Saddle Plumbing Question
03-30-20, 08:10 AM
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Saddle Plumbing Question
Plumbing. Yes, you read that correctly. Here is my question for the Resident panel of experts. That 1898 Glenwood I redid over the winter deserves a better saddle, for looks if not for my hinder parts. Prob is, the saddle mounting rails in the TOC era was built on a .81” seat post. Is there some way possible to mount a modern seat to a post that small or is there a steel seat post that small in diameter to fit the modern era wider rail width?
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03-30-20, 08:22 AM
#2
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Clamp with shim?
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03-30-20, 08:36 AM
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Not sure how that would work. The seat rails are wider on newer saddles. I was thinking if I could find a straight pipe that size and use your clamp/shim method, I could use the kind of saddle clamp you find on kids bikes. That kind of seat clamp System is steel and “clampable”.
03-30-20, 08:57 AM
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Here is a pic. Maybe I can squeeze down the rail width another 3/8”. That may work. I want the one on the right to fit. The one on the left is 122yrs old. Things were a little different back then. 
03-30-20, 09:00 AM
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Would you consider new leather? If so we have resident saddle refitter.
OR one of these with shims.
P1000603 on Flickr
OR one of these with shims.
P1000603 on Flickr
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Last edited by SJX426; 03-30-20 at 09:32 AM.
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03-30-20, 09:18 AM
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.
...I have narrowed the rails on a saddle once by carefully squeezing the (steel) rails in the jaws of a vise. But it was constructed differently than the saddle you show as a replacement. If you do it on that saddle, I think the rails will pop out of the plastic shell. Then you are stuck trying to reinsert them with the rails deformed. Think about using a saddle with a solid welded frame, like a Brooks or similar.
...I have narrowed the rails on a saddle once by carefully squeezing the (steel) rails in the jaws of a vise. But it was constructed differently than the saddle you show as a replacement. If you do it on that saddle, I think the rails will pop out of the plastic shell. Then you are stuck trying to reinsert them with the rails deformed. Think about using a saddle with a solid welded frame, like a Brooks or similar.
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03-30-20, 09:37 AM
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03-30-20, 09:42 AM
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03-30-20, 09:47 AM
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Tidy workshop! Liking it.
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03-30-20, 09:50 AM
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I have no doubt that Rudi can releather this, but if the seatpost OD has to be 0.81", I think you'll need a lathe, which I don't have.
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03-30-20, 09:50 AM
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Or, with $$s and time, a TiCycles project. (Says he with two ti posted TiCycles units with 65mm setback and Thompson hardware. Complete joys to use and adjust.) Dave could either modify a Thompson clamp ( maybe) or make a similar one.
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03-30-20, 10:14 AM
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Assuming the frame has a removable seat post, there are three separate interfaces: frame-to-post, post-to-clamp, and clamp-to-rail. If you can fit a different post to the frame, then you have the option of fitting any seat that fits the post. If you can fit a different clamp to the existing post, you can fit any seat that fits that clamp; and so on.
Most seat posts made to work with a separate clamp --which was normal until fairly recently-- measure 7/8" where the clamp goes. It wouldn't take much of a shim to make up the difference between 0.81" and 7/8". But I'm sure I have clamps made for smaller posts. Do you want a better clamp, or a better saddle?
As for the saddles in the photo you posted... I don't understand how the clamp on the original saddle works. I assume it clamps to a horizontal section of seat post (i.e. a 7-shaped post). Could we have a photo, with dimensions, of the seat post and all the clamp parts?
Most seat posts made to work with a separate clamp --which was normal until fairly recently-- measure 7/8" where the clamp goes. It wouldn't take much of a shim to make up the difference between 0.81" and 7/8". But I'm sure I have clamps made for smaller posts. Do you want a better clamp, or a better saddle?
As for the saddles in the photo you posted... I don't understand how the clamp on the original saddle works. I assume it clamps to a horizontal section of seat post (i.e. a 7-shaped post). Could we have a photo, with dimensions, of the seat post and all the clamp parts?
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03-30-20, 10:19 AM
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03-30-20, 10:21 AM
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03-30-20, 10:28 AM
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Assuming the frame has a removable seat post, there are three separate interfaces: frame-to-post, post-to-clamp, and clamp-to-rail. If you can fit a different post to the frame, then you have the option of fitting any seat that fits the post. If you can fit a different clamp to the existing post, you can fit any seat that fits that clamp; and so on.
Most seat posts made to work with a separate clamp --which was normal until fairly recently-- measure 7/8" where the clamp goes. It wouldn't take much of a shim to make up the difference between 0.81" and 7/8". But I'm sure I have clamps made for smaller posts. Do you want a better clamp, or a better saddle?
As for the saddles in the photo you posted... I don't understand how the clamp on the original saddle works. I assume it clamps to a horizontal section of seat post (i.e. a 7-shaped post). Could we have a photo, with dimensions, of the seat post and all the clamp parts?
Most seat posts made to work with a separate clamp --which was normal until fairly recently-- measure 7/8" where the clamp goes. It wouldn't take much of a shim to make up the difference between 0.81" and 7/8". But I'm sure I have clamps made for smaller posts. Do you want a better clamp, or a better saddle?
As for the saddles in the photo you posted... I don't understand how the clamp on the original saddle works. I assume it clamps to a horizontal section of seat post (i.e. a 7-shaped post). Could we have a photo, with dimensions, of the seat post and all the clamp parts?
03-30-20, 10:37 AM
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Here is the arrangement:
03-30-20, 10:46 AM
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Are you sure that you want a modern seat post? Those TOC bicycles generally have such a laid back seat tube that the forward extension posts are necessary to get the correct saddle position.
03-30-20, 11:07 AM
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I have this, which you're welcome to have for cost of postage if it works. The post only measures 0.625" though. It's about half as old as what you have there (my best guess).
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03-30-20, 12:51 PM
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Will look for it after work. I'll let you know. It is off some old folding tadem that was only worth junk. The brooks one in the picture (Chrome) was on a 1972 AL post on a Le Champion. It may be the 7/8 version of post as it was necked down from the ST ID.
P1000590, on Flickr
P1000590, on Flickr
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03-30-20, 01:25 PM
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I’m trying everything I can to get around this problem. So far, that’s why I’m at the point of keeping the original post and trying to fit a more C&V seat to it. You know, too much time on my hands and it’s cold out.
03-30-20, 01:58 PM
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A Schwinn Varsity seatpost is 13/16", or .8125, and necked down to 5/8" at the top. I may have the guts here. I'll look.
I have seat guts to fit a 5/8" neck down. If the Varsity post option works and you need the guts they're yours.
I have seat guts to fit a 5/8" neck down. If the Varsity post option works and you need the guts they're yours.
Last edited by BFisher; 03-30-20 at 02:03 PM.
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03-30-20, 04:41 PM
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Thank you, this might work. I need to back away from it until later this week. I appreciate that!
03-30-20, 07:43 PM
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OldsCOOL Still looking for complete clamp but did find this. It measure .,878 in its relaxed state. I can imagine it will nearly fit. The cross bolt was stripped so I tossed it. Why I don't have the nuts, I don't remember. Its yours for shipping if you want it.
P1030126, on Flickr
P1030126, on Flickr
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03-31-20, 07:58 AM
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03-31-20, 09:59 AM
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I was able to find the Brooks one, it is on my Bottecchia. Don't know where the others are. The pic is 6 years old!
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