Carbon seat rails. Are they strong?

[stephenmarklay]

I am getting an new Fizik Arione and want to get the strongest seat rails. I have bent rails. I think I am a little lopsided and to make it worse it will be set far back for more setback.

So are carbon rails generally strong or are typical chromo (kium in this case) stronger?

[shovelhd]

Carbon rails are strong, but they will break, not bend. The benefit is weight reduction and improved ride. I don't know about Fizik but when I broke my Specialized saddle in a race crash, I got the replacement at cost.

[Blown Reek]

If you run a seatpost with more setback, you'll be more in the center of the rails, which should allay your troubled soul. But to answer your question- carbon rails are strong enough. Just make sure your seatpost clamping assembly accepts non-round rails.

[shovelhd]

Very good point. Some seatposts do not work with carbon rails.

[joosttx]

I have had my carbon railed airone 4ever. Most of the riding would be considered MTB. No problems

[rnhood]

I believe Specialized "Team" saddles used solid Ti rails in lieu of the slightly lighter weight hollow rails. Not sure if they still do this but, it was because they were bending and/or breaking on the pro bikes. So you may want to consider a solid Ti rail version if available. I don't have experience with carbon rails so can't comment on this.

[stephenmarklay]

Thanks everyone. They sound like they are worth a try.

My new bike is 73.25 STA and I like getting behind the pedals. My seatpost is a 25mm setback but I will still have the seat pushed back.

Thanks on the septets compatibility. Mine swings both ways :)

[Seramount]

approx 10K miles on my SLR carbon rail saddle...

my 157 lbs hasn't broken it yet.

[Raffy]

Around 10k miles on my Arione 00, with no issues.

[stephenmarklay]

Around 10k miles on my Arione 00, with no issues.

That is the one I am looking at. It's costly but promises comfort over the standard arione.

[beeatnik]

They're ok until you buy a seatpost where they dont fit or end up creaking.

Oh, and they also make you neurotic. Whenever I adjust my saddle, even if I'm using a torque wrench, I wonder if I'm clamping down too hard. Looking at the indentations just makes me worry more.

[stephenmarklay]

They're ok until you buy a seatpost where they dont fit or end up creaking.

Oh, and they also make you neurotic. Whenever I adjust my saddle, even if I'm using a torque wrench, I wonder if I'm clamping down too hard. Looking at the indentations just makes me worry more.

Yeah I get that.

[Peter P.]

I believe Specialized "Team" saddles used solid Ti rails in lieu of the slightly lighter weight hollow rails. Not sure if they still do this but, it was because they were bending and/or breaking on the pro bikes. So you may want to consider a solid Ti rail version if available. I don't have experience with carbon rails so can't comment on this.

At 135lbs., I broke the hollow Ti rails on my Specialized Rival saddle. It's the only saddle I ever broke the rails on, and the only titanium railed saddle I've ever owned. Makes me wonder...

[soulspinner]

Fizik Aliante with carbon rails. Somewhere around 20000 miles all the way back on the rails the entire time. Im going to have it recovered this winter and continue with it.

[shovelhd]

They're ok until you buy a seatpost where they dont fit or end up creaking.

Oh, and they also make you neurotic. Whenever I adjust my saddle, even if I'm using a torque wrench, I wonder if I'm clamping down too hard. Looking at the indentations just makes me worry more.

That seems like you have the wrong seat post. Neither should happen.

[mcteague]

My Fizik Aliante has carbon rails and I have had zero issues. I generally would not go carbon in this area but it was on sale and cost about the same as the Ti version they had at the time.

Many years ago I got Turbo with alum rails and they snapped within the 2nd year.

Tim

[stephenmarklay]

Fizik Aliante with carbon rails. Somewhere around 20000 miles all the way back on the rails the entire time. Im going to have it recovered this winter and continue with it.

Well that settles it :)

[saab2000]

I have been asking myself this exact question of late. What is in fact a good quality, compatible seatpost? I'd like to use a PMP but I'm uncertain as to the compatability.

[shovelhd]

The 3T I used to have was not. I have a Specialized now, but it's heavy.

[Exonerv]

I have been asking myself this exact question of late. What is in fact a good quality, compatible seatpost? I'd like to use a PMP but I'm uncertain as to the compatability.
Fizik Cyrano

[Lionel]

I have been asking myself this exact question of late. What is in fact a good quality, compatible seatpost? I'd like to use a PMP but I'm uncertain as to the compatability.

PMP work with fizzy carbon rails. It is a very tight fit but it works.

[bicycletricycle]

I used to warranty a lot of carbon railed saddles and very few metal railed saddles, mostly fizik and some smp because that is what we carried. Things have improved some since then but I still would rather have bent rails and ride home than snapped rails and standing the rest of the way.

If your a lighter rider with a seatpost that holds the rails nicely in the middle without digging into them than I think they are a good option for someone who really needs to save those extra grams.

I am a fat rider with a seat always all the way to the back riding lugged bikes with brooks saddles so I can't be bothered.
:)

I do like the carbon railed fizik saddles, the arione and aliante are comfy and the beefy rails they use seem to hold up well.

I would like to try a carbon railed volta.

[soulspinner]

Well that settles it :)

Its true! Tough on wheels though............:bike: