Colnago CLX seat post replacement?

oldskoolkool

Ive got a Colnago CLX but i want to replace the seatpost with an aluninium one that won't slip down or be damaged by overtightning,is there an aftermarket replacement or does anyone know where i could get a custom made one????

robbarker

Try some carbon assembly paste, such as tacx. It helps the seatpin to grip.

mrushton

Is the Colnago a special size or the standard 27.2 or o/size? If it's their own size maybe a USE Sumo in Ti with a USE shim will work

Ash_

It's a Colnago specific product, so there are no after market replacements (apart from buying another one of the same). Believe me, after cracking a CLX seatpost, I've looked for something else. If anyone has suggestions about an aluminium version, I'd be very, very grateful.

As mentioned above, use Tacx Carbon Prep or similar, and you must have a torque wrench. Don't tighten it above about 4Nm either (it says 6Nm on the seatpost collar, but disregard that). With Carbon Prep that should be enough to hold it.

I think the design's really poor - way too much of the clamping forces go onto the thin part of the seatpost. This is even causing the cosmetic lacquer of my replacement seatpost to flake off. Other owners have had similar problems. It's pretty annoying...

mrushton

Sounds like the USE shim is the way to go. Any 27.2 post will work ( I think Colnago post diameter is 28.+mm USE do the Alien or Sumo posts but you can shim any 27.2 post. The advantage is that the shim is doing the clamping as opposed to the seatpost and provides a larger clamping area

Ash_

OK - the Colnago CLX does not use a normal seatpost, it has an aero one, made by Colnago that is unique (to the CLX and Ibex MTB models). So shimming a regular seatpost is not, I think, the answer. Any replacement seatpost would also need to be the same teardrop shape...

Any suggestions?

mrushton

Ash_ wrote:

OK - the Colnago CLX does not use a normal seatpost, it has an aero one, made by Colnago that is unique (to the CLX and Ibex MTB models). So shimming a regular seatpost is not, I think, the answer. Any replacement seatpost would also need to be the same teardrop shape...

Any suggestions?

Ah, sounds like they have you over a barrel so to speak. contact a Colnago dealer eg Maestro or Cyclefit and see what they suggest. It sounds like a Colnago specific item

Ash_

mrushton wrote:

Ah, sounds like they have you over a barrel so to speak. contact a Colnago dealer eg Maestro or Cyclefit and see what they suggest. It sounds like a Colnago specific item

Maestro will only suply the post if you bought the bike / frame from them. Replacement posts are available (to anyone) via the UK distributor Windwave, at around 140 GBP (way too steep I reckon). But if anyone has alternative suggestions, it would certainly help the paranoia I get every time I ride the thing...

mrushton

Maestro will only suply the post if you bought the bike / frame from them. Replacement posts are available (to anyone) via the UK distributor Windwave, at around 140 GBP (way too steep I reckon).

unfortunately you sound like a captive market and have no choice but to buy the makers own post. There is a Colnago riders forum out there - perhaps they can help or a Euro Colnago dealer in eg Belgium/Holland?

Lagavulin

The proprietary aero seatpost put me off the CLX having previously drooled over the 2008 model in white. Shame as its a superb looking bike and, judging by the reviews, a great riding bike.

greeny12

It should also be pointed out that the CLX's seatpost clamp was redesigned for the 2008 model range onwards.

No consolation to those experiencing problems with earlier bikes I know, but I have had absolutely no problems with my 2008 version whatsoever.

I also sometimes wonder why CLX owners on here seem to spend so much time fddling with seat posts anyway, unless they're regularly taking their bikes abroad in a bike box. I've had my bike for six months and I've done hundreds of miles on it, and never been anywhere near the bloody seatpost!!

What with that and the Campag-nazis on here, I sometimes think I should start a "Save the CLX" campaign before my beloved bike gets tar-and-feathered....

oldskoolkool

Its the only side of the clx that im a bit dissappointed with,i like my seatpost to stay put once i've adjusted it.I may look into the carbon assembly paste,i didn't know it existed.
I did think about trying to get a clamp which bolted up at the front to clamp the post on its stronger round face rather than the pointed rear which seems bound to crush.Or i've even contemplated getting an aero shim made up which allows me to use a std round post.
Whats the best torque wrench to get? I've looked for small range ones and they all seem bloody expensive when compared to bigger ones.

