Carbon seatpost stuck for the 2nd time in 1 day. What the hell is going on?

Triathlon Forum
1

So this morning after lowering my seat post, the whole seatpost got stuck. I immediately took it to the bike shop and they removed the seatpost after a couple of minutes. They applied some fibergrip and put it back without tightening the binder.

After I come home, I apply about a quarter tube of fibergrip on the seat post, around the seatpost area, inside the frame etc. to be 100% sure that it will never get stuck again.

Thereafter, I adjust my seatpost and just barely tighten the binder. I sit on the saddle for 2 seconds to confirm the height and boom, the seatpost slips down and is stuck again.

What the hell is going on?

See the attached photo.

I am probably taking it back to the shop monday morning to see if they can help once again.

IMG_20180210_174335.jpg

2

Why did you just barely tighten the binder?

3

Why did you just barely tighten the binder?

Because I wanted to confirm my position before fully tightening it. Obviously it was the wrong call.

4

Twenty dollars says the bottom of the post is stuck in the bend of your seattube. No amount of fibergrip will help you there.

See it as a learning moment. Even when you want to just check your seat height, torque up your clamp.

5

Twenty dollars says the bottom of the post is stuck in the bend of your seattube. No amount of fibergrip will help you there.

See it as a learning moment. Even when you want to just check your seat height, torque up your clamp.

You might be right. It also seems that the design of the clamp/seatpost binder is gripping the saddle too tight (see the photo).

Is there any way I could (safely) remove the seatpost myself so I save the embarrassing return to the shop?

6

Pull the seatpost out and tighten it up. No need to go to a bike shop.

7

Pull the seatpost out and tighten it up. No need to go to a bike shop.

Tried that. I put all my force to it and it’s not moving.

8

Pull the seatpost out and tighten it up. No need to go to a bike shop.

Tried that. I put all my force to it and it’s not moving.

Have you tried gently tapping the underside of the saddle with a mallet? (bikes are much sturdier than you think - I’ve been in your position and have needed quite a bit of force, and everything was fine)

9

Hello gazoome and All,

Perhaps cut a bit off the seat post end so it will not get stuck on whatever it is that it comes in contact with down there.

If it slid down and got stuck on a long ride it could be a problem … although you might find a rock you could pound on the bottom of the seat to get it unstuck.

10

What I would do is get someone to help. Have them stand on a pedal while pulling up on one side of the saddle. Then tap the other side with something like a wooden mallet. Then switch the side being pulled up and the side being tapped. Keep switching and increasing the force involved.