Weighting for a seat...

[Simon Brooke]

A couple of days ago I removed the saddle and seatpost from my Jekyll and
weighed them. 940 grammes - more than 2 pounds, or, to put it
differently, 7.6% of the all up weight of the bike. OK, I can replace
the (Brooke) saddle with a Selle Italia SLR, which I know fits me, and
that will save about 400 grammes; but that still implies the current
seatpost weighs at least 400 grammes.

Anyone got any particular recommendations for lightweight seatposts? It's
27.2mm diameter and needs to be at least 380mm long. I dislike one-bolt
saddle clamps because in my experience they tend to slip when you least
want them to, but I could be persuaded if it makes a sufficient weight
difference. I'm not fetishistic about material. It's a full suspension
bike so there's no need for any 'give' in the seatpost. I'd rather not
spend more than £50, but again I could be persuaded if it makes enough
difference.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
"The result is a language that... not even its mother could
love. Like the camel, Common Lisp is a horse designed by
committee. Camels do have their uses."
;; Scott Fahlman, 7 March 1995

 

[Simon Bennett]

Simon Brooke wrote:

> Anyone got any particular recommendations for lightweight seatposts?
> It's
> 27.2mm diameter and needs to be at least 380mm long. I dislike
> one-bolt saddle clamps because in my experience they tend to slip
> when you least want them to, but I could be persuaded if it makes a
> sufficient weight difference. I'm not fetishistic about material.
> It's a full suspension bike so there's no need for any 'give' in the
> seatpost. I'd rather not spend more than £50, but again I could be
> persuaded if it makes enough difference.

I've not had any problems with the USE Aluminium, it's extremely light and,
once adjusted, will not budge. The 2 allen bolts are a bit fiddly to get
right at first, and some people have managed to strip the very fine threads.
I understand USE have introduced a single-bolt version with a lower pitch
thread.

I have the 270mm version of this:

<url:http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDeta...rer=&UberCatName=&Cat=cycle&CategoryName=Seat
Posts&ProdID=5110000407&UberCat=0>

It might be a bit pricey. Mine was just over your £50 limit, but the 420mm
version is £59.84.

 

[Bryan]

A couple of days ago I removed the saddle and seatpost from my Jekyll and
weighed them. 940 grammes - more than 2 pounds, or, to put it
differently, 7.6% of the all up weight of the bike. OK, I can replace
the (Brooke) saddle with a Selle Italia SLR, which I know fits me, and
that will save about 400 grammes; but that still implies the current
seatpost weighs at least 400 grammes.

Anyone got any particular recommendations for lightweight seatposts? It's
27.2mm diameter and needs to be at least 380mm long. I dislike one-bolt
saddle clamps because in my experience they tend to slip when you least
want them to, but I could be persuaded if it makes a sufficient weight
difference. I'm not fetishistic about material. It's a full suspension
bike so there's no need for any 'give' in the seatpost. I'd rather not
spend more than £50, but again I could be persuaded if it makes enough
difference.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
"The result is a language that... not even its mother could
love. Like the camel, Common Lisp is a horse designed by
committee. Camels do have their uses."
;; Scott Fahlman, 7 March 1995

I'm currently using a RaceFace XY and have been very happy with it. Comes in at 270g (appartenly but I've not weighed mine), and chainreaction had them for sale for £47 IIRC. Wiggle also have Thompson seatposts for about £65, which come in about 210g.

Bryan

 

[daren]

I have a Easton EC70, single bolt but 220g. I'd expect the EA70 to be
similarly light. I plan to make mine lighter by cutting off the bottom
10cm.

My new bike has two set ups:

1) Luggage mode: Dura Ace pin, B17 and Carradice SQR - about 970g (w/o
Nelson Longflap...)

2) Lightweight mode: Easton EC70 (220g) and Filte Ti (220g)

The Carbon Easton EC70 does feel slightly smoother, even with the Flite
ar*e hatchet (which fits me perfectly). I plan on losing another 100g
with an SLR later.

Swapping is a 20 second job, and yes that is a full pound lighter.

regards,
daren

 

[James Thomson]

"Bryan" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I'm currently using a RaceFace XY and have been very happy with it.
> Comes in at 270g (appartenly but I've not weighed mine), and
> chainreaction had them for sale for £47 IIRC. Wiggle also have
> Thompson seatposts for about £65, which come in about 210g.

That's Thomson (no relation). The manufacturer claims 228g in the 330mm
length, so I'd expect a little more for the length Simon needs. There are
weight comparisons here:

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/listings/components.php?type=seatposts

There's an ebay seller trading from Singapore who will post any of several
diameters, 410mm long, inline or with layback, to the UK for just over
50gbp. I haven't tried him, but his feedback is good:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7183588529

One slight drawback of the Thomson is that the clamp supports a greater
length of the saddle rail (for strength), and this limits fore-aft
adjustment.

The Roox S4.2 is another option - inline only, but very long. Wiggle have
them for fifty and change. Of the two, I prefer the Thomson.

James Thomson

 

[Simon Brooke]

in message <[email protected]>, daren
('[email protected]') wrote:

> I have a Easton EC70, single bolt but 220g. I'd expect the EA70 to be
> similarly light. I plan to make mine lighter by cutting off the bottom
> 10cm.
>
> My new bike has two set ups:
>
> 1) Luggage mode: Dura Ace pin, B17 and Carradice SQR - about 970g (w/o
> Nelson Longflap...)
>
> 2) Lightweight mode: Easton EC70 (220g) and Filte Ti (220g)
>
> The Carbon Easton EC70 does feel slightly smoother, even with the Flite
> ar*e hatchet (which fits me perfectly). I plan on losing another 100g
> with an SLR later.
>
> Swapping is a 20 second job, and yes that is a full pound lighter.

That's an excellent suggestion that I hadn't thought of, thanks. Keep the
old, heavier-but-comfortable version for all-day exploring rides, and
use the light one for racing. In my case it will be more like 600
grammes lighter!

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

:: Wisdom is better than weapons of war ::
:: Ecclesiastes 9:18 ::

 

[Simon Brooke]

in message <[email protected]>, Simon Bennett
('[email protected]') wrote:

> Simon Brooke wrote:
>
>> Anyone got any particular recommendations for lightweight seatposts?
>> It's
>> 27.2mm diameter and needs to be at least 380mm long. I dislike
>> one-bolt saddle clamps because in my experience they tend to slip
>> when you least want them to, but I could be persuaded if it makes a
>> sufficient weight difference. I'm not fetishistic about material.
>> It's a full suspension bike so there's no need for any 'give' in the
>> seatpost. I'd rather not spend more than £50, but again I could be
>> persuaded if it makes enough difference.
>
> I've not had any problems with the USE Aluminium, it's extremely light
> and, once adjusted, will not budge. The 2 allen bolts are a bit fiddly
> to get right at first, and some people have managed to strip the very
> fine threads. I understand USE have introduced a single-bolt version
> with a lower pitch thread.

Thanks. I've ordered a USE Aluminium, 420mm, two bolt. Fifty squids from
my LBS.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; Sending your money to someone just because they've erected
;; a barrier of obscurity and secrets around the tools you
;; need to use your data does not help the economy or spur
;; innovation. - Waffle Iron Slashdot, June 16th, 2002

 

[David Martin]

Simon Brooke wrote:
> in message <[email protected]>, daren
> ('[email protected]') wrote:
>
> > I have a Easton EC70, single bolt but 220g. I'd expect the EA70 to be
> > similarly light. I plan to make mine lighter by cutting off the bottom
> > 10cm.
> >
> > My new bike has two set ups:
> >
> > 1) Luggage mode: Dura Ace pin, B17 and Carradice SQR - about 970g (w/o
> > Nelson Longflap...)
> >
> > 2) Lightweight mode: Easton EC70 (220g) and Filte Ti (220g)
> >
> > The Carbon Easton EC70 does feel slightly smoother, even with the Flite
> > ar*e hatchet (which fits me perfectly). I plan on losing another 100g
> > with an SLR later.
> >
> > Swapping is a 20 second job, and yes that is a full pound lighter.
>
> That's an excellent suggestion that I hadn't thought of, thanks. Keep the
> old, heavier-but-comfortable version for all-day exploring rides, and
> use the light one for racing. In my case it will be more like 600
> grammes lighter!

I have been considering gettng a new saddle for the various bikes I own
but with all the fun and games of gettign one that fit am reluctant to
splash out large amounts of money on an instrument of torture.

As a Brooks B17 fits me just right, it seems that (from what I hear on
the group) that the Selle Italia Flite or SLR would be about the same
size/fit?

Maybe I should set up a database of saddles so that those who like X
can also find other saddles that may suit.

...d

 

[Simon Brooke]

in message <[email protected]>, David
Martin ('[email protected]') wrote:

> Simon Brooke wrote:
>>
>> That's an excellent suggestion that I hadn't thought of, thanks. Keep
>> the old, heavier-but-comfortable version for all-day exploring rides,
>> and use the light one for racing. In my case it will be more like 600
>> grammes lighter!
>
> I have been considering gettng a new saddle for the various bikes I own
> but with all the fun and games of gettign one that fit am reluctant to
> splash out large amounts of money on an instrument of torture.
>
> As a Brooks B17 fits me just right, it seems that (from what I hear on
> the group) that the Selle Italia Flite or SLR would be about the same
> size/fit?
>
> Maybe I should set up a database of saddles so that those who like X
> can also find other saddles that may suit.

I don't think it works like that, sadly (although it may do). The Selle
Italia SLR (which fits me) is about the same width across the back as
the Brooks Professional (which also fits me, and is a little narrower
than a B17, I think), but it's an entirely different shape, almost
completely flat with no skirts at all. A friend who is also comfortable
on a Brooks Professional is not comfortable on an SLR because of the
lack of skirts - his inner thigh tends to rub on the seat clamp.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Anagram: I'm soon broke.

 

[daren]

Same length, but different width at the rear.

I find both comfortable and have very narrow sit bones. I have very
thin thighs too, so no rubbing on either. Try a second hand Flite. If
you don't like it you can resell. Interestingly I have a Brooks Team
Pro which is nowhere near as comfy as the B17. The B17 has a profile
closer to a Rolls saddle. I can ride 50km in Boxers and 3/4 length
baggies on a tandem (no standing) without any discomfort. I wouldn't
try this on a Flite

Both Brooks saddles were broken in by a certain Dr Ward occasionally of
this parish. The Flite has always been comfy from first fitting, as has
the B17. I have also broken in a Countess for my wife.

regards,
Daren
--
remove outer garment for reply