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seat post height


snowey's picture

By snowey - Posted on 27 July 2011

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

If your seat post is past the max limit, what damage can that do to the bike and the seat post?

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kitttheknightrider's picture

I'd be more concerned about what damage it would do to my "boys" when either the seat post or the seat tube snapped

B liner's picture

If you ride with the seat post higher than the max mark you risk breaking the frame at the set post/top tube junction.

I saw an hilarious demonstration of this from a young dude who raised his seat height to keep pace with his growth but no one had told him to stop at the max mark. Result - one broken frame and one popped camel back when he landed flat on his back,,,heh heh.

snowey's picture

that is bad

im only about 2-3mm above the max

i certainly don't want that happening to me, so im going to get a 400mm seat post preferably

Pete B's picture

Wouldn't the post that came with the frame be matched in length to the strength of the frame?

So a larger frame would have a stronger clamp to take the additional forces of a longer post, as the cantilever effect would be greater the further out the post is?

Hope that makes sense!

tate's picture

If you could get a longer seatpost that will help, but I ran my carbon ritchey seatpost 5mm past the max line in a spark 20 for about a year without problem. Being light helps as the max line is intended for all riders of all weights.

In saying that, don't come crying if you tear yourself another.

Scratchy's picture

I've broken a frame running it at below the max seat height (so inside the OK range). Came down hard on a jump and loaded the saddle. Seat tube tore away just below to top tube on the back.

With 400mm seatposts available in every size the question is why would you risk your frame over something so silly (and cheap)?

I replaced the wifes brand new Thomson Elite seatpost as she was 1cm from max. Having spent so much on the bike and having broken a frame before I erred on the side of caution.

So one 30.9 360mm Black Thomson Elite seatpost 0 offset for sale...

snowey's picture

haha wow

stuff like that does happen.

hawkeye's picture

Why would you disregard *very* obvious warnings on the seatpost about the minimum safe insertion length? Puzzled

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