Syntace P6 Hi-flex Carbon Seat post.

dolan_driver

I've read a couple of reviews on this seat post and it seems like it offers a considerable level of comfort over a standard carbon or alloy seat post. This review seems to promise a lot of comfort.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... t-12-46314

Having returned to cycling in recent years, I replaced my ancient Ribble Reynolds 531 bike with an aluminium Ambrosio-framed winter/training bike. My return to the bike has been punctuated by long periods off the bike with back and knee problems. The big difference I have noticed between the Ambrosio and the old Ribble is that after an hour on the aluminium bike, my saddle area is already fairly tender while on the Ribble, I don't really recall my discomfort in the saddle being that hugely noticeable, even after a few hours on the bike. If I knew when I purchased the Ambrosio what I know now, I'd never have touched an aluminium bike.

The Ambrosio is actually a great bike but is just a killer on the saddle area. I have replaced the alloy seat pin with a 3K carbon seat post and this has improved things a little but still the bike is not good to ride. I use a Selle Italia Max Flite Gel-flow saddle. The Syntace P6 Hi-Flex seat post seems to offer a high degree of vibration-dampening and has caught my attention.

I reckon I now have two options;

A - Purchase a Syntace seat post and see if it is as good as it says on the tin. The pin needed will be a 27.2 diameter post.

or

B - Purchase a steel frame (Ribble 525 for example) and hopefully recapture the comfort levels of the old days. I could also go for the nuclear option and get a steel frame AND Syntace post!

Will the very expensive Syntace post restore the desired levels of comfort? Does anyone run this post on an aluminium bike and has it really improved levels of comfort? Thanks for any feedback anyone can offer.

DD.

Bobbinogs

I think you may be suffering because you have lost your 'toughness' down there so comparing what one bike was like to the bike you have now might be a little unfair. It might be worth trying another saddle, one you know used to be good before and seeing if that makes a difference, then again you might also just want to see if you get used to your current setup before splashing £200 on a seatpost...only to find that it makes little difference. I reckon that carbon posts generally offer an improvement over alu ones but I have yet to experience the "I moved to a carbon post and it transformed my ride into a comfy armchair" revelation that some folks write of.

I would be interested to hear what the folks say who have used the Syntace. Most of the flex posts have min exposed seatpost requirements, so you might want to check that (if you haven't done) to see if you have enough seatpost sticking out so that it flexes!

dolan_driver

I agree that I have lost a fair bit of the the "toughness" that you mentioned but there is a considerable difference in the comfort levels between the steel and aluminium frames. I took the old Ribble out for a spin on Sunday just to see if it was as I remembered it. Using the same saddle as the alu bike, the level of improved comfort was noticeable. Hopefully things will improve as the miles increase but if that Syntace post will improve things as much as the write-ups claim, I will dig deep into the pockets and take a chance on it. Thanks.

DD.

EKIMIKE

What is your set-up for tyres?

I think these posts can help with comfort to a limited degree. Generally helps if you have lots of it on show in order to affect the intended flex. However you need to be broad in your approach to comfort.

If you aren't running at least 25mm tyres then you need to be! Experiment with tyre pressure and you can also look at 23mm wide rims for a smoother ride. All that plus a steel frame would definitely be your nuclear option

My only experience is with the Canyon VCLS post (the older one not the new two-part one). Unfortunately that BR 'review' is not a review but simply a product description. My experience would suggest they need to tone down the hyperbole with these things. Yes my ride is comfortable but I can't specifically point the finger at the seatpost as the reason for that.

Here is some data from Canyon:

EPO Delivery Man

I had the same problem last year and looked into this same seatpost. A friend of mine runs one on a carbon frame and after having a go i would say it definitely added an extra element of comfort without a doubt. But dont go thinking its going to feel all springy and like a sofa! It does flex and it does take a lot out of the juddering thuds you can get running up the rear end of the bike, its good for adding a bit of flex and you will notice the difference out on the road. If you just sit on one stationary you wont notice it as much, its on the tarmac it comes into its own.

Good luck trying to find one, i had a hard time (last year) trying to get hold of the current version. In the end i settled for a Pro-Lite Pellagrino and its been fantastic. Made a huge difference to the ride and comfort levels with just enough flex to take the sting out of the road. Have a look here:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... tAodAgMAnw

EKIMIKE

Is that product description a joke?! Seriously, did they ask InjuryLawyers4U to write them a story? Did they make a video re-construction with slo-mo shots and additional 'man in pain' sound effects?

Made up bullshit wrote:

At Pro-lite we always test our competitor’s products, both on machines and our bikes.

During last October Steve was using a well know 2 bolt laid back full carbon seatpost when, without warning he suddenly found himself under the front of a car with stars in his eyes, a large cut to the inside of his leg and some serious damage to his left knee. Not only was he extremely lucky to be alive he was determined to find out how such a renowned brand could have a product in the market with the risk of failure.

