U.S.E. RX Road Suspension

Price Paid:  $0.00 at performance

Favorite Ride:
bike ride across Georgia

Bike Setup:
Cannondale with Dura Ace etc.

Summary:
I have used severalUSE suspension seatposts for years on my hardtail and road bike. It works except for a little "stiction." It has a horrible clamp that scratches the heck out of the saddle rails. It is difficult to put on and does not allow much adjustment for leveling the sadle. The worst part is my seatpost broke on a 600 mile bike ride. Have you ever tried to ride a bike without a seatpost 8 weeks after ACL surgery?

Strengths:
It does absorb bumps especially on a mountain bike or aluminum frame road bike.

Weaknesses:
HORRIBLE and unreliable seat post clamp.

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $130.00 at Performance

Favorite Ride:
Hills of Southern NY

Bike Setup:
Titanium frame with aerobars for long rides (60-100mi).

Summary:
A suspended post makes a HUGE difference on a long ride. Get one, especially if you have a sore butt after a long day in the saddle. This post works fine and I would buy another, especially since it weighs less than the competition.

Strengths:
1. Smooths out the bumps and vibration- it saves your butt!
2. Very little weight penalty.

Weaknesses:
Awkward clamp... but not anywhere near as bad as the Alien.

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $129.00 at Performance

Bike Setup:
Klein Stage/Flite Titanium saddle

Summary:
If you have an unforgiving aluminium frame or very bumpy roads to ride (or both), a suspension seatpost is definitely the answer. And this one is light & works well; no sqeaks, freeze-ups or seat adjustment problems in 2+ years for me. It'll make your "soda can" frame ride loke a Rolls.

Strengths:
Does what it advertises. Light.

Weaknesses:
A bit tough to set up.

Similar Products Used:
Girvin;Nashbar

Price Paid:  $150.00

Favorite Ride:
Bar harbor cyclocross

Bike Setup:
IF cyclocross with XTR & Ultegra

Summary:
If you do not have a lot of seatpost extending from the frame and you need to tighten down on the seatpost clamp, the compression actually squeezes the post and causes extreme stiction and bindup of the post. If I loosen the binder bolt, the seat and post twist during dismount and over rough terrain. The rock shox does not do this and is only about 60 grams heavier...however the rock shox does not come in 26.8 in the road post, only the mtn, which is heavier with more travel. That's fine with me since the cushy ride is more enjoyable and I just stiffen up the elastomers. The extra weight isn't a real concern because, hey, it's fu#@in' cyclocross and that sh1t is supposed to be a little heavy so you work harder running up those damn hills!

Strengths:
Light and plush

Weaknesses:
weak looking clamp and stiction

Similar Products Used:
Rock shox

Favorite Ride:
Rosedale Chimney, North Yorkshire Moors, UK

Bike Setup:
Orange Dynanmo 57 cm frame; Campagnolo Record 9sp 1999; Mavic Comsic Pros; Profile carbon fork; Selle Italia Flite.

Summary:
A low cost, high performance post that lasts and lasts (I had the Alu one for 4 years on my MTB and it never gave up). Thanks for the shim, it may be the last you need. Only 4 widgets for the overal rating as some might not like it being in-line. It's good for road and MTB, and several friends who have used it or borrowed by bike have gone out a bought one themselves.

Strengths:
I have the non-suspension version of the USE post in titanium. Light weight (180 g in 300 mm), minimalist looks, shim system (post is 25 mm, with shims to fit to 34 mm +), good cost/performance ratio (~40 UKP for Alu in 300 mm and 70 UKP for Ti in 300 mm) and good range of lengths at varying costs (~250 mm, ~300 mm, & ~430 mm). Oh yes - it has an amount of fore/aft flex that irons out some smaller bumps.

Weaknesses:
In-line post may not be suitable for all as it brings the saddle forward by about 3 cm. For me, it's fine as I have a short-ish upper body.

Similar Products Used:
USE non-suspension Alu. Various stock pins.