Saddle moving in clamp

My saddle will not stay level in the clamp when I'm riding (the nose of the saddle usually rises up tipping me off the back of the bike) and I have to get off and re-level the saddle and tighten the clamp bolt after every couple of miles.

I took the bike into the shop and they had a look at it and pointed out that the groves on the clamp look quite worn; I've attached pictures to try and show this.

The fella in the shop reckons on a new seatpost. This will be reasonably expensive to replace as it's a carbon post.

Isn't it possible to buy a new clamp? Also, the the bike is only about 3 years old. Is there any reason it should have worn so quickly?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

4 Attachments

Would this do?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KF-Essentials-Replacement-Saddle-Seat-Clamp-Set-Bike-Seat-Post-/170785531780?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item27c39c6784

When you tighten it up make sure that the grooves 'mesh' properly. Then do it up tight with a proper allen key.

It might be that your saddle rails aren't a very good fit in the clamp as well. I know i had an issue with this - the movement would tend to loosen up the clamp, but a bit of aluminium tape to make the rails a bit wider diameter got rid of that problem

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm not sure that it would fit the seat post looking at the shape.

Perhaps I haven't had the clamp tightened enough while riding. I generally use a park multi-tool to tighten but it's difficult to get good tightness on it.

It's a Condor seat post fyi. I've just been reading a post on another site from somebody else who's had the same problem. Perhaps it's worth getting a clamp with two bolts?

Clamp is mullered.

Looks like you've had the saddle at quite an extreme angle? The parts in those photos look pretty cheap/generic. personally I hate cheap seatposts (from MTB background), they always slip and muller themselves.

Check very carefully the grooves in the actual post part aren't too badly 'smudged' looking. If there is any damage at all get a fine edged needle file and file the grooves clean/deeper.
Replace the bolt washer and part of the clamp with the smudged grooves. You can probably get a used post/ snapped one and take the part from there.
If your really stuck, then go to town with the file on both parts.

Thanks. It is a Condor carbon seat post; I'm not sure whether that means quality or not, but probably not on current showing.

I ride with a level saddle if I can (!) but perhaps if it has been slipping backwards, this might have exacerbated the wear on the clamp?

Do you think two bolt seat posts are generally 'better' for keeping the saddle tight?

can you swing the top clamp round through 180 degrees so that the damaged bits do not necessarily meet up with the damaged lips on the lower part? It looks symetrical so could be worth a try.

It looks like quite a soft alloy which, if the ribs do not match the lips perfectly, will deform when pressure is applied through the medium of a big arse bearing down on it.

...Lateral thinking...! Will give that a go, although it's fairly worn on the other side as well, which is perhaps not shown that well in the attached pictures.

I think you're right about a soft alloy though but hopefully not about the big arse part.

I don't mean your saddle is at a bad angle for riding, I mean the seattube could be at a pretty extreme angle. Most are 70 odd degrees, but some are much closer to 50 (lo pro's and weird things) which put immense strain on the seatpost clamp. what frame is it?

For MTB I spent ages finding a post that works, basically anything with two bolts (fore & aft) is bare minimum.

Those one-bolt seat posts aren't the greatest of designs. I stopped mine from slipping by applying toothpaste to the clamp, which will work as a friction paste. Yes, it did work.

Thanks for the updates. Might try the toothpaste trick.

Brickman: It's a Condor Pista which may have a more angular geometry than a standard road bike but I don't think it slopes at much less than 70 degrees. Don't have anything to measure with mind.

Mine was a Condor Pista too. They supply them with friction paste to stop the slipping, I guess yours has dissipated over time.

hmmm...interesting...sounds like a bit of the aforementioned paste might prolong the life a bit.

Did you end up purchasing a 2-bolt post in the end? If so, what did you plump for?

Cheers

Nope, the toothpaste trick worked fine for me.

^^ can't go wrong with a thompson, or a race face with the fancy sliding bracket