Opinions on condition of this seatpost please

[sailorboy]

I recently removed this ritchey superlogic post from a Ti bike that has a thomson post clamp. Not installed by me so I have no idea what spec it was torqued to. There is what I would call a crease in the carbon at the top edge of where the back of the clamp was. No crack that I can see. Thoughts on whether this is trash or could be used again? If we apply medical logic to it, the defect is on the compressive or non-tensile side of the post, so normally that is less problematic for a bone with a stress fracture :p

[rustychisel]

DON'T LIKE.

Never seen a seatpost busted through such a thing, but have seen a few steerer tubes fail at very similar pinch points.

Having had a broken seattube (alloy) suppository many years ago I would err on the side of caution and junk this.

[HenryA]

Its done.

[Blue Jays]

Years ago I had saddle rails fail on a saddle that had been used a pretty long time.
Dumped me onto the road at (perhaps) 10 mph. I had been doing 40 mph a few minutes earlier.

That experience drove home the fact that bicycle components do have a lifespan.
Now parts that are even remotely "suspect" to me get swapped for new components.

If I am teetering on a decision, I err on the side of safety.

[bikinchris]

I would never use that unless that crease was well below the clamp.

[false_Aest]

I think there is 1 rule about carbon fiber bike parts.

"If you have to post a picture and ask on a forum the part automatically needs to be replaced."

[jtakeda]

^^+1

If that crease was below the clamp id use.

Maybe make a really fancy BMX post

[cmg]

shine a light near the damage on the outside while looking down the post. if its cracked or broken the light will shine thru.

[nighthawk]

Ride it until it voluntarily becomes a dropper post, then throw it away.

[Peter B]

Cut it into short pieces and use them to protect the seatube during shipping of future bike sales.

[Veloo]

Reminds me of a guy on our Donut Ride here many years ago. I believe it was on one of those Giant bikes that were the first to adopt the sloping top tube and longer seatposts.
It was an alloy post and I heard the guy scored the post right at the clamp line so as to mark the height.
Don't know how many rides it took but I was told the post broke cleanly right at the score line. I didn't hear any stories about injuries.

[Mike Lopez]

I recently removed this ritchey superlogic post from a Ti bike that has a thomson post clamp. Not installed by me so I have no idea what spec it was torqued to. There is what I would call a crease in the carbon at the top edge of where the back of the clamp was. No crack that I can see. Thoughts on whether this is trash or could be used again? If we apply medical logic to it, the defect is on the compressive or non-tensile side of the post, so normally that is less problematic for a bone with a stress fracture :p

Don’t think your med logic applies here. Composites do tend to fail in compression, especially when damaged like that. Basically it’s already failed...just hasn’t gone catastrophic yet...

[Tony]

I'd ride it. Seen many carbon posts with the same clamp crease and no problems.

My Serotta CIII does similar damage to carbon posts due to poor design. The seat tube extends less than 3/4" above the top tube requiring the seat clamp to be tighten more than what is normally required otherwise it slips. When tightening the seat clamp instead of even pressure being applied around the seatpost only the very top of the seat tube is applying most of the clamping pressure (due to little material above the top tube) causing the top of the seat tube to cut into the post.

[sailorboy]

Haha, some great answers here, thx all. I will probably just keep it as a spare in case the one that replaced it has an issue. Thx Mike Lopez for the industry expert opinion as well, I guess you know a thing or two bout carbon 😉

[fignon's barber]

The only medical logic I'd apply is "what's your deductible?".

[unterhausen]

the question you have to ask yourself is, how good are you at riding home standing up while carrying your saddle? I have known people that answered that question for themselves

[oldpotatoe]

I wouldn't use it unless that crease is well below the clamp.

For any carbon post with a removal seat post clamp..turn it around 180 degrees so the clamp bolt is opposite the gap in the seat tube. Makes for a more round 'hole' for that carbon seat post. Tighten to spec..use a torque wrench and carbon paste.

The owner of Vecchio's broke a seatpost while riding and where he got the stitches..you wouldn't want to see a picture of that...:eek::butt:

[sailorboy]

The only medical logic I'd apply is "what's your deductible?".

ha, good one

[sailorboy]

I wouldn't use it unless that crease is well below the clamp.

For any carbon post with a removal seat post clamp..turn it around 180 degrees so the clamp bolt is opposite the gap in the seat tube. Makes for a more round 'hole' for that carbon seat post. Tighten to spec..use a torque wrench and carbon paste.

The owner of Vecchio's broke a seatpost while riding and where he got the stitches..you wouldn't want to see a picture of that...:eek::butt:

Great tip Peter. I was surprised that the spec is just 2.8 nm for this bolt. Carbon paste is your friend.

[simonov]

Great tip Peter. I was surprised that the spec is just 2.8 nm for this bolt. Carbon paste is your friend.

Over-torquing is a common mistake with that clamp. 2.8 is very low, but the clamp will really hold so you don't need to go any higher. Especially with a carbon post. I've seen a few friends bust lightweight posts, carbon or alu, by not trusting the spec. And, yeah, what Peter said about rotating the clamp is spot on.

[mj_michigan]

the question you have to ask yourself is, how good are you at riding home standing up while carrying your saddle? I have known people that answered that question for themselves

Did this once. It was a lot of fun :)