I’ve had my Adamo for about a year and a half and the left rail continues to droop lower and lower. I have the rails zip tied for normal use, but the problem is exacerbated without the zip tie in place. Its getting to the point where my taint is really noticing the difference in rail height on my long rides. I plan to contact ISM, but was wondering if others had found the same thing and if so a solution?
Fred
No, mine is not, it could be multiple thing. It could be from how you are trying to compress the opening. It could be that your seat is slightly twisted and overtime you have leaned or favored that side. I know that on my upper body, my right side is more developed muscularly, and as a result I have some overcompensation issues when cycling.
I can’t believe it!!!
You still have your Easter Basket out?
jaretj
YES!!! Exactly that problem, but it came from the factory out of alignment.
PM me if you want the details as I have no beef with ISM they were great on the 1st go around with a replacement, it was more the way the LBS handled the issue and me on saddle 2. I was so disgusted I just dropped it and gave the saddle to my girlies brother. Not worth the hassle.
Answer: Cobb V-Flow Plus
The problem is with your seat post. On my Cervélo P3 every saddle I have tend to get skewed sooner or later due to the fact that there is a small play/alignment issue with the hooks that hold the rails of the saddle.
I don’t know if there are updated parts with less play to solve this but maybe someone else here knows?
The problem is with your seat post. On my Cervélo P3 every saddle I have tend to get skewed sooner or later due to the fact that there is a small play/alignment issue with the hooks that hold the rails of the saddle.
I don’t know if there are updated parts with less play to solve this but maybe someone else here knows?
I would beg to differ on that it’s entirely up to the seat post. Yes you may have an issue with your post, but I’m on a CAAD 7 Optimo with no aero post/mast and had the same issue. Even while sitting the saddle on a flat surface it was clear my 2nd saddle had misaligned rails. To that end, my Cobb V-Flow sits dead nuts square my Cdale and no issues whatsoever.
Perhaps the Adamo could benefit from a bridge on the underside to stiffen up and stablise the fingers.
Having said that - I have one and don’t recall seeing any recommendations to use zipp ties. the fact you’ve used it against manufacturers guidelines will most likely negate any warranty.
If I was ISM I’d assist you but probably not warrant the product because who knows what the zipp ties have done.
I’ve had the same thing happen to mine. And the same thing is happening to a friend of mine as well.
I’ve changed to the V-Flow Max.
The first time I saw this problem in our shop, with a difference in level of forks, the almost new saddle was installed on a Specialized Tarmac.
The problem is not the saddle, it’s the seat post.
Just untight the screw from the seat post who is attaching the saddle and you will see the 2 parts of the saddle coming to he alignment. Good luck …
I was at the tunnel for a few days last month and there were 4 bikes in 3 days that went through (2 P2’s, a Transition, and a D-6) with that saddle. All four were just like that. Amazing that there are that many seat post problems out there.
Perhaps the Adamo could benefit from a bridge on the underside to stiffen up and stablise the fingers.
Having said that - I have one and don’t recall seeing any recommendations to use zipp ties. the fact you’ve used it against manufacturers guidelines will most likely negate any warranty.
If I was ISM I’d assist you but probably not warrant the product because who knows what the zipp ties have done.
I doubt ISM has ever recommended the Zip Tie thing but it’s a pretty common fix to keep the arms in a little closer together. There’s fairly a thorough review of the saddle from a couple of years ago that makes the recommendation for those for whom the arms are too far apart… I can’t remember where I read it. Might have been Bike Sport Michigan
it’s from where it is on the seat post mount.
it’s needs to sit in the middle of the rails or more forward on the rails.
if you have pushed it all the forward and mount is in the rear, the tip has no support.
Perhaps the Adamo could benefit from a bridge on the underside to stiffen up and stablise the fingers.
Ya mean like this? 
Yes. I have a brand new Adamo Road and it does the same thing. I have it on a Cervelo P2C. I contacted ISM and they were very helpful. It seems to be not too uncommon with Cervelo posts due to how they mount the rails. Here is what I figure. My wife has a Typhoon on a P2SL and no issues. The clamp on that post applies pressure to the rails from top to bottom to hold it in place. My P2C applies more side to side pressure. The saddle flattens out when I take it off the bike. I’m experimenting, but it seems if I can get the rails tight enough to hold, but not to maximum spec, the saddle does not torque. That’s what I have so far anyway. Taking it off an remounting it seemed to help though.
Tracy and I had the same conversation yesterday before our ride. She asked me to look at her Adamo (no zip ties) and sure enough, the left side is lower by a good 1-1.5cm. Is it the left side on everyone else’s? I just assumed it was the way she was sitting on the saddle. She’s had her saddle for about a year on a P2C.
Saddle is mounted on my P2C as well. I’ve played with the mount extensively. The mount is completely level. I’ve also swapped out about 4 other saddles (Aspide Triathgel, Arione Tri 2, Profile Tri Stryke, etc) and these saddles are perfectly level when mounted so I’m confident the mount isn’t the issue.
Good to hear I’m not the only one that has experienced this problem with the rails. I’ll let you guys know what I hear back from ISM.
Appreciate the feedback.
Fred
I just checked an ISM Race that has 3 hours of use on a few years old Felt…slight misalignment.
I think maybe yes and no as far as the mount goes. No, not a an issue with the mount per se, because most saddles are structurally connected at the front and rear. I imagine most saddles would twist under the same conditions if they had an open nose. If the clamp was only applying vertical pressure on the rails I suspect (although I can’t say from experiece) that the twist would not occur. When force is applied to the rails horizontally (a la P2C rail clamps) that is when the saddle is able to torque since there is no bridge at the nose.
All that said, I just completed my first IM on mine - and even though it was tilted slightly (rear though, not nose) I didn’t feel any difference. I was also motor paced during a recent fitting with this saddle and told that my hip alignment/pedal stroke looked fine, FWIW.
Here’s the pertinent part of the response I received from Dave at ISM (originally via Twitter and then via email!). I’m going to follow his advice tonight when I get home and double check the saddle rails.
"The culprit is likely not the saddle, but the seatpost. This is a common with Cervelo posts. First, take measurements and remove the saddle. Place on a table to see if it really is the saddle. Perhaps it is. If so, I want to get this taken care of. But as mentioned, it’s likely the seat binder bolt. Usually, you can simply loosen the bolt to level the saddle and retighten and you may never see this issue again. The reason this isn’t apparent with your other saddles is because they have a closed front end (nose). Even though the binder bolt might be putting unequal pressure on the rails, they are not independent and the seat doesn’t contort.
Please let me know. I want to take care of you. Feel free to post this on ST.
Dave Bunce
Operations Commander
ISM Saddles"
I can’t believe it!!!
You still have your Easter Basket out?
jaretj
I knew I’d get called out for that! My trainer is in our “bonus” room that is pretty much a catch-all for all my 2yr old’s toys even though she only plays with 10% of them now.