I’m looking to get a forward bend seatpost for my current TT/tri bike, which has a 75 degree seat tube angle (and cost me under $600 new). I saw this cheap one on ebay, and it’s not much more than the typical aluminum post, and about the same as a carbon fiber setback post. The downside is that the bend appears a bit less extreme on the cheap Mosso brand, so if I turn it forward I might be lucky to get to 80 degrees. I’m just a poor athlete (poor in skills, not money, but I’m cheap) looking to finish anywhere from 12-14 hrs this coming IMAZ, depending on how motivated I get.
So to summarize the GOOD: 1) Cheap(er), 2) Ti alloy bling, 3) won’t impale me if it breaks; the BAD: 1) not much bend, and 2) it outshines my bike. Is there anything I’m missing here? In other words, do I order the cheapie off ebay today, do I stick with the aluminum setback, or do I stop and rethink my entire life.
After a bit more research, I found that Campagnolo does not make titanium seatposts any longer, and I can’t find that they ever made one with a bend. And Moots makes one with an MSRP of $280. Since the aluminum, carbon and titanium setback/bend all have their lowest prices from $80 - 120, I would pick the titanium for its marginally better shock absorption, being a bit lighter than aluminum (except Thomson Masterpiece) and for not leaving a jagged end like in the case of catastrophic failure of carbon posts. I’m not quite so worried about making the seatpost sparkle in the sunlight. I’ll have to think a bit longer before I send my money off to some guy in China. His profit margin on this purchase alone may feed his family for a week, but it still takes two weeks to get shipped here. So from that perspective, another day of shopping won’t kill me.
i think you should just stick to a Thomson Elite setback in silver.
you talk about catastrophic failure of carbon components, but apparently you have not seen Ti fail before. It is not pretty and fails very suddenly and quickly if not manufactured properly.
Campy has not had Ti for about 5 years, there is allot of NOS out there however.
Now, I have ridden Alu, Steel, Carbon and Ti seat posts…cant say I can tell one from another in my rear end. Then again, I also have issues with wine (or was that whine?).
i think you should just stick to a Thomson Elite setback in silver.
I never let a seatpost thread go by without pimping Thomson… No, I’m not affiliated with them in any way, but I do own one of each of their 3 posts for different bikes: regular Elite, setback (turned around forwards), and masterpiece. Plenty light, highly durable, and relatively inexpensive (also comes in plenty of sizes, if you need such). Best round post out there, hands down.
I looked at the Valdora, and aside from Footwerx scaring me with catastrophic Ti failure, the Valdora post is only 250mm and my 6’2" frame makes it infeasible. On the other hand, the Thomson Elite is available at TriSports, and the in-state sales tax will be offset (and more) by the ST discount. Man, my cheap habits die hard. Trisports doesn’t mention color on the product page, though. I’ll work out the details tomorrow.
Just to be clear, i’m not saying all Ti is bad. I do own a Ti bike. I’m just saying buying Ti components from a brand that is completely unknown is a bit sketchy, especially for that kind of price.
Just to be clear, i’m not saying all Ti is bad. I do own a Ti bike. I’m just saying buying Ti components from a brand that is completely unknown is a bit sketchy, especially for that kind of price.
Unknown to you, and that’s ok… Valdora doesn’t blanket advertise.
There are more than a few 100% satisfied Valdora riders out there.
i wasn’t referring to Valdora. i was talking about the one the poster found on Ebay where the seller was from Hong Kong and the manufacturing was probably done in China.
When I finished my shopping, I was very impressed with the Valdora except for its post length. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the only length I found was the 250mm, so I must assume it is the only length manufactured. If they had a 300mm or even 280mm, it would have been an easy decision. I know that the Valdora Ti post is designed for people whose bikes are on the weight watchers program, but how am I going to get my seat up as high as I can with a post that size? I ordered the silver Thomson Elite 330mm post from an amazon affiliate, just $80, free shipping, no sales tax. If I’m lucky, I’ll get to 80 degrees with it. This means that someone else will get the opportunity to try out the chinese manufacturing, and Valdora with its manufacturing will continue to have a few happy customers with relatively shorter seatposts.
Heh…you may be new but I sure do like you. I prefer my bits made in the good old USofA and or Italy (dont burst my damn bubble with the fact that most Campy carbon is made in China either now).
