Do they actually improve ride quality on aluminum bikes? Or are they just good marketing? Just wondering if anybody has any 1st hand experience.
Thanks
Mark Bush
On my old AL bike the carbon post softened the bumps out. My butt still hurt after 3-4 hours. on ymcurrent carbon fiber bike I had to put an AL post in b/c the carbon ones (3) kept slipping. i don’t notice a ride difference on the cf bike.
Carbon is sexy. You need no other reason to add one.
-The coolness manifesto, it’s close
yes ,they are better ride. I highly recommend the record post.
I read two things: 1) it’s compression forces so makes no difference. Of course I read that after I changed all my seat posts to carbon 2) titanium posts are actually the way to go.
I use a thomson post . but I am curious about what exactly “fication” means.
I don’t want to start another thread on the elusive damping ability of carbon but here’s my take on this:
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I am not aware of any scientific test or paper, or technical report that has shown that carbon fibers reduce vibration on a bicycle (tires, bar tape, saddle, geometry, control comfort to a much larger extent)
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carbon is not inherently lighter than other materials
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the main advantage of carbon is the ability to vary its thickness and layering three dimensionnally, thus giving the frame/component designer a great flexibility in adding material where needed, and removing it where it is not needed, thus potentially achieving the optimal strength/weight ratio. You can also achieve shapes impossible with traditionnal material
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carbon is sexy, carbon sells, so they put it everywhere, and often where it should not be or where there is no reason for it to be.
If you have money, if you think it is cool, or if you like the fancy shape of the carbon seatpost go for it. If you are buying it for comfort reasons, you are wasting money.
Francois in Montreal
I have a giant aero carbon post on my aluminum bike that I wouldn’t trade for anything. It dampens most of the asphalt vibrations, but obviously you still feel the bumps.
----->Trent
I had an Easton EC70 carbon seatpost on my aluminum frame and ended up going back to aluminum post because it flexed so much. I do agree that there will be a little flex/sway and dampening due to the carbon, but it flexed side to side alot. And I was no where near its height limits. Plus it kept slipping. I havent noticed a reduction in comfort going back to the aluminum post.
I am riding a Giant TCR 0 and had a Thomson post on there for about 2 years. I just switched over to a carbon post and can feel the difference. Nothing else on the bike has chaged. I find that the post does reduce the amount of shock transferred up to the seat. I am very happy that I switched and can not wait for my Arione saddle to show up. I have one on my Dual now and like it so much that I am getting another.
In the past I was sceptical about carbon seat posts and I was not that keen to spend 100s for the look. Unlike some people who spend lots of money on a carbon seat post and may need to psychologically justify it, I bought mine for only 22 euro (a clearance sale) in a shop in Nice during a recent holiday in France. I tried the new seat post last week for the first time and during the first mile I felt no difference, but then there is a section that has some crappy road not far from my house, and I remember that I rode through it fogetting for few minutes that the surface there is not smooth and then thinking wow, this is much more comfortable. I must say that I changed the seatpost on my (alu) Giant road bike that has a very harsh ride. But since last week it is significantly more comfortable. So far I did not have a chance to go for a long ride, so that I can evaluate the state of my arse as a function of dumped vibrations.
My conclusion - it is a fact no a fiction (sorry fication)
Pluto
I switch between carbon and aluminum on my Scandium bikes, can’t tell the difference.
I switch between carbon fiber posts and aluminum posts on my aero aluminum road frame. Like JohnA, this john can identify no difference between the two. For those who claim to me able to tell a difference I have only two words : placebo effect.
That said, the carbon post looks way cooler and costs about the same amount of money.
My carbon seatpost is actually a carbon beam…and anyone who tells me it doesn’t make a difference with respect to road vibrations is on crack. Scrap the whole seatpost thing and get Soft.
Seatpost?..I don’t need no stinkin’ seatpost!!!
You haven’t felt “dampening” until you ride a beam bike!
Beam bikes rule!!
BTW - I put the M2 Racer on the SE7 today to get the seat higher and more forward - OK - so it works really well! I was able to lower the beam slightly and now the geometry matches the Zipp 2001…!!!
My carbon seatpost is actually a carbon beam…and anyone who tells me it doesn’t make a difference with respect to road vibrations is on crack. Scrap the whole seatpost thing and get Soft.
The beam is a suspension system. You would get the same effect with a beam made from another material. It would not, however, look as cool, and would not sell as well if ti was in Aluminium or Titanium (not that Softrides sell that well anyway…)
Francois in Montreal
Carbon posts are light, carbon posts are expensive, but they are not shock absorbing.
The difference in a bike’s ride has more to do with such things as geometry, build quality, and material. I would say that bar tape and tyre pressure makes a bigger difference.
If you’re a weight weenie who is under 200 lbs, get a carbon post. But don’t get it for ride enhancement.
Softride beam systems derive their suspension system from the elastomer between the two carbon halves on the classic beam. On the rocket beam the suspension effect comes from elastomeric material in the hinge.
If the suspension came from the beam itself the aluminum rocket beams would have no suspension effect.
Carbon is softer, period. It absorbs vibrations. It obviously enhances ride comfort, or else no one would use carbon forks (which is industry standard, except on cheap bikes), or carbon seat stays. I had an aluminum seat post, switched to a carbon blade with the same saddle and noticed a difference. I am not saying that I couldn’t feel the road, but the small vibrations are abosrbed. Over long rides (which is about all that I do) it definately is noticeable. If you are only riding 20-30 miles, then who cares about comfort…you are off the bike before comfort is even a factor.
----->Trent
I had three Softrides and my Rocketwing was a nightmare. Softride was unresponsive and unconcerned when the beam separated from the aluminum sleeve. Actually they said they knew of the problem with the beams, but didn’t feel it important enough to contact their customers. Mine seperated two weeks before Ironman Hawaii. I had to beg them to send me a new beam prior to the race. They made it seem like a big hassle to correct the problem by shipping the beam. I think the quote fro Softride was “are you sure you can’t ride it?” Unfortunately I saw a Rocketwing at bike pickup with the beam totally seperated.
After being one of the most loyal Softride guys for 7 years. The lack of service and concern of product issues made me buy something else.
When the one beam bolt kept breaking, they kept saying they would have a fix. This went on for 6 months. Finally at IMUSA, they had a representaive there who said some the specs on the frames were probably not exact and that contributed to the problem. He asked me to contact him back at Softride later in the week and they would probably replace the frame. He never returned a call and everyone claimed ignorance. I still have his busines card.
Loved the bike, but their service was disappointing. I can only hope that Chig can restore some customer service and quality at Softride.
Mark Bush