Do aero seatposts make a difference?

As with all aerodynamic upgrades in cycling, it is a culmination of marginal gains that will start to make noticeable differences to your riding. So, yes, seatposts can make a difference but, in most cases, aero seatposts will come in a proprietary design to fit a specific bike, making upgrade options considerably limited.

Best road seatposts | Cyclingnews

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How to choose the best road bike seatpost for you

Take a deep dive into the best road bike seatposts and one word you'll find continually cropping up is compliance.

While you may be tempted to think the cycling world has got a little bit too obsessed with ticking all the boxes in the safety manual (although that is, unarguably, an important aspect), compliance in this scenario is a measure of the elastic deformation the seatpost can endure – which a key contributor to comfort.

The introduction of carbon to bike manufacturing was a game changer for seatposts. Not only can it help to reduce the overall weight of the bike, but the way in which carbon components are manufactured – by building up layers of fibres – can be adjusted to give it the perfect blend of compliance and stiffness. From damping to deflection, the best carbon seatposts can help soften vibrations and take the edge off impacts.

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Thomson's Elite seatpost has long been considered the gold standard for adjustability, strength and performance when it comes to supporting your seating arrangements – it’s also known for its firm ride quality. Made from a single piece of machined 7000-series aluminium, it weighs about 200g depending on the size and diameter – giving it a decent advantage over the budget-option Zipp we feature above.

The Ergon CF Allroad Pro Carbon is most commonly found on a range of Canyon bikes as the VCLS. Both are the same, and are designed to soften hard edges on the road surface. The VCLS stands for 'vertical comfort, lateral stiffness' and that's a good way to describe its intentions. It offers a unique dual-tube design that splits apart into two narrow blades, creating a leaf spring and offers tangible improvements in comfort.

Are all seatposts the same?

In short, no. Seatposts are an area where bike manufacturers seek to make gains in weight, aerodynamics and comfort – so there are a whole range of different types that come with different bikes.

If your bike has D-shaped or aero seatpost, like the Specialized Pavé, it is unlikely you would be able to upgrade it without going back to the specific manufacturer. Some bikes, such as the Giant TCR, even have integrated seatposts that cannot be replaced.

If it has a round seatpost, however, you are likely to have far more options – but diameter becomes all-important. The two standard diameters are 27.2mm and 31.6mm and all of the seatposts featured in the guide will fit one of those two sizes, while some have more options in between.

Some bikes even go as narrow as 25.4mm, Cannondale being a case in point. A skinnier post will provide a bit more flex, and therefore a slightly more comfortable ride, while a fatter one will be more robust and add stiffness for additional power transfer.

The length of the seatpost will also need to be considered. If you’re on a frame that’s too small or you have extremely long legs and need a lot of seatpost sticking out of the frame, it’s something to keep in mind. Conversely, if you’ve got short legs and ride an XS frame, your seatpost may bottom out and still be too high. Cutting down a seatpost is no big deal – just remember to measure twice and if it's carbo use an appropriate blade and wear a mask.

Most of the best road bike saddles use a two-rail system, however not all two-rail saddles are compatible with all seatposts. Saddles with alloy rails will have 7mm, round rails, while most carbon-railed saddles have 7x9mm oval rails.

There are also a few saddle/seatpost brands which use a proprietary clamp and rail design; although these have largely died out because most people don’t like to be locked into a specific system.

Do carbon seatposts make a difference?

Like handlebars, wheels, and nearly all other bike components, seatposts come in a variety of materials, the most common being aluminium and carbon fibre. As always, carbon commands a higher price tag, but it usually weighs less and can be constructed in a way that dampens more vibration while maintaining directional stiffness in a way that will benefit the rider.

In your search, you may also run into carbon-wrapped seatposts. These are clever marketing from component brands and are an aluminium post with a carbon veneer around the outside. Claims of additional dampening and offering ‘the best of both worlds’ should be taken with a pinch of salt, our recommendation is stick to one material or the other.

Are setback seatposts more comfortable?

Setback is the degree to which the seat clamp sits behind the top of a straight seatpost. There is also a separate measure of layback for seatposts that have a bend near the top of the post.

This offers more variety for a rider when choosing a new seatpost and will largely come down to personal preference – a bike fitting is the best way to determine what works for you. The greater the setback, the further the sitting position will be behind the bottom bracket and away from the handlebars – so it is something that taller riders might want to investigate to help improve comfort on the bike.

Some brands also offer layforward posts which, as you may have guessed, bend in the opposite direction to achieve a more aggressive position. Or you can make like Adam Hansen and fit your layback post in the wrong way round.

Are suspension seatposts worth it?

Upgrading to a suspension seatpost is a way to add comfort to your ride, especially if you like to get off the tarmac onto gravel and trails. There are many different systems to choose from, which all have their own benefits. The major downside is that any mechanical system involving moving parts is likely to add weight to your bike and also introduces an extra element of maintenance to your setup. Depending on the type of seatpost, there could also be a negative effect on power transfer to the pedals.

Based on the Gold Coast of Australia, Colin has written tech content for cