As you'll know from recent posts, I'm trying to shave some flab off The Tank™. The next obvious candidate for an easy weight loss is the seatpost, currently the OEM alloy post from the mid-90s. With a good carbon post, I could probably save at least 150g, if not more. And this is where it turns into an ISIHAC parlour-game.
Helpfully the current seatpost still bears an original sticker, proclaiming it to be 26.4mm in diameter.
Unhelpfully part of the sticker is missing, and I interpreted what was left as 25.4mm.
Helpfully this used to be quite a common size for Cannondale bikes, so they, ENVE, Zipp, FSA and a very few others make a carbon post this size.
Unhelpfully they are ruinously expensive.
Helpfully there are some on Ebay.
Unhelpfully these are still quite expensive, or don't have the right offset, or are overseas and ruled out by extortionate postage charges.
Helpfully, I found what looked a like possible candidate in the shape of an old Easton EC70.
Unhelpfully they didn't list the diameter in the description, only the length and offset.
Helpfully they did include this picture, which suggested the post was 25mm or a whisker over:
I should not have relied on this...
Unhelpfully I relied on this, and took a punt.
Helpfully the post arrived quickly, beautifully packaged and in great used condition.
Unhelpfully there was no way in a million years it would fit The Tank™ - my middle-Lidl digital vernier caliper suggested it was actually more like 27.2 mm across. And that the partially stickered OEM post is actually 26.4mm. Bugger.
In a fit of pique, I rummaged around in a toolbox, found a hacksaw and lopped about two inches off the old alloy post. The Kitchen Scales of Inaccuracy™ suggest this realised a weight saving of 27g, for free. And I now have a 27.2mm carbon seatpost to sell on Ebay. The moral of the story? Don't be fooled by photographs, and get yourself a caliper. And/or a hacksaw.
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