bluepython723

I was riding down on a steep hill and apparantly the seat was too high. For those that down know about the affects of gravity the whole seat post bent backwards and I basically got reamed. So I went to the nearest bike shop and got a new one, and finished the ride. I am no longer using that bike- I'm riding the Open Road now and I was going to raise the seat- because my knees were hitting my elbows. I was raising it then it fell out. This one was only about 6 inches long. My new post is too small so I got to get a new one. I'm going to the shop tommorow, but I was wondering if they make SOLID- not hollow- seat posts so I can raise this mother without worrying.

FarHorizon

Get a mountain bike seat post. Those puppies come in lengths of 15 inches or longer. The shop has been selling you road-bike seat posts (which are both shorter and lighter OR see the third paragraph of this post). I ride a Thomson brand seatpost that is reinforced internally on the front and back to prevent the "backward bending" that you've experienced. Thomson's aren't cheap, but one bent/broken seatpost is one too many.

As for solid seat posts, the tubular ones are actually stronger! This isn't an opinion, it's a fact.

By the way, you didn't say, but if you're riding a "cruiser" style, coaster-brake bike with a 3/4" diameter steel seat post, the problem isn't the seatpost, it's the bike. There's no way to get a seat post with a diameter that small that WON'T bend with a rider of substance. Unfortunately, if that's the type of bike you're riding, you need a better bike, not a longer seatpost. Better bikes come with larger-diameter seatposts that are MUCH sturdier and SAFER.

Please replace your post with a sturdier AND longer one ASAP! We'd like to keep you around.

(51)

I snapped mine off late last year as well (I ride with 8-9" exposed!). I was told Tompson was the strongest seatpost available. Contact Eric at Smart Bike Parts in Chicago. He'll hook you up:

https://smartbikeparts.com/index.php?...&cat=Seatposts

Air

Tompson is highly recommend for us Clydes.

I had an issue with a seat post on a folding bike which bent (luckily didn't snap). I got a replacement and epoxied a steel plumbing pipe on the inside. Sucker is heavy but I can break a door down with it if need be.

Tom Stormcrowe

Insert a rod or tube inside the seatpost, like Air did. It does work!

Six jours

Can't believe that's going to go without comment.

Halthane

Thompsons are great posts, I love'd the one on my last bike before it was stolen, and I was well over 300lbs then.

From a mechanical perspective, a hollow post (with heavy enough walls) will actually resist bending much better than a solid one. In theory, a fairly thick walled hollow post filled with a highly rigid foam would be even stronger (that's how the long bones in your body are as strong but light as they are) but I don't know how you would make one.


Paul

(51)

And to think I still have about half of it unexposed!

Tom Stormcrowe

That's because I know how tall he is and the issues getting a frame in that size!

Wogster

Take a hollow post, temporarily cap one end, get a can of that expanding foam insulation, shoot some foam into the post let it set up, and cut off the excess, you now have a rigid foam filled post.

Air

https://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=240193
https://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=238801

At some point I'll get around to reposting the pictures and narrative of how I did mine but those two threads helped me.

hammond9705

Get the Thompson. I've got one on both of my bikes and never had a problem at 270lbs.

kartoffel

For half the price and 20 grams more, you could get a Salsa. I'm not knockin' the Thomson at all, but le mieux est l'ennemi du bien.

superslomo

+1000000 on the Thomson posts. Most precise tilt adjustment of anything I've seen for micro-adjustment. Second bolt for added security, and the tube is shaped inside to put more material where it does the most good (front and back of the inside of the post are thicker, the sides are a little less so.

Light, strong, and while they are expensive I've heard of no one who has had one fail.

bluepython723

Update
------------------
I was planning on asking the bike shop for a Thomson then they slapped a bike ass labor fee on me for some brake pads. I had no more damn money on me so I was forced to just get a regular mountain bike seat post. So I may try foam filling the one I have and if it works then there isn't much reason to get a Thomson other then the added security.

The CLYDE

I'm over 350lbs and ride on a Thomson, they are ABSOLUTELY BOMBPROOF.

ookiihito

bummer thompson does not make a seat post in 22.2mm a.k.a. 7/8".

i epoxied some 1/2" square tubing into my 22.2mm cro-moly seat post and i haven't had any problems since. thanks Air for the great idea.

be careful, the chemical reaction of the epoxy can get the post really, really hot!

Dr_Robert

Thomson. They're pretty much indestructable, and they're lighter than all but the best carbon posts. Seriously, the strength to weigh ratio of those things is incredible. They also come in ridiculous lengths - I've got the 400+ mm one on my MTB, with something like 10" exposed (I bought the frame small on purpose - I'm 6'3" & it's a 17").

I always joke that if my MTB goes off a cliff or my road bike gets hit by a car, that the seatpost will be the only thing that survives the crash.

-DR

Bushman

tap in an oak dowel with some epoxy. Your post will be bomber.

DieselDan

If you are exposing more then 6" of seatpost, the frame is too small. Us clydes should use tradtional frames and avoid compact frames a la Sean Kelly.

fas2c

If you are really concerned go to Home Depot or Lowes and get a peice of Schedule 80 black pipe cut to your desired length. It will weigh several pounds but it will not let you down. Buy some spray paint and hook it up to your desired color or have it powder coated.

john bono

Well, maybe if Senator Craig was here....

v1k1ng1001

I would say go with the thomson too. I've had mine for 9 years, it's worth every penny (although I got mine for free).

Otherwise I found an old Syncros (hot stuff back in the mid nineties) post for my little brother on ebay that cost 1/3 as much.

gr8fzy1

I was wondering about solid seat posts myself. A couple years ago I went for a 20 mile ride and 3 mile hike on my mountain bike, and on the way back home my bike seat post bent far enough that my bike rack was rubbing the back tire if I hit a bump. I was 230lbs then and had 1.5 gallons of water strapped to the rack. Luckily I was able to straighten it back out again by removing it from my bike, placing it across two rocks and beating the seat stem with a log, but I dumped out half my water and rode gingerly the last few miles home.

I'm trying to get back into bike riding because my legs are deteriorating from the disuse and I need the exercise BADLY, but I now weigh over 260lbs (Thank's Covid, keeping me home...) and I'm worried for my poor bike.

James1964 

Na