Thomson Seat Post - Comfy on a road bike ?

galatzo

Hi

Any opinions on how comfy a Thomson seat post is for road bike use.
I'd be using a 27.2 (with shim as seat tube is 31.6) with approx 5"of post above the frame.
Will I notice much going from carbon to alloy ?
I fancy the X2 stem which is why I'm considering the matching post and also it's cheaper than getting the Easton EC90 stem and post which would match the EC90 bars I'm using.
Other option would be to get a Chorus post to match the groupset and an EC90 stem
Bike is a Focus Cayo Campag 2009 with Easton Ascent II wheels and and black slr saddle (only the frame and groupset remain from the original spec now)

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus ... 360037585/



Thanks

dennisn

I've never had a "comfy" seatpost. Please explain. :? :? :?

ajb72

The therory goes that a slimmer seatpost offers a little more comfort than an oversized one, but I cannot say I have ever noticed any difference, surely the saddle is the key component?

I have a 31.6 Thomson with about 6" showing, I cannot say it is more 'uncomfortable' than any other post I have had before. What I do know is that the Thomson is fantastically well made, the engineering is better than most you see. If you buy one, I'm sure it wouldn't dissapoint.

term1te

I use a Thompson Elite laid back seat post on my road bike. Never had any problem with the ride quality, its a Ti frame though if that makes any difference. The brushed aluminium finish looks good with the frame. I've also got the matching stem. Both excellent build quality and have sort of quiet quality look about them, without brash decals or any shiny carbon bits.

ajb72

Quick question though, if you are buying from new, why not just buy the right size insted of having to use a shim? I had a nightmare trying to use an Alien seatpost and shim in my carbon frame - loads of slipping no matter what compounds I used.

As soon as I bought the rigt size, problem solved. Are you intending to use it on more than one bike or something?

Monty Dog

In terms of whether a change in material for 5" of seatpost would make a perceived change to the comfort of a bike - no. However, I have seen with some compact frames with a lot of exposed post there was a noticeable deflection of the seatpost - the original Easton carbon posts were noted for this.

JonEdwards

5" of post is unlikely to make much difference. A carbon one *might* absorb a bit more buzz, but *might* is very subjective.

I know on my MTBs though, that my Ti USE Sumo post has a lot more give to it than the Thomson it replaced. So much so, that even with my 10stone bulk on it, it now has a very gentle curve to it... That does have more like 12" sticking out of the frame though.

Anonymous

I use a Thomson Masterpiece on one of my road bikes and a Thomson Elite on my MTB. I had a few problems with comfort, I quite often had to grease the post with vaseline or similar but I couldn't believe the improvement when I got a saddle too.

I have a spare 120mm Thomson X2 Oversize Stem that may be for sale...







I like Thomson stuff!!

Toonraid

ajb72 wrote:

The therory goes that a slimmer seatpost offers a little more comfort than an oversized one, but I cannot say I have ever noticed any difference, surely the saddle is the key component?.

I also heard that statement from a bicycle shop too (Holdsworth - Lower Richmond rd) - I guess its theoretically correct but in practice seatposts that are thin are made of a higher grade of aluminium that it stiffer which enables them to use less material and therefore make it lighter - same with other components such as frame, groupset, wheels etc - you might be better off buying a cheapo carbon seatpost which will have more flex than a top of the range carbon seatpost.

For ultimate comfort get a hand made wheelset with box section or low profile rim, some 25 tyres with latex tubes.

galatzo

Thanks for all the replies
Still considering different options but I'm starting to think it aint gonna make much difference which one I use and if it comes down to aesthetics then a Thomson stem and post combo is gonna look better than most.
Nap D thanks for the tentatvie offer but I only need a 10cm stem

Regards

balthazar

@NapD: I think you need a boom-BOOM or a drumroll to get that one noticed...

galatzo

I noticed it and have only just got the image out of my head......back again, thank you so much.

Carry on Up the Forum

sandbag

Thomson is quality and stiff. For me it hard to justify paying alot for a seatpost especially when i cut it down to save more weight. MadDog 2 recommended me a Smica other than a Thompson, which is a more reasonable price.

redddraggon

2nd Hand Thomsons are always popping up on ebay - that's where I get mine. I use one my best bike:

sandbag

Great bike

One question reddragon.

Why do you have your handlebar stem not at the top of your headset? If you cut the forks off more, it look better at the top. Is that your final riding position?

term1te

To add to the sharing of photos of bikes with Thompson seatposts and stems...

Toonraid

NapD - you got a pic of your 120mm stem?

Also a review of your 555 would be appretiated (feel free to compare it to similar bikes you have ridden)

DaSy

Term1te - did you go up or down the Col du Pre?

I love that as a climb onto the Cormet de Roselend, but it is a mental descent.

Anonymous

Got a bl00dy big thumbprint on it though now!

Tis a thing of beauty in the flesh, ribbed for extra pleasure!

Anonymous

Seatpost (Thomson Masterpiece)

term1te

DaSy wrote:

Term1te - did you go up or down the Col du Pre?

I love that as a climb onto the Cormet de Roselend, but it is a mental descent.

I don't want to hijack the thread, but...

We went up from Areches on possibly the hottest day last summer, by comparison the Alpe d'Huez was a piece of cake, at one point I was overtaken by a butterfly, which was a tad depressing. Its the only climb in I've done in the Alps where I had to stop half way up. Massive thunderstorm at the top, so we stayed in a restaurant for an hour before going over the dam and then down the D925 to Albertville. I felt cheated descending as the road still had rivers running down it and was so strewn with gravel that I bottled it most of the way to Beaufort. I'd love to do that in the dry one day.

Have to say I don't remember thinking about my Thompson seatpost once, so it must have been up to the job.

DaSy

Sounds like the same route I did. I rode the Aravais and the Saises, then the Col du Pre, followed by the descent of the Roselend in to Beaufort.
I then started the next day by going straight from breakfast onto the Col du Pre again, but went up the Roselend and finished off the day with the Col D'Iseran.

Yeah, sorry all for the hijack!