Looking for some input on seatposts

[lk1965]

I'm in the process of ordering my new Seven Axiom SL. So far I have my wheels picked out (HED Belguim C2's laced to Chris King R45 hubs), color scheme, saddle (is coming off my current bike), handlebars (my fitter is helping me with that, as I need something with a shallow drop/short reach). But the one thing I need to decide on, is what kind of seatpost to go with. I have a carbon seatpost on my current bike, and I absolutely HATE it! It creaks like crazy so I definitely want something that won't creak. What are most Seven owners using as a seatpost? Aluminum? Ti? Is there a preferred choice among Ti bike owners? I'm just looking for something that is durable and creak-free, please. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Linda

[Dajianshan]

Linda,

I have a Selcof titanium post. No noises. I am sure a Seven post would look and feel great. Seven uses a piece of soft plastic in the ST to prevent bonding and add a little insulation.

[vagabondcyclist]

I have a FSA SL 280 on my Lynskey Sportive. The post is basic, came with the bike, is a bit heavy, and isn't very flashy, but doesn't creak. It is is a bit of a pain to adjust, but now that it is adjusted, it's fine. I am thinking of putting on my old American Classic post on the bike, but that doesn't help you as American Classic changed the design of its posts.

Visually, I like the Moots Ti post over the Seven Ti post, but putting a Moots post on a Seven would be bad.

[ScottsdaleHokie]

Seven Ti if for no other reason than it just looks great on the bike.

[velocanman]

You didn't mention what seatpost you are currently using. All carbon seatposts are definitely not created equal. The squeaking is almost assuredly coming from the searpost clamp and not the post.

I have a Ritchey WCS carbon seatpost in my Scott CR1. It has two massive bolts on the clamp. My saddle creaks but not the seatpost.

Might be a good idea to go carbon and reduce the corrosion issues.

Sent from my HTC Incredible using TapaTalk.

[dcgriz]

On the Axiom SL I just ordered I went with the Seven Ti post, mostly for aesthetic reasons. On my carbon bike I have a carbon post and on my aluminum the post is aluminum as well. All three material are basically fine for the intended purpose of the seat post. The deciding factors are aesthetics and longevity; the Ti will outlast carbon but at a cost 2x the cost of a good carbon you pay the carbon replacement cost upfront.
Creaking could be coming from three places:
a. Seat tube to seat post. I use the high friction paste to coat the mating surfaces
b. Seat tube to binder. Grease between binder and seat tube and torque to spec.
c. Saddle attachment head. Two bolt design (best) or one bolt design (adequate), lightly grease where recommended by manufacturer and torque to spec.
A good quality carbon seat post with a good quality saddle attachment head should be creak free if installed as per above.

[lk1965]

Thanks everyone, for the feedback. My current post is a carbon teardrop-shaped Cannondale post. I currently ride a Cannodale Synapse Fem 3. I do not like the teardrop-shape at all because I cannot replace it. And yes, it could very well be the seatclamp that is creaking...it too, is a very crappy design, and that's not just my opinion but the opinion of nearly every mechanic and fitter that has worked on or seen the bike. I had my Seven fitting 2 weeks ago, and my fitter made some saddle adjustments to my current bike so now the saddle has been creaking ever since. Any time the saddle is moved or adjusted in ANY way, it creaks for several weeks. We've tried generously applying carbon paste...it didn't help. I'm not too concerned about it, as I'll be selling it once my Seven is here. I just don't want to repeat this scenario on my Seven. I want to be able to have saddle adjustments made without worrying that the post or clamp will creak afterwards.

[dcgriz]

It appears the creaking noise comes from the saddle clamp. It needs to be disassembled and greased with grease not carbon paste. Then the two ends need to be aligned; if they are not aligned the saddle will creak because the rails are not level so the pressure to the seat clamp is not even. The clamp will keep on creaking until the pressure from the rails is equalized and that's what is happening when, as you said, the creaking noise persists for two weeks after you set the saddle. The point is you do not need to sell the bike because of the creaking noise; it can be easily fixed.
As for the new bike, staying with the 2-bolt design will make things much simpler.

[lk1965]

It appears the creaking noise comes from the saddle clamp. It needs to be disassembled and greased with grease not carbon paste. Then the two ends need to be aligned; if they are not aligned the saddle will creak because the rails are not level so the pressure to the seat clamp is not even. The clamp will keep on creaking until the pressure from the rails is equalized and that's what is happening when, as you said, the creaking noise persists for two weeks after you set the saddle. The point is you do not need to sell the bike because of the creaking noise; it can be easily fixed.
As for the new bike, staying with the 2-bolt design will make things much simpler.

Thank you for the explanation. I sort of had a feeling it might be the clamp, since the fitter only moved the saddle and not the seatpost. I'll have my husband take a look to see if it's aligned properly. I will still need to sell the bike, simply because I probably wouldn't ride it much once I have the Seven...plus I could use the money to put towards the Seven. Also, we just don't have the room to store 4 bikes in our house...so one of 'em has to go.

Linda

[Timmoth]

I have a Thompson masterpiece inline post on my axiom. In 6 years it hasn't given me one minute of trouble hasn't moved is a perfect fit and some how is the right sort of engineering precision that just matches the axiom. Having said that if I needed a lay-back post I would t have chosen the 'bent' lay ack one. But the main point is that that the Thompson and the axiom are such a great match.

[lk1965]

I have a Thompson masterpiece inline post on my axiom. In 6 years it hasn't given me one minute of trouble hasn't moved is a perfect fit and some how is the right sort of engineering precision that just matches the axiom. Having said that if I needed a lay-back post I would t have chosen the 'bent' lay ack one. But the main point is that that the Thompson and the axiom are such a great match.

Did you get the black or silver Masterpiece? I'm wondering if the silver matches up with the Ti finish?

[Timmoth]

I got the black one, I never really considered the silver. Another factor that made me choose the Thompson post was the durability of the finish as I knew I was going to ride the bike all winter in all weather conditions on some very rural roads and my experience from from running them on mountain bikes meant I knew the finish was durable.

One of my original objectives in getting the axiom was to reduce the bike collection by having one great 'all rounder' it worked! Good luck!

[mgringle]

I'm getting the Seven carbon post with my Axiom SL I've decided.

[RoadBoy1]

As others have said here most of the time any creaking is going to come from the saddle rail/seat clamp junction. With that said I am partial to the Ritchey two bolt seat posts. Once tightened down they hold like you would not believe. I am a big guy, 220 lbs and I have never had a Ritchey seatpost slip or creak. Good luck!

[bob.satan]

I have the seven seatpost and the seven stem on my Mudhoney SL.

the biggest thing that I have noticed is that the bike fits and my enjoyment of riding has improved significantly. I havent noticed the parts at all (execpt for the dure-ace which was a jump from the ultegra mix I had on my old bike)

both the stem and seatpost are a signifcant expense (the price that I sold my complete old bike for), but for me it was to complete the package.

btw I have the similar wheel set-up, with the CK disc hub instead and the HED with a 23mm rim, so I can run 32 rubber and they are great

[diamonduck]

i have compared a seven and a thomson and a specialzed S-works seatpost,and i felt that the thomson seatpost was very stiff .the seven was very comfy,and was the best experince of the all

[jstorm940]

I'm in the process of ordering my new Seven Axiom SL. So far I have my wheels picked out (HED Belguim C2's laced to Chris King R45 hubs), color scheme, saddle (is coming off my current bike), handlebars (my fitter is helping me with that, as I need something with a shallow drop/short reach). But the one thing I need to decide on, is what kind of seatpost to go with. I have a carbon seatpost on my current bike, and I absolutely HATE it! It creaks like crazy so I definitely want something that won't creak. What are most Seven owners using as a seatpost? Aluminum? Ti? Is there a preferred choice among Ti bike owners? I'm just looking for something that is durable and creak-free, please. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Linda

I have a Seven SLX. I went with a Thomson Elite (alum.) seatpost, the model with
no setback. Looks good, and is very easy to adjust the seat angle, and is very solid, but
not real heavy. They have a more expensive model also that will save a few grams.
Only 700 miles on it so far, but I have heard others mention that its a very solid seatpost and not likely to cause any problems.

[mgringle]

I have the seven carbon post and it never creaks. It is difficult to adjust though.

[medimond]

I started out with the Seven Alum seat post but it wouldn't hold the saddle level, it just kept slipping, plus it was a PITA to adjust. I swapped it out for a S-works carbon and after it slipped initially, it working as intended.

[JBF]

I run a Deda Blackstick carbon post on my Axiom with no problems. I don't think you will get creaking from any post given the incert that Seven uses in it's seat tubes. I am thinking of going to a Ti post mainly for aethetic reasons and will probably go to the Erickson setback post.