to a carbon seat post IS mostly a cosmetic issue ... nothing wrong with that, BTW.

However, the main thing to be aware of is that the NASHBAR seatpost you are looking at has ZERO rear set-back ... that may be what you are using and/or what you are looking for ... BUT, if your saddle is currently as far back as it can be set in a "regular" seatpost (about an inch-OR-more set back), then you will not be happy.