force10

As the title suggests I am looking for a recommendation to replace the aluminum post on my checkpoint alr5. Setback around 15mm.

I am primarily interested in more compliance. The Canyon Vcls s13 looks great but it’s awfully expensive so any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks.

mstateglfr 

https://whiskyparts.co/cockpit/no7_carbon_seatpost#/

It comes in 0 offset or 18mm offset.
For modern seatposts I had only ever used aluminum seatposts from Ritchey and Easton. The Whisky carbon seatpost on my gravel bike definitely flexes more.
I honestly cant say how much more compliant it is as riding was never uncomfortable on the aluminum seatpost, but this Whisky carbon seatpost moves more so its for sure more compliant.

Best part it its $95, well made, and not goofy heavy or anything like that.

chas58

It's worth it. Its amazing. I was gonna buy one, but it came on my bike, lol. Ergon sells it too. It is a 10 out of 10. Couldn't be better.

I bought the Specialized version (CG-R). Biggest piece of crap I have ever bought for a bike. I'm still pissed about it. Rating 0 out of 10. Never bought a worse product.

you could buy a thudbuster (ST). It ain't cheap, and it ain't light, but it will "fix" any stiffness problems. Rating 7 out of 10 (heavy, more complex than above, still expensive, but works great). I bought it for my tandem, but bought another one I liked it so much.

Moisture

Is 15mm setback enough for you?

The uno carbon seatpost i've tried was very stiff, and merely offered slightly better road resonance/vibration dampening. If you want actual compliance, you'll have to get a suspension seatpost. I've reviewed both the Suntour SP12 NCX and Satori Animaris on my account.

caloso

For an aluminum frame, I would recommend an aluminum seat post. Google galvanic corrosion.

force10

I was afraid someone would say that it it was as good as its price. To clarify, I am not looking at the split-style post that they offer.

force10

I am familiar with galvanic corrosion but I've not heard of there being an especial issue with aluminum frames and carbon seat posts - seems fairly common. Perhaps you have experience otherwise?

Moisture

chas58

What other seatposts have you tried? I stick to Suntour and Satori because they have the setback I need (24mm.)

What do you think of a suspension stem?

zen_

I have been really happy with Satori carbon seatpost and handlebars to add compliance and save weight over alloy w/o spending a ton of money, or worrying about generic Chinese stuff. Looks like you can buy one on Amazon now for $35...no brainer when the same brand name post that Satori makes is $100+.

msu2001la

My carbon frame bike came with an aluminum seatpost, and my older aluminum frame came with a carbon seatpost. I've also wondered about galvanic corrosion., but have not noticed any issues so far with either combo.

That said, I like the idea of upgrading to a carbon post on my carbon bike - more compliance is better right?. I've read so many horror stories about seat posts on carbon frames slipping and creaking that I've been afraid to switch. Plus my post is an oddball size (25.4mm) so my options are more limited. FSA SL-K comes in that size and seems like a good deal for around $90. Anyone have experience with that one? Zipp and Enve both have options as well, but they are $200+.

Every time I think about this, I conclude that what I have seems to be working so I don't want to mess with it.

caloso

I had a carbon frame that came with an aluminum seatpost that got so stuck that they had to put it in a bench vise and use the bike itself as a lever to twist it out. I replaced it with a carbon post and never had any problem since.

pipeliner

Galvanic corrosion requires dissimilar metals. Carbon fiber composites have no metal content.

masi61

Ritchey Flexlogic has compliance built in to the carbon construction AFAIK. I have the "Superlogic" post that has the :"flexlogic" tech to it on my titanium road bike. My Turbomatic Team saddle has elastomers under the seat rails but it still is a pretty stiff saddle. I can feel a softening over bumps with this setup on rough pavement.

caloso

https://www.corrosionpedia.com/galva...olymers/2/1556

force10

That must have been hard to watch.

Jazzguitar

It's not cheap but I've been very happy with the Roval Terra seatpost I picked up last year.

force10

That was the other one I was considering. Same price as the Canyon vcls.

You dont happen to be using it on an aluminum frame, do you?

Parkyy16

I'm gonna be the odd one out; I haven't noticed significant comfort difference between aluminum and carbon seatposts on the same bike back to back with the only change being the seatpost. Granted, I haven't tried the Ergon/Canyon split seatpost nor any of the suspension seatposts.

I had the cheap Kalloy aluminum seatpost and a carbon seatpost from Easton on my Soma Smoothie(I was trying out different setback). I've gone back to the Kalloy, because of the fit. I also tried a cheaper Ebay carbon seatpost that I didn't notice any difference from either.

I do have the Easton carbon seatposts on my Ritchey and my Breadwinner. I wonder if I spent a bit too much on carbon when I could have just gotten a cheaper alloy seatpost, but they look nicer.

I think I notice tire pressure and saddle more than I feel the different rigid carbon or aluminum seatpost. I know a buddy with a thudbuster on his cargo bike that he swears by, but he's not exactly concerned with weight on the Urban Arrow.

I'll add another potential recommendation(with no personal experience) for a PNW dropper/suspension seatpost. I've read some decent review of the Coast(I think?) that comes in 27.2 externally routed dropper. Might be an interesting option.

chas58

I've had rockshock telsscoping for a mountain bike (not great for Gravel)
Thudbuster great for gravel, but kinda big and heavy
Specialized CGR - horrid
Canyon/Ergon (single piece) ideal for gravel

Not a problem. Well, you should have some seatpost paste in there or something. If you just leave any seatpost in dry for long enough, it will get stuck.


You do need to use that gritty carbon paste for a carbon seat tube. Works great with it, rather poorly without...

​​​​​​​yeah, any seat post can get stuck if left in there dry for long enough, true...

I don't use a dropper, but I've heard their biggest problem for gravel is how stiff they are.

chas58

I'll summarize.
Not knowing what I had, I was gonna replace it, but was quite pleasantly surprised - amazed actually.
1) the first couple of weeks I would get off my bike 1/2 way through a ride and check my tire pressure. It road so smooth that I was convinced I had a leak in my rear tire.
2) last fall I was cruising along (20mph) some of the most horrid washboard I had ever seen, amazed at how smooth the ride was on my 32mm tires. I had totally given up on these roads 15 years ago because that washboard was such a nightmare to ride on with the equipment of the time.

Caveats -
its not a full sus bike. you are going to feel a pothole and hard hits that a mountain bike can take in stride. But it works wonders on the the chatter we get with gravel
Ya need a lot of exposed seat post - the more the better. If you only have 4-5" its not gonna be effective.
Alternative - I've heard the redshift seatpost is nice (and expensive), but it takes

chaadster

Getting compliance— i.e. physical deflection, also bump response— of the seatpost is not really a thing with typical seatpost construction, but if you have enough seatpost extension out of the frame, titanium will flex/deflect more than aluminum or carbon fiber. What carbon fiber posts can deliver is vibration damping, because of the CF structure. Personally, I don’t think there’s much in different seatpost material either way, so really it’s just about weight, clamp mechanism, and looks to me. That said, if I was going for marginal comfort gains, I’d go with titanium, but only if I was running a lot of extension, otherwise CF would be the easy choice.

force10

Thanks for all that. Particularly the caveat about the length of exposed seatpost. I haven’t seen that mentioned before and it makes sense. I have about 5.5 inches exposed, which I guess will make for a pretty marginal improvement.

base2 

At 97 grams (actual) & 315€ delivered to the USA I couldn't be more pleased. By far the most comfortable seat post I have ever owned.

Beware of eBay Hong Kong knock-offs. The real deal comes from Spain & requires you initiate an order via email.

My Darimo posts are mated to 91 gram AX-Lightness Leaf II Plus saddles. Better than the Brooks they replaced...& that's sayin' sumthin'! For 280€ each they'd better.

I don't know than many people would care to drop $650-$700 USD on a 188 gram saddle & post...& not even that such a ridiculous extravagance makes sense. I'm only saying that it is super comfortable & was enough so that I did it 2x for 2 bikes & would do so again if another such windfall happened along my way.

Highly recommended...In a once in a lifetime kind of way.

Jazzguitar

No, I'm using it on a carbon frame. You should be fine on aluminum, just use some friction paste.

KJ43

I have the Superlogic Link Seatpost and it's great. Super light and just a hint of compliance to it. Pricey, but worth it. It has a 15mm setback. So does the WCS Carbon Link Flexlogic Seatpost which has the same compliance, a bit cheaper and a bit more weight.

I love Ritchey stems and seatposts and have them on both of my bikes.