ITM Visia Seatposts - any good?

turkeytickler

Hi there

I am trying to find a carbon seat post for my Bianchi 1885 - the problem is that it needs a 31.4 post - very hard to find. I have managed to find an ITM Visia from wiggle but I know these are alloy with a carbon wrap.

Any opinions on whether the carbon wrap is anything other than cosmetic? Does it actually have any benefit?

tt

synchronicity

Yes if it's done right there is a small benefit. Depending on the thickness of the wrap + core it will be theoretically stronger + stiffer (than an alloy post). It may not be any lighter than a standard alloy post though...

One exception seems to be the carbone pump... I don't know why they bothered using CF with that one. :roll:

Slow Downcp

I had a similar problem with my Bianchi - easily got around though by fitting a shim and then any 'standard' carbon 27.2mm post will fit.The other advantage is that the narrower 27.2mm post should give a little more comfort.

turkeytickler

Thanks for the advice guys - I had actually gone an ordered the thing this morning, then I thought I would just double check the seatpost in there already and its 31.6!! Horay - a whole new world of possibilities has opened up!!

Im still slightly confused because I really did think the 1885 2005 model was 31.4...... :?

turkeytickler

Does anyone know why the Visia is so heavy compared to other posts?

Even the cheaper Forged Lite Alu/Carbon weights less.... 350G seems on the heavy side even for an alloy seatpost.... is the visia just expensive bling? (Im only asking because I got sucked in bought one and now im regretting it....)

Smokin Joe

With my Moany Old Git hat on;

Seatposts are just a utility. All the cobblers talked about comfort and performance is just a load of old tosh dreamt up by the marketing men and willingly ingested by the magazine reviewers and those of us (me included) who are happy to be blowing our dosh on the latest bling.

Anyone who can tell whether they are sitting on a fifteen quid ally post or a £150 carbon one must have a backside with an incredable degree of sensitivity. If cheap and cheerful comes in at the right weight buy that and save your money for a better set of tyres.

brian t

I agree with my learned colleague.

I have two seatposts that go between my Litespeed titanium frame and SLK saddle (the one with the long split): a record titanium; and an anonymous full carbon (not alloy / carbonwrap) that cost £20 from an Internet shop. Maybe I should be able to tell the difference, but once I am on the bike I can't. Maybe there is sufficient give in the frame to minimise the effect of the seatpost. I am beginning to suspect that the princess who could feel a pea under seven mattresses may be just a fairy tale.

turkeytickler

Im sure you are both right - I am replacing an old scratched alloy post - it was the only one i could find that would fit when i bought the frame - i just wanted something a little prettier - hence only spending the £30 in the wiggle sale on a carbon wrap affair. The only criteria I really had (and I should have checked before i ordered it) was that I wouldnt be replacing the ougoing with something heavier.

The visia is 350g. It is alloy with carbon wrap. Most entry level alloy posts are around the 200g-300g mark - my only question is why on earth is the damn thing so heavy? ITM do a cheaper Alu/Carbon wrap that weights 280g. Who in their right minds would fork out the list price of £49.99 for one of these? Apart from me obviously :oops: