Urgent Advice Required - Loose Saddle Post

[asm495]

Hi,

I was cycling into work this morning and when pulling up at some traffic lights I rather stupidly managed to re-engage the clip on my pedal and ended up toppling over onto the pavement. Other than a sore elbow I was fine but for some reason my saddle would now rotate freely.

My bike is a Specialized Sirrus with a shock absorbing seat post. The main seat post seems to be securely fastened in place but the upper part where the shock absorbing part goes into the main seat post can spin all the way around. I found someone else who seemed to have something similar (also a Specialized bike) in this thread below but no solution was offered:

http://ask.metafilter.com/40225/How-to-fix-a-bike-seat-post-in-place

Has anyone heard of this or know how to fix it please? I'd love to be able to cycle back without my saddle being loose!

Many thanks,

Alistair

 

[fossyant]

I've no experience of those posts, but I'd think it's 'broken'....

 

[asm495]

I'm fearing that is the case - think I'll end up just cycling back tonight with it as is and can buy a new post over the weekend. Rather annoying though! Thanks for the guidance.

 

[02GF74]

agreed - there is obviously one tube that slides inside another and a key to stop it rotating, I suspect the key was damaged as you fell off.

It may be worth taking it apart, if possible, but beware that the post may be under spring tension.

 

[asm495]

What is this "key" which stops the inner tube rotating? Is this inside the outer tube? Sounds too big a job to attempt fixing at work that's for sure. Is it possible to buy replacement keys if necessary? Thanks.

 

[roshi chris]

I don't think you'll be able to buy replacement parts, in fact doubt you'll be able to fix that at all to be honest. I think i'd want my money back though.

The guy in the post you linked to said he just picked the bike up by the saddle and that alone broke his seatpost in the same fashion. I think you can reasonably expect kit to take the odd knock without completely breaking like that.

 

[longers]

The "key" could one of many things, a groove in one post with a corresponding male fitting on another or a variation on this.

My advice is not to take it apart, at least you'll have something to sit on on the way home.

More importantly IMO, ditch the sirrus suspension post, if it's the same as mine was they are poor and heavy. After a couple of months use there was side to side play in it, no wonder yours broke, and when I took it back for replacing FOC the shop were not surprised at all to see another one for the scrap heap.

 

[HLaB]

More importantly IMO, ditch the sirrus suspension post, if it's the same as mine was they are poor and heavy.

+1

 

[asm495]

Sounds like a good plan - just need to negotiate the 50mins on the way back tonight with a rotating saddle!