top of page
Jan 6, 20232 min read

Should I upgrade to a lightweight carbon seatpost?


lightweight carbon seatpost

If you are considering upgrading your seatpost and wondering whether to spend the extra money on carbon fibre then there are two key questions you’ll want to think about to help you decide.


Do carbon seatposts make a difference to performance?


Carbon seatposts start off life as a plastic called polyacrylonitrile before going through a chemical process. During the process these plastic fibres are heated at 1000-3000°C in a pressurised furnace causing the non-carbon atoms to break down. The carbon atoms that stay start bonding tightly in crystals along the fibres of the plastic.


These bonds are what give carbon its ridiculous strength. A carbon seatpost is five-times stronger than steel and twice as stiff. This is perfect for a cyclist. Because the stiffness of the seatpost means the power you put through your pedals isn’t wasted. You reap the rewards of your effort.


The second big benefit you’ll get from a carbon seatpost is the weight. Carbon seatposts are ultra lightweight. For example, our lightweight carbon seatpost comes in at 200g. This means you’re saving about 150g in weight on a regular alloy seatpost. That’s a big margin in cycling terms.


There’s also road noise absorption to consider. There is plenty of research out there (see e.g. Zhong Yan et al, 2019) on the damping properties of carbon fibre. Build a seatpost out of carbon and you’ve got the perfect bike component for soaking up noise vibrations from the road making your ride smoother and more comfortable. And we all know this is what counts over longer distances. If you’re trying to cycle your first 100km, 200km or even planning to tour over a couple of days, a lightweight carbon seatpost will make a big difference.


Is a carbon seatpost really worth it?


So we’ve established that carbon makes a difference. But is a carbon seatpost really worth it? If you are like us and are cycling on a budget then this is the key question.


Short answer. Yes. Longer answer: it depends on how much you spend because like with everything there are diminishing returns. This is at the heart of our cycling philosophy and why we are so focussed on perfecting the balance between weight, quality and affordability.


Say you have a typical, regular alloy seatpost that costs £30 and weighs 350g. Upgrading to carbon can make a big difference. For example, for an extra £50 you can get our lightweight carbon seatpost saving you 150g. That’s about a 3g saving for every £1 spent.


But spend more and you won't get the same return on investment. The absolute lightest seatposts out there weigh 100g but cost upward of £500. So you end up only saving 0.5g for every £1 spent. Quite often you end up just paying extra for branding when you would be better off investing it elsewhere.






For more like this on cycling, sports psychology and wellbeing etc sign up to our newsletter, click here. To follow us on Instagram, click here.


If you're after the very best lightweight bike parts you're in the right place. Ultra light carbon handlebars, seatposts, stem, pedals, waxed chains etc all rigorously tested by us and a small team of cyclists. Click here to see more.

Recommended

Excellent

Screen Shot 2024-03-09 at 12.57.21.png

Overall Customer Rating

Don't just take our word for it

From the community:

Fantastic customer service

Fantastic customer service.

I added a note asking if the purchase could be sent out in time for the weekend and it turned up next day, very impressed - thank you

SG

Stefan Gates

Screen Shot 2024-03-03 at 21.40_edited.jpg

Litebike are doing things right

great product and service, follow up e mails to make sure im happy with it is a nice touch, the seat post is well made and looks really good on the bike, size is perfect when measured

DS

d styles

Screen Shot 2024-03-03 at 21.40_edited.jpg

Rapid service, thanks

Ordered a waxed chain late on Friday evening with a cheeky note that I'm racing Outlaw Half following weekend and hoping to receive in time. Had a response at 23.00 saying they would dispatch Sat morning. Received it 10.00 on Monday morning.

Amazing service!!!

JB

Jeremy Brown

Screen Shot 2024-03-03 at 21.40_edited.jpg
  • Why is weight so important?
    Reducing weight is the most noticeable upgrade you can make. Lightweight bikes accelerate faster and are more responsive to the power you generate, helping you reach your performance potential. Lightweight means going faster and further, for longer. We help cyclists reach their goals - from competitive racers to weekend riders.
  • Do lightweight parts mean compromising durability?
    Most of our bike parts are made from carbon fiber which is lightweight, stiff for optimal power transmission, and flexible in certain dimensions making cycling more comfortable. We put every part through rigorous testing by us and our small team of cyclists. This means you can be confident that our parts will perform for thousands of miles.
  • How come your bike parts are so lightweight for the price?
    The cycling industry is full of gimmicks, poor quality parts and expensive marketing. We are flipping the switch. We work directly with the same manufacturers producing parts for the top cycling brands, avoid the marketing gimmicks and expensive packaging, to bring you top quality products at a fraction of the cost.
  • Are your products sustainable?
    We aim to set the industry standard for high quality bike parts that last. We are the opposite of fast fashion. We are slow fashion - for bikes.
  • Is your packaging recyclable?
    We use biodegradable packaging for all our products wherever possible. We reuse packaging that comes to us too.
  • How long will it take for my order to arrive?
    We aim to deliver all UK mainland deliveries in 1-3 working days.
  • How can I track my order?
    We use Royal Mail’s tracked delivery service. You will get an email with tracking information so you can keep tabs on where your order is and exactly when it will arrive.
  • Do you ship to Europe?
    Yes. Please choose your country at the check out. We charge a flat fee of £8.50, roughly €10.00, for shipping. This is less than it costs us but we don't believe in Ryanair-style add-ons! You may need to pay some taxes on delivery.
  • What’s your returns policy?
    We’re only happy if you’re happy. You can return any part you bought from us within 30 days and we will give you a full refund. Please return the item in its original condition, with any labels attached.
  • Do your handlebars have external cabling?
    Yes. Our handlebars are easy to install for the home mechanic. The cabling is externally routed in a groove running along the bottom of the bars.
  • Are your handlebars DI2 compatible?
    While some customers have fitted DI2 this requires drilling extra holes and we wouldn't recommend it unless you are an experienced mechanic. Please get in touch if you have any questions.
  • Can I fit your carbon handlebars with an alloy stem?
    Yes, our carbon handlebars can be fitted to an alloy stem, such as our super light UNO Kalloy x Litebike.
  • Will the tubes fit my bike?
    Our TPU inner tubes are size 700 x 18-32c and fit a standard bike wheel. Unless you cycle a Brompton you probably have a standard wheel. 18-32c means the tube will inflate to fit a range of tire widths between 18 mm and 32 mm. Our Litebike Performance 50g tubes are suitable for disc and rim brakes. Our RideNow 35g tubes are also suitable for rim and disc brakes.
  • Are your inner tubes difficult to install?
    TPU inner tubes are a performance product and should be installed carefully. This includes cleaning the rim and inflating the tube to a max of 8psi before installing in the tyre. Anyone can install TPU inner tubes at home, but if you are fitting them for the first time it's worth following the instructions on the box carefully.
  • You also sell RideNow gravel TPU tubes. How are these different?
    Our RideNow gravel tubes are sized 700 x 32-47c. This means the tube will inflate to fit the full range of tire widths between 32 mm and 47 mm.
  • Can TPU inner tubes puncture?
    Like with butyl and latex tubes, TPU inner tubes can puncture. However, studies have shown that TPU is more puncture resistant than other materials. You can take steps to reduce the chances of getting a puncture, for example by cleaning your tyre to remove any debris and not inflating the tubes above 8psi outside the tyre.
  • Are TPU inner tubes sustainable?
    TPU is made from renewable sources like plant-based oils and non-toxic chemicals, making it an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based synthetic rubbers and plastics.
  • What are the benefits of a waxed chain?
    You will go faster. Studies have shown you will save up to 7 watts. You will save time cleaning. Wax repels dirt. You will help the planet.
  • How do I wax my own chain? It sounds complicated.
    Chain waxing can be done at home with an old slow cooker and a few other household items. Once you have done it once it’s easy to repeat. If waxing is not your thing, but you’re still after the performance benefits of a waxed chain, we sell a small selection of top quality, pre-waxed chains. We wax them ourselves in our workshop.
bottom of page