Specialized Pave Advanced Composite Seat Post

Price Paid:  $40.00 at friend

Favorite Ride:
any hills

Bike Setup:
Cannondale CAAD4 54cm
Litespeed AVIOR 53cm

Summary:
I was introduced to this seatpost by a friend when I rode his bike and noted how comfortable it was. He said the seatpost helped. Later when he was parting it out I bought the post to use on an old road Cannondale CAAD4 which was very stiff. The seatpost really helped the ride out. I weigh 65 KG. no problems with the diameter being off. Later, I acquired a road frame with a 32.4 seatpost size. I added a PAVE seatpost with USE shim and again the ride improved dramatically.
The bolt adjusters can be a pain but if you use a cutout saddle you can reach the front bolt through the cutout. If you have regular saddle you have to use an open end wrench which is harder.
If you have harsh riding frame lying around this is a great way to add some life to it.

Strengths:
Reduces buzz and improves ride. I think it looks good. Can micro adjust saddle tilt fairly easily.

Weaknesses:
Not light (~250g but you can always cut it down as mine was long).

Similar Products Used:
USE, Thomson, FSA

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Specialized Tarmac.

Summary:
Came with the Specialized frame. Bolts came undone while racing. Heavy, more than 230grams. Don't mind using it for triathlons where in the worst case, I'll have to retighten half way in the race, losing a minute or so. Can't afford to lose a couple of seconds in a road race though.

Strengths:
Smooths out the ride.

Weaknesses:
not easy to setup the seat angle. Bolt comes out occasionally. Slightly larger than 27.2mm. So it doesn't fit other frames nicely.

Similar Products Used:
Easton, control tech.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Specialized

Favorite Ride:
Lake Mary, AZ

Bike Setup:
2005 Specialized Allez dura-ace/ultegra/fsa parts

Summary:
Came stock on my Allez. Looks good, seems fairly light, does what it's supposed to do - supports my weight and keeps my saddle on tight. I haven't tried other seatposts so I can't really say if the inserts do help, but I see no need to replace this post and my ride is smooth and comfortable.

Strengths:
Light, looks good, gives me a smooth ride.

Weaknesses:
Expensive unless you get it stock during purchase.

Price Paid:  $40.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
road

Bike Setup:
road alum frame with 23X700c tires.

Summary:
Have an aluminium frame that is very stiff. I posted here on RBR and some suggested this seat post. This works very well. Very good at taking this road buzz and deadening it.

Strengths:
It works and is lighter than my old aluminium post. looks cool.

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
no

Price Paid:  $100.00 at house of bikes, palm

Favorite Ride:
the next one

Bike Setup:
older CAAD 2.8 cannondale (see bone jaring ride above)

Summary:
this review is for the 06 Pave SL seatpost. it has a smaller zert insert but that does nothing to effect the comfort. this simple upgrade can transform an older bone jaring aluminum frame into a cobblestone cruiser. by the end of my first ride i was looking for rough roads just to look down at them and laugh.

Strengths:
light weight,
comfort,
ease of setup,
good looks.

Weaknesses:
the 27.2 measurement is only approximate, it took some work and plenty of GREASE to get this into a non specialized frame

Similar Products Used:
standard aluminum seatpost
demo ride on specialized frame with original Pave seatpost