Seat post - over the mark?

Totalnewbie

How bad is it to ride with the seat post past the mark marking the maximum you are supposed to lift it? Mine is about an inch over, leaving just over an inch and a half inside the tube.

I would buy a new longer seat post but there's a possibility work are introducing the cycle to work scheme so don't want to spend any more money on the current bike for this reason (it was given to me by someone who didn't want it so I had no choice about frame size etc) as I think the frame size is prob too small for me anyway so may end up getting another if the scheme comes in.

Can I get away with it for now?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/ ... 400572.jpg

Big Tcp

There's a greater chance of it snapping, especially if it's a sloping compact frame. It's only œ20 for a new Kalloy post, so why take the risk?

2191flint

There is a VERY good reason why manufacturers have a min. insert marker, as Big T correctly states you increase your chance of breaking it[:0] especially on a compact sloping geometry frame, as you are putting plenty of stress on the pin, risking a potentially catastrophic coming together of man and machine[:I] in an extremely painful way[:I].

Get a longer post before you do yourself a serious injury[:(][;)][:0]

Signature free - with immediate effect.


Me and my bike- http://aolpictures.aol.co.uk/galleries/flintosaur9/

Stig-OT-Dump

I got a road bike on a freebie and was faced with the same problem. Even with the post way past the mark the saddle was too low. I've got a new, longer post on order with the LBS. There were 2 main reasons apart from safety. Firstly I'll get much better performance with a higher saddle position. Second, as the bike cost hee-haw in the first place, so the money spent on a new post is hardly a great expense.

Even though this bike is my spare second, it still gets plenty of use so it makes sense to get it set up right.

Totalnewbie

Ah, thanks. What a pain. Don't fancy the seat post snapping while I'm negotiating traffic though so will heed your advice.

There is an LBS where I work that I can visit at lunchtime, so I now have the choice of putting it to a safe height and pedalling to work tomorrow with it a bit too low, or taking the bus...hmmm....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/ ... 400572.jpg

Totalnewbie

Just saw the third post - you mean this may be the kind of thing the LBS have to order in? Gah...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/ ... 400572.jpg

pbiggs

1.5" of post in that frame might just be enough, but it might not be! You risk damage to the frame as well as the seatpost.

You could get a new seatpost quite cheaply from your local bike shop. The peace of mind will be worth the few quid.

As a bonus, you may get one that allows finer tilt adjustment - to help get the saddle just right for comfort.

<i>~Pete</i>

pbiggs

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Totalnewbie</i>

Just saw the third post - you mean this may be the kind of thing the LBS have to order in? Gah...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

They should have something suitable in stock if the diameter is one of the common sizes. It'll be worth ordering one anyway - from LBS or online.

Totalnewbie

Knowing that bike (80s Peugeot in sig) it might not be a common size, the tyres are an odd size and had to be ordered in specially... I can't measure diameter myself as I don't have the calliper thing and it doesn't appear to be written on it. We'll see...

Thanks very much.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/ ... 400572.jpg

pbiggs

Good point about Peugeots - they have used some funny seatpost sizes. Still I think it would be worth tracking one down. Good luck.

Totalnewbie

Well I was right. It's an obsolete size. 24mm. B*gger. So not even the option to order!

Mechanic at Velorution said that unless I could track down a secondhand one, the only other option was to use a BMX 22.2mm post and a shim. Any thoughts?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/ ... 400572.jpg

el_presidente

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Totalnewbie</i>

Well I was right. It's an obsolete size. 24mm. B*gger. So not even the option to order!

Mechanic at Velorution said that unless I could track down a secondhand one, the only other option was to use a BMX 22.2mm post and a shim. Any thoughts?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/ ... 400572.jpg
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

you can make a serviceable shim from a coke can and BMX posts should be plenty long and cheap(ish). I'd give it a go if I were you cos it's not ideal to have too little post in the frame

Totalnewbie

I'm guessing that the BMX post + shim option is safer than keeping my current seatpost over the minimum insert, so I guess that's the way I'll be heading...bah nothing is straightforward with that bike!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/ ... 400572.jpg

el_presidente

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Totalnewbie</i>

I'm guessing that the BMX post + shim option is safer than keeping my current seatpost over the minimum insert, so I guess that's the way I'll be heading...bah nothing is straightforward with that bike!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/ ... 400572.jpg
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

that's part of the fun

Totalnewbie

Just to update, Velorution sorted the bike for me yesterday. It has a BMX post with a shim and looks quite neat.

I decided to let the mechanic sort it out as he wanted to try a few different shim sizes etc, and they only charged a few pounds labour. Plus the shim has a collar to stop it falling down, I'm sure I would have ended up losing bits of coke can inside the tube knowing me.

Nice to be able to put the saddle as high as I like!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/ ... 400572.jpg

el_presidente

if you find a strange urge to jumps & wheelies you will know why

Totalnewbie

Like people who have heart transplants suddenly having different personalities...

My bike must have a very split personality now, its genteel upright ladylike frame with the dropped crossbar contrasts a bit with the big grippy pedals I put on and now it's got a BMX seatpost...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/ ... 400572.jpg