Lay-back seatposts

[Kev Waton]

Whats the advantage/disadvantage of a layback seatpost as opposed to an in-line one? U.S.E. Thomson, Syncros. Does a lay back post help you climb better?Does anyone know of any problems of using a carbon post in a carbon frame?And finally are the U.S.E. alien posts actually laid back?Cheers,Kev

[Kevin Hodgson]

From Kev to Kev:You may get away with an on-line seatpost in an MTB, but unless you are time trialling or triathloning then a lay back post on a road bike is essential. I do a lot of hilly rides, and for seated climbing the layback helps with you leg position a lot. The more I push, the more I tend to sit further back on the saddle. I also like a lay back post for exactly the same reason when MTBing - it feels best while seated climbing. However, when touring I sit slightly lower and slightly forwards, I can only imagine because I do this to subconciosly offset the rearward weight bias from the rear panniers I used, and also cos I need to spin faster in lower gears when touring (forget pushing big gears).My road bike seat pillar has a LOT of layback - about 40mm.A carbon post should work fine in a carbon frame. I'm not sure wether you should grease it or not - mine corima carbon seatpost is fitted into my TVT carbon frame either dry or a dab of loctite. Grease just seems to soak into the weave, and I've heard it can make it swell.USE posts are only marginally laid back.If you want some advice on what post to buy, forget expensive transatlantic stuff, the campagnolo posts in steel, titanium or carbon are superb and superb value. ITM millenium posts are also popular and light.

[Dylan Lang]

It's not really a case of advantages or disadvantages. Inline seatposts are generally lighter but don't allow the saddle to go so far back (dur!) which is fine if you run your saddle in a relatively forwards postition but can be problematic if you like your saddle further back. Since saddle position along the bike is dictated by the length of your femur (thigh), it's simply a case of wether you can get the saddle in the right position for you. As such, if you had really short thighs relative to your height, an inline seatpost may help climbing but only because you'd be in the correct position on the bike.Carbon post in a carbon frame should be fine. As usual give it a bit of grease to keep everything free.Alien post have layback. Not as much as some but definitely not an inline post. I have heard of problems with early models debonding though - hopefully sorted now.

[Dylan Lang]

I can vouch for the ITM Millennium post. Needs regular greasing though or it starts to creak.