Mountain Bikes · Public discussion

Cutting Seatposts

Started by Chris Garwood · · Last activity · 26 posts · 1,599 views

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Mountain Bikes
Published
21 April 2003
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23 April 2003
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Chris Garwood
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  1. Hi All

    Quick question, but where you are cutting a seatpost there is a formula for working out what the min
    insert should be or something, isn't it like 3.5 times the diameter ?

    Thanks in advance

    Cheers

    Chris

    --
    =========================================
    "Pppplllleeeaaaseee Stop" - NPS Marshal

    mtbbikes.co.ukmtbbikes.co.uk

  2. In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

    Quoted message said:

    Hi All

    Quick question, but where you are cutting a seatpost there is a formula for working out what the
    min insert should be or something, isn't it like 3.5 times the diameter ?

    Thanks in advance

    Cheers

    Chris

    --
    =========================================
    "Pppplllleeeaaaseee Stop" - NPS Marshal

    mtbbikes.co.ukmtbbikes.co.uk

    The method i used when sizing my new post was to measure the original min insertion length, cut the
    post and then measure up the post and scrape a ring of paint off at the previously measured length.
    i then of course use a very fine brush and some white epoxy paint to fill in the paint scratch (the
    post is black).

    There may be some formula to do it correctly, i just figured this was the safest way to go.

    ~Travis
    --
    To reply by email, remove clothes.

    travis5765.homelinux.net, Primary Administrator TF Custom Electronic, Owner/Founder/Developer
    (current project: Automotive exhaust flame-thrower)

  3. "Chris Garwood" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Hi All

    Quick question, but where you are cutting a seatpost there is a formula


    for

    Quoted message said:

    working out what the min insert should be or something, isn't it like 3.5 times the diameter ?

    At least make sure the post extends a couple inches below where the top tube is welded to the
    seat tube.

    Gary in VA

  4. Chris Garwood said:

    Hi All

    Quick question, but where you are cutting a seatpost there is a formula for working out what the
    min insert should be or something, isn't it like 3.5 times the diameter ?

    It depends.. Some seatposts are internally butted and cutting them down could compromise it's
    integrity.

    Unless you are riding a "Y" frame type, full squish and the seat-post is hitting the tire, why would
    you want to cut it?

  5. "John G" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Chris Garwood said:

    Hi All

    Quick question, but where you are cutting a seatpost there is a formula


    for

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    working out what the min insert should be or something, isn't it like


    3.5

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    times the diameter ?

    It depends.. Some seatposts are internally butted and cutting them down could compromise it's
    integrity.

    Unless you are riding a "Y" frame type, full squish and the seat-post is hitting the tire, why
    would you want to cut it?


    to shave 2.4567 grams and be able to eat one more dozen of donuts without messing up the weight to
    power relation.

  6. John G said:

    Unless you are riding a "Y" frame type, full squish and the seat-post is hitting the tire, why
    would you want to cut it?

    'cause it's kewl to cut down parts. I hear there are a few riders in this NG who even cut down there
    handlebars, (can't have a extra 1 inch sticking out or some other dumb sh!t reason).

    Possible a weight saving measure, this may actually save and oz. or a couple of grams.

    Or perhaps they bought the wrong length post and lost the receipt.

    Dunno Clyde, jus' dunno.

    Bill The mind serves properly as a window glass rather than as a reflector, that is, the mind should
    give an immediate view instead of an interpretation of the world.
    :-]

  7. In article said:

    'cause it's kewl to cut down parts. I hear there are a few riders in this NG who even cut down
    there handlebars, (can't have a extra 1 inch sticking out or some other dumb sh!t reason).

    Possible a weight saving measure, this may actually save and oz. or a couple of grams.

    Sometimes, having a couple kilometres of post is just a pain. Why do you want a really long post if
    you aren't using a bunch of it? Why do people cut the cables to the right length instead of leaving
    an extra 30cm at the end just in case?

    JS

    --
    ========================= [email hidden] ========================
    Jan Sacharuk Member in Good Standing of The Discordian Solidarity Turn on viewing of the X-Geek-Code
    header to see my Geek Code
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Of course this is the best of all possible worlds. I'm in it. -Solomon Short

  8. John G said:
    Chris Garwood said:

    Hi All

    Quick question, but where you are cutting a seatpost there is a formula for working out what the
    min insert should be or something, isn't it like 3.5 times the diameter ?

    It depends.. Some seatposts are internally butted and cutting them down could compromise it's
    integrity.

    Unless you are riding a "Y" frame type, full squish and the seat-post is hitting the tire, why
    would you want to cut it?

    Lots of reasons.

    In my case it was because the LBS only stocked a 410mm post in the diameter I needed. The post
    worked fine, but if I lowered it about 1" it hit an obstruction in the seat post where the
    rear suspension was welded to the seat post. I wanted most adjust ability so I cut the 410mm
    post to 350mm.

    I'm sure that others have reasons too. It's easy enough to do so what's the big deal?

    For Thomson posts the minimum insertion is 100mm. I made sure that I have at least that much in the
    frame after the cut was made.

  9. John G said:
    Chris Garwood said:

    Hi All

    Quick question, but where you are cutting a seatpost there is a formula for working out what the
    min insert should be or something, isn't it like 3.5 times the diameter ?

    It depends.. Some seatposts are internally butted and cutting them down could compromise it's
    integrity.

    Unless you are riding a "Y" frame type, full squish and the seat-post is hitting the tire, why
    would you want to cut it?

    I've been tempted to cut mine. 31.6mm diameter, 410mm length. When I drop the saddle all the way to
    fit it into the trunk of my Jeep (I built a fork mount rack that works quite nicely) it hits the
    downtube bottle cage bolt. it JUST fits into the car now - if I could drop it that extra two inches,
    then it would fit much easier. Same for doing trialsy stuff - sometimes its nice to have a couple
    more inches of clearance putzing around the campus (it also wouldn't hit my thighs as much if it was
    a tiny bit lower).

    i could cut off enough to make a somewhat significant weight gain, in terms of weight weeniedom. If
    you're 200+ pounds, then no biggie, but when you're 135 all those little ounces here and there can
    really add up. then again, I've considered putting Ti and Aluminum bolts all over my new bike, and
    its getting carbon fiber spacers... 😉

    Jon Bond

  10. Eric Lafferty said:

    It's easy enough to do so what's the big deal?

    As I stated earlier, _some_ seatposts are internally butted so they are thicker at the clamping area
    and thinner elsewhere. if you are now changing the actual clamping area, you might possibly be
    clamping down on an area not designed to sustain such clamping forces, and thus crush the post

  11. Jonathan Bond said:

    then again, I've considered putting Ti and Aluminum bolts all over my new bike, and its getting
    carbon fiber spacers... 😉

    <Pssst> hey kid <psst> wanna buy some Ti? I got some Ti innet and outter chainring bolts. Come on,
    you know you wanna.... Finest kind, highest grade. Commercially pure.

    --
    John G. god-dam the (Ti) pusher man

  12. John G said:

    <Pssst> hey kid <psst> wanna buy some Ti? I got some Ti innet and outter chainring bolts. Come on,
    you know you wanna.... Finest kind, highest grade. Commercially pure.

    Yeah, but do they stick to magnets like proper ones do? 🙂

    --
    a.m-b FAQ: t-online.deambfaq.htm

    b.bmx FAQ: t-online.debmx faq.htm

  13. John G said:

    <Pssst> hey kid <psst> wanna buy some Ti? I got some Ti innet and outter chainring bolts. Come on,
    you know you wanna.... Finest kind, highest grade. Commercially pure.
    --
    John G. god-dam the (Ti) pusher man

    Wow... I guess that makes me a ti kingpin. I need a macho nickname - how about "scarknees"?

    Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.com Home of the $695 ti frame

  14. Jan Sacharuk said:

    Sometimes, having a couple kilometres of post is just a pain.

    Yeah, I would imagine so... like for example, having to mount your bike with the use of a
    helicopter. Plus, I'd have to believe finding a stem to get the bar height right would be a [censored].
    And I wouldn't want to ride it down much of a hill!

    Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.com Home of the $695 ti frame

  15. bomba said:
    John G said:

    <Pssst> hey kid <psst> wanna buy some Ti? I got some Ti innet and outter chainring bolts. Come
    on, you know you wanna.... Finest kind, highest grade. Commercially pure.

    Yeah, but do they stick to magnets like proper ones do? 🙂

    Not even my super powered neodymium magnets!

  16. "John G" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Eric Lafferty said:

    It's easy enough to do so what's the big deal?

    As I stated earlier, _some_ seatposts are internally butted so they are thicker at the clamping
    area and thinner elsewhere. if you are now changing the actual clamping area, you might possibly
    be clamping down on an area not designed to sustain such clamping forces, and thus crush the post

    Am I being particularly thick or does this have no effect whatsoever on whether the post is cut or
    not? if its clamping on an area it will be clamping there whether there is 3'' or 3' below it.

  17. So what you're saying is that you shouldn't adjust your seatpost to the proper height because it
    could be in an area where it is butted??? What does that have to do with cutting the post that is
    way down in the frame?

    Lee

    "John G" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Eric Lafferty said:

    It's easy enough to do so what's the big deal?

    As I stated earlier, _some_ seatposts are internally butted so they are thicker at the clamping
    area and thinner elsewhere. if you are now changing the actual clamping area, you might possibly
    be clamping down on an area not designed to sustain such clamping forces, and thus crush the post

  18. Bill Wheeler wrote: I hear there are a few riders in

    Quoted message said:

    this NG who even cut down there handlebars, (can't have a extra 1 inch sticking out or some other
    dumb sh!t reason).

    Ever clip a tree?

  19. spademan o---) * said:

    "John G" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Eric Lafferty said:

    It's easy enough to do so what's the big deal?

    As I stated earlier, _some_ seatposts are internally butted so they are thicker at the clamping
    area and thinner elsewhere. if you are now changing the actual clamping area, you might possibly
    be clamping down on an area not designed to sustain such clamping forces, and thus crush the post

    Am I being particularly thick or does this have no effect whatsoever on whether the post is
    cut or not?

    No, you are right in your thinking..... _IF_ you are dealing w/a butted post and youa are already
    clamping in a non butted area, because it is of the wrong lenght, it matters not. Which only
    underscores the necessity to purchase a post of the correct size rahter than cut it one down that is
    too long.....

  20. Lee Bower said:

    So what you're saying is that you shouldn't adjust your seatpost to the proper height because it
    could be in an area where it is butted???

    Yeah, I guess I did say that..... I blame it on the Triple Boc I had last night and lack of caffeine
    this morning

    Quoted message said:

    What does that have to do with cutting the post that is way down in the frame?

    Apparently, nothing

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