This is my first time posting...As a someone new to road bikes, It is good to have someplace to ask questions.

I just got home from a short ride - a little bumpy on the potholed streets, and my 8-day old carbon seat post cracked. I am a fairly big guy - 225, 6'3" but had been assured that carbon would support me.

My new bike is a Specialized Allez Elite Pro. Has anyone heard of any problems with the generic (at least I think it is - I can't find a name anywhere on the post) Specialized seat posts or carbon seat posts in general cracking like this?

Thanks.

That, of course, is not true, but I thought that it might get some attention and you some answers.

TF

Thanks. I hope it helps.

I did get some info. A cycle shop owner at the coffeeshop this morning told me it could be because:
the ring was too tight
the ring used was incorrect - a carbon post in an aluminum frame should have an offset ring, not a symmetrical one
carbon post in aluminum frame never works
My bikeshop was happy to replace it but were perplexed and thought abover reasons were BS. I went with aluminum anyway.

My bikeshop was happy to replace it but were perplexed and thought abover reasons were BS. I went with aluminum anyway.

You said is was a NEW bike? Why didn't you just collect on the warranty & get another Specialized CF post? I mean, it sounds like a fluke in your case...I'm sure Specialized wouldn't be selling thousands of those seatposts on their bikes if what happened in your case was normal...

I just picked up a new Allez Comp CrMo with the CF post. After getting it home I noticed that the back of the post had a raised section of the same width as the gap at the back of the seat tube. Apparently as it was demo'd in the shop the seat clamp was torqued to much causing the seat tube to "squash" the post. I was told that the clamp opening should be on the opposite side of the seat tube opening. I took it back and the shop swapped it for a new one.

Thanks for this. I am going to take it to the shop where I bought the bike. (they are still at a loss) I was at another shop yesterday and this came up. The guy there said it was also very important to buff the opening of the seat tube to ensure that there are no sharp edges and to definately not over-tighten the seat post in the tube. And yet another shop told me that the seatpost collar should be the style that bolts in on an angle (like the letter Q) Good luck with it.