Ash_

oldskoolkool wrote:

I did think about trying to get a clamp which bolted up at the front to clamp the post on its stronger round face rather than the pointed rear which seems bound to crush.Or i've even contemplated getting an aero shim made up which allows me to use a std round post.
Whats the best torque wrench to get?

Torque wrench - the BBB one can be had for around 40 GBP, comes with all the allen key attachments etc. you'd need for a bike and is certificated (so its accuracy should be decent for low torque settings)

As for a front facing seatpost bolt for the CLX, they do exist - as the picture of the Landbouwkrediet CLX below illustrates. I don't know how you'd get one though (and I have tried). Also, I think it'll only work with the 2008 model, with the slots in the side of the seat tube.

greeny12

That is the seatpost bolt of the 'stock' 2008 retail bikes as well - it's exactly the same as on my bike....

Ash_

greeny12 wrote:

That is the seatpost bolt of the 'stock' 2008 retail bikes as well - it's exactly the same as on my bike....

Confirmation - were it required, that the 2007 CLX seatpost / tube / clamp combination isn't very good. Not too sure where it leaves those of us with 2007 models that are continually knackering seatposts (at 140 quid a go too!).

greeny12

Ash_ wrote:

greeny12 wrote:

That is the seatpost bolt of the 'stock' 2008 retail bikes as well - it's exactly the same as on my bike....

Confirmation - were it required, that the 2007 CLX seatpost / tube / clamp combination isn't very good. Not too sure where it leaves those of us with 2007 models that are continually knackering seatposts (at 140 quid a go too!).

Sorry - my mistake, I didn't look at the Landbouwkredit bike closely enough, actually that's not the same as the bolt on my bike. Many apologies, it was early in the morning!!

Ash_

greeny12 wrote:

Sorry - my mistake, I didn't look at the Landbouwkredit bike closely enough, actually that's not the same as the bolt on my bike. Many apologies, it was early in the morning!!

Fair enough - but there must be a reason why the pro team are using a different seatpost clamp to the rest of us (and I would guess that the reason is that it's better). But as to whether we can get hold of it...

greeny12

Well, they do have an email address on their website:

[email protected]

Maybe we should email them and ask??

Ash_

Good news! (for the few of us that may be interested in this).

The Landbouwkrediet-style forward facing seatpost clamp is available. Also, it will work on the 2007 model (which has a cut-out at the front as well as the back).

The Colnago factory is currently closed for the August holidays - but these can be sourced by Windwave and so ordered from your local dealer.

I was told this by Windwave about 5 minutes after e-mailing my question to them - a really quick response. They've also posted me some carbon specific degreaser to see if that helps with my current seatpost. Pretty good service I reckon.

This may well rectify the only real problem with what I feel is an otherwise great - and wrongly overlooked - bike.

cyclingvet

Great news. I've just inspected my 07 CLX's 4th seatpost and the clearcoat is just beginning to separate from the carbon again on the pointy bit where the post is clamped. (however this has lasted a lot longer than the previous 3!)

Lagavulin

Have you had to replace all the seatposts at your own expense? :shock:

cyclingvet

No, they were all replaced under warranty. After about 500 miles the clear coat was breaking away where the post is clamped. I always used a torque wrench and despite being given some FSA carbon assembly paste with the 3rd one and only torquing up to 4Nm, the 3rd one suffered a similar fate. The frame was sent to Italy last December to be checked over and it came back with the message that they had "done something to the clamp" The clamp looked the same to me. I have only done about 600 miles on the CLX this summer as I've been riding my Enigma Esprit more instead, but I checked the post last week and you can just see that the clear coat has lifted off the carbon in one place just to the side of the pointy side of the aero post where it is clamped.

Looks like I'll be calling Windwave next week for a new post and this new clamp!