• Super strong 3mm wall thickness.
• Anti shear clamping bolt.

rando

EPO Delivery Man wrote:

I had the same problem last year and looked into this same seatpost. A friend of mine runs one on a carbon frame and after having a go i would say it definitely added an extra element of comfort without a doubt. But dont go thinking its going to feel all springy and like a sofa! It does flex and it does take a lot out of the juddering thuds you can get running up the rear end of the bike, its good for adding a bit of flex and you will notice the difference out on the road. If you just sit on one stationary you wont notice it as much, its on the tarmac it comes into its own.

Good luck trying to find one, i had a hard time (last year) trying to get hold of the current version. In the end i settled for a Pro-Lite Pellagrino and its been fantastic. Made a huge difference to the ride and comfort levels with just enough flex to take the sting out of the road. Have a look here:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... tAodAgMAnw

Have already got a new seatpost on my list for upgrade on Cube Agree GTC. I didn't realise until yesterday (having just paid deposit) that the supplied seatpost is not carbon. I didn't event think to ask in the lbs as I just assumed at that price and being carbon frame that the seatpost would be too.
So with the Cube already having Syntace parts on it I looked at the P6 hiflex carbon seatpost but could only find it available to buy from ebay or bike-discount de for approx £190. Gulp !
So I may just give the seatpost you have just mentioned as for the money it won't be too expensive a purchase if it turns out to be not too different to supplied one.

EPO Delivery Man

EKIMIKE wrote:

Is that product description a joke?! Seriously, did they ask InjuryLawyers4U to write them a story? Did they make a video re-construction with slo-mo shots and additional 'man in pain' sound effects?

Made up bullshit wrote:

At Pro-lite we always test our competitor’s products, both on machines and our bikes.

During last October Steve was using a well know 2 bolt laid back full carbon seatpost when, without warning he suddenly found himself under the front of a car with stars in his eyes, a large cut to the inside of his leg and some serious damage to his left knee. Not only was he extremely lucky to be alive he was determined to find out how such a renowned brand could have a product in the market with the risk of failure.

• Super strong 3mm wall thickness.
• Anti shear clamping bolt.

No but there is a Youtube video of it with a massive weight attached to it to prove the point so make your own mind up

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GtUDtX2Tyfc

dolan_driver

Here is a quick update on how I have attacked my issues with comfort. I decided to replace my aluminium frame with a steel one. Here is the result;

viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=12916884

DD.

dolan_driver

Here is another update on this seat post and my pursuit of comfort out on the road. I recently finished building my Dolan Hercules, my "good" bike. I added as many "comfort" items as I could, including 25mm tyres and 23mm rims and I also splashed out on a 31.8mm Syntace P6 Hi-Flex carbon seat post. The bike rides nicely and I'd image the 25mm tyres smooth out some of the bumps. The seat post really adds another element to the comfort levels, though. When I hit a bump, I expect a certain level of force to be transmitted up through the bars and saddle, relative to the size of that bump. The expected force certainly comes through the bars but not the saddle. I'd estimate that the Syntace seat post dampens out 50% or more of the force from the bump. It is that smooth. You can't really feel the post swaying back and forth but that is what it is doing. I deliberately put on a less padded saddle and used a pair of shorts with a thin, worn chamois just to put the seat post to the test. Even after two hours in the saddle, the dull ache that previously plagued my spins was missing altogether and cycling is once again a pleasure. With my best shorts on, saddle ache will be greatly decreased. Does the Syntace post deliver as promised? Most definitely, in my opinion.



As previously reported, I swapped frames on my training/wet weather/winter training bike, moving from aluminium to steel for the more supple ride that material offers. Here she is.



The problem I now face is that it is hard to go back to the steel bike after riding the Dolan because the Soma is still harsher than my newer bike. And so the only solution seems to be another flexible seat post for the Soma. The Syntace P6 Hi-Flex comes in 27.2mm diameter but I can't find one anywhere. A suitable alternative appears to the Niner RDO Carbon seat post. Again, it's a pricey item but apparently is as good as the Syntace item and so is worth the investment. My query is this:

Is there enough seat post out of the frame on my Soma to allow a flex carbon seat post to do its work?

On the Dolan, 220mm of post is exposed when measured from frame to seat rail. The corresponding measurement on the Soma is 175mm. I have read somewhere (possibly in this thread, but I can't find it at the moment) that a minimum of 150mm of exposed seat post is required to let a flexible post actually flex. Does this sound about right? Have I enough seat post sticking out of my Soma to add a little more comfort to this bike if I fit the Niner post? Thanks to anyone who can offer any advice.

DD.