Sports-Pictorial.com
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USE
ALIEN
CARBON
SEATPOSTS
By
Gary
K.
(Army
Cycling
Union
-
www.armycycling.co.uk)
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USE,
a
British
company,
produces
a
fine
range
of
seatposts
and
components
in
a
variety
of
materials.
The
two
flagship
models
are
the
carbon
aliens,
named
because
the
saddle
attachment
bracket
looks
like
an
alien's
head!
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USE
Carbon
Alien
|
USE
Carbon
Aero
Alien
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The
carbons
come
in
two
different
shapes
-
a
normal
round
post
and
an
aero
shaped
post
for
the
wind
cheating
people
among
us!
The
posts
also
come
in
a
two
diameters
to
suit
different
frame
models;
25.0mm
and
27.2mm
and
different
lengths
(270
and
350mm
for
the
round
alien
and
small/med
or
med/large
for
the
aero).
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USE
recommend
that
the
posts
are
used
with
a
shim
to
protect
the
carbon
structure
from
the
join
with
the
frame,
so
if
you
have
a
27.2mm
seat
tube
on
your
machine,
you
should
get
the
25.0mm
post
and
the
27.2mm
shim
adaptor.
The
shim
is
very
lightweight
and
costs
about
£5
extra.
The
posts
themselves
are
very
lightweight,
the
270mm
standard
post
being
possibly
the
lightest
on
the
market
at
present
at
129
grammes.
How
can
they
make
them
so
light?
Well,
carbon
fibre
is
very
strong
when
making
tubular
designs,
so
they
can
afford
to
use
the
minimum
of
material,
compression
moulded
into
the
strongest
structure.
The
key
to
the
lightness
of
these
posts
are
the
saddle
attachment
brackets.
They
are
like
nothing
you
have
eyes
on
before!
They
consist
of
three
parts,
a
floating
centre
section
and
two
other
brackets
that
are
an
interference
fit
front
and
rear
on
the
curved
head
of
the
post
fitting.
They
are
all
held
together
by
two
small
diameter
screws
that
run
through
the
three
pieces,
pulling
them
together
against
the
curved
part
of
the
top
of
the
post
head.
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Setting
up
the
saddle
on
the
post.
Not
easy
believe
me.
Because
the
front
and
back
parts
are
an
interference
fit,
they
don't
move
on
the
curved
head
of
the
post
easily.
To
adjust
the
saddle
tilt,
the
whole
assembly
has
to
be
dismantled,
reset
and
screwed
together
again.
This
may
take
five
or
six
or
more
attempts,
depending
on
your
technical
expertise!
Once
the
saddle
is
set
and
the
two
screws
are
tightened,
you
should
check
and
recheck
them
for
tightness
after
your
first
few
rides,
as
they
settle
in
and
will
become
loose.
Care
is
to
be
taken
when
tightening
the
screws.
Because
they
are
a
very
small
diameter
they
can
easily
strip
the
threads
in
the
forward
bracket.
They
require
a
2.5mm
allen
key
to
secure
them!
When
all
has
settled
down
and
you
have
checked
the
screws
a
few
times
for
slackening,
that
is
that.
All
you
have
to
worry
about
now
is
cleaning
the
thing!
To
save
weight
from
the
alien's
head,
sections
have
been
machined
away
to
leave
stepped
recesses.
These
gather
any
mud
thrown
up
by
the
back
wheel
and
nicely
store
it.
A
fine
brush
is
needed
to
get
into
these
awkward
places.
Another
thing
to
watch
out
for
is
what
saddle
you
are
trying
to
fit
to
the
post.
If
the
rails
are
not
round,
as
on
the
Specialized
body
geometry
saddles
(they
are
ovalised),
then
you
will
not
be
able
to
fit
them
to
the
post
bracket.
The
clearance
between
the
bracket
parts
is
close
enough
for
a
round
saddle
rail
anyway,
so
check
your
saddle
before
you
commit
to
buying
this
post.
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| Overall,
looks
are
very
good.
The
post
will
set
off
most
top
end
bikes
well
so
long
as
you
have
the
time
and
know
how
to
set
the
thing
up
first.
Remember
to
use
the
shim
to
protect
the
carbon
from
damage
from
the
frame
and
crushing.
Graphics
on
the
post
are
subtle
and
cool.
Thin
white
lettering
on
the
carbon
background.
Nice!
Specifications
Use
Carbon
Alien
Lengths
270
and
350mm
Diameters
25.0
and
27.2mm
(shim
recommended)
Weight
Approximately
129
grammes
(manufacturers
spec)
Colour
Satin
black
Cost
Approximately
£75.00
/
$100.00
USE
Carbon
Aero
Alien
Lengths
Small/Medium
and
Medium/Large
Diameters
25.0
and
27.2mm
(shim
recommended)
Weight
Approximately
172
and
195
grammes
(manufacturers
spec)
Colour
Satin
natural
carbon
weave
Cost
£125.00
and
£135.00
/
$168.00
and
$182.00
depending
on
size
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| Contact
information:
Ultimate
Sports
Engineering
(USE)
UNITS
6
&
7
HAMPERS
COMMON
IND.
EST.,
PETWORTH,
West
Sussex,
GU28
9NN
United
Kingdom
Tel:
+44
(0)
1798
344477
Fax:
+44
(0)
1798
344499
SALES@USE1.CO.UK
http://www.use1.com |
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by Daily Peloton.
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