[shinsplints]

So, what's the advantage of the famed Thompson Elite seatpost? I would've thought that carbon posts are better because they absorb road vibration better. Am I missing something???
-----------------

UPDATE (9/22): I did purchase a Thomson Elite and was wondering if I should grease it before inserting into the ST. I have a Ti frame and thought I had come across a posting that suggested that Ti and Al may chemically bond over time. Any clarification?

 

[BShow]

They're indestructable, they're very easily adjusted and they look cool. The downside is that they are a bit heavier than some of the other higher end posts.

I use carbon on the road bike, but I use Thomson exclusively on teh mountain bikes. I've folded other lightweight posts, and generally dont like carbon for off road applications.

 

[loudog]

ease of adjusting. love my thompson. after adjusting many posts and getting frustrated i have come to love this seatpost. great product.

 

[LookDave]

Easy to adjust saddle angle with real precision, seems to be indestructible. Over past few years, I've gone back and forth between Thomson post and 3 different carbon posts - Ritchey WCS, Look Ergopost, and some other one I can't remember. I personally don't notice any difference at all in road vibration, and setting saddle angle is far better on Thomson.

 

[cyclust]

Just take a look at one. Beautiful construction and design. They work. Well. Very well. Nuff said.

 

[danl1]

So, what's the advantage of the famed Thompson Elite seatpost? I would've thought that carbon posts are better because they absorb road vibration better. Am I missing something???

Thomson (no P) are as light as most any post, and indestructable to boot. None of carbon's difficulties with scratching and scoring, slipping in the clamp, less likely to self-bond into the frame, blah, blah, blah. Terrific adjustability.

Carbon: Looks kinda nice, at least according to some folks. Can be lighter, but lighter means less durable, somewhat more risk of damage. That 'absorb vibration' thing? For any range that matters, it's a myth. For it to make a meaningful difference in comfort, it would need to have the structural qualities of Twizzlers. If you aren't looking at it or wrenching on it (and I really recommend you don't look at or wrench on your seatpost while riding) there is no way to tell the difference between them.

 

[Keeping up with Junior]

Bingo

Dan as well as the others have nailed it. Don't get fooled by the marketing folks and their lust for carbon. Thomson rules.

I would've thought that carbon posts are better because they absorb road vibration better.

You really think four inches of exposed carbon seatpost is going to absorb a lot of vibration? Tap the presta valve and let a couple of PSI out of your tire. I went from the Easton carbon seatpost that came stock on my bike to a Thomson and never noticed a difference in vibration.

 

[phoehn9111]

I am using a Masterpiece on my MTB, because I just don't trust CF in that
application either. It is 180 grams. Light enough so that you don't even have to think
about that kind of WW BS any more. There has been much controversy about
vibration dampening from a seatpost, but I don't think it makes much difference
compared to tire pressure, frame\fork and wheelset. It makes a small difference
and mates better in a CF frame as far as not wearing out the frame seatpost
junction.

 

[rkb]

Just the facts-

Campy Record carbon..................185grams-$180
Easton EC90 carbon....................155grams-$190
Ritchey WCS carbon....................175grams-$190
Syntace......................................192grams-$150
Thomson Elite.........................197-237grams-$80
Thomson Masterpiece..................158grams-$140

I have always had Elites on my road and mountain bikes. On my latest road bike I splurged and purchased the Masterpiece. For giggles I found some replacement titanium bolts on Ebay and dropped a few more grams and in the end I took a hacksaw to it to shave off a few more. All of this is totally not needed, but I have no social life and well these things happen.

 

[Blue CheeseHead]

I replaced the stock Bontrager carbon post that came with my bike with a Thomson Elite. My favorite part of the Thomson cannot be seen when installed. The variable thickness tubing is engineering genius. The ribbed texture is nice to help avoid slipping. I am not sure that I can think of anything that needs to be improved. They have done it right.

 

[shinsplints]

OK! I'm sold! Thanks for all the info.

 

[Hoffman]

Personally, I a ***** for anything cnc machined from billet, which the Thomson is. Accept no imitations they are the best.

 

[acid_rider]

I own two Thomson Elites in 27.2mm, the straight and the kinked (10 degree?). I use the kinked on my Time and straight on MTB.

There are TWO problems with Thomson Elite posts from my perspective.

1. they do not have as much set-back as most other posts, their kinked post has at least 10mm less set-back than a standard 25mm setback post. This limits the Thomson market. A pity!

2. I would like to see seat-post height markers every 2mm to make seat height adjustment easier. My Bontrager seatpost has it. Nice feature. Not mandatory but very nice!

Apart from that, Elite is a terrific seatpost. No need for carbon post! I also have carbon (FSA K-Force and Bontrager Race-X-Lite) posts and there is no difference in ride quality as far as I can feel. I use carbon post with more setback (hence no Thomson!) on my Madone, with steeper seat tube angle. I wish I could use my Elite but alas it does not get me back far enough.

 

[mx_599]

Thomson (no P) are as light as most any post, and indestructable to boot. None of carbon's difficulties with scratching and scoring, slipping in the clamp, less likely to self-bond into the frame, blah, blah, blah. Terrific adjustability.

Carbon: Looks kinda nice, at least according to some folks. Can be lighter, but lighter means less durable, somewhat more risk of damage. That 'absorb vibration' thing? For any range that matters, it's a myth. For it to make a meaningful difference in comfort, it would need to have the structural qualities of Twizzlers. If you aren't looking at it or wrenching on it (and I really recommend you don't look at or wrench on your seatpost while riding) there is no way to tell the difference between them.

uhhh, far from true. two steel frame bikes with thomson masterpiece posts that slipped a lot! pain in the....

one was a road bike the other a mtb hardtail.

yes, they are the correct diameter and i am a good mechanic. i did nothing wrong.

i finally got some of the tacx paste and they seem to be good now. but i wouldn't say they "don't slip"

:thumbsup:

by the way, i love thomson seatposts. if you get the masterpieces, you give nothing in weight. if it matters to you, they have probably the widest seat rail clamp area in the industry

mx

 

[mx_599]

I am using a Masterpiece on my MTB, because I just don't trust CF in that
application either. It is 180 grams. Light enough so that you don't even have to think
about that kind of WW BS any more. There has been much controversy about
vibration dampening from a seatpost, but I don't think it makes much difference
compared to tire pressure, frame\fork and wheelset. It makes a small difference
and mates better in a CF frame as far as not wearing out the frame seatpost
junction.

what do you mean by this?? i am curious because i am building up a real nice carbon frame mtb and have both a carbon and masterpiece i need to decide on and then send the unused post back.

so i am curious why you imply that the thomson doesn't wear out frame before i decide for my bike

thanks

mx

 

[shinsplints]

I got a Thomson (no p!) Elite seatpost and it just feels so sturdily constructed. Very nice. One question: should I put some grease on it when I put it into the seat tube because my frame is Ti? I thought I had read something about Ti and aluminum bonding together or some crazy chemical reaction between Ti and Al.

 

[DIRT BOY]

Everything people mentioned is trure. They are beautiful, UNLESS you need a setback post. then they are ugly IMO.

If I needed a post that was no-setback, and not for a WW project, the THOMSON would be my choice.

IMO< I nice car4bon post DOES take out some road buzz. If you wnat soemthing to take a little off on the small bumps a road can provide, look at a MOOTS post. If you have enough post exposed like on a compact frame, it will flex/give a little. Best post for HT MTB IMO.

 

[phoehn9111]

what do you mean by this?? i am curious because i am building up a real nice carbon frame mtb and have both a carbon and masterpiece i need to decide on and then send the unused post back.so i am curious why you imply that the thomson doesn't wear out frame before i decide for my bike

I was using a Masterpiece on an aluminum MTB frame. It started creaking, so I disassembled and before greasing the post I noticed a little aluminum dust on the frame
inside. I know it was clean from before. I was making an assumption (sorry about that)
that the knurling on the seatpost wore down into the frame a little before I greased it and
extrapolated that it might do the same thing even faster in a CF frame when the seatpost
slips during normal use. I would be interested in knowing if someone has a different
explanation.

 

[Argentius]

adjustable, light, pretty, tough.

what else is there?

 

[Mr. Versatile]

It's a metal stick that holds your seat on. Personally, I think you should pay at least $400 + for something that does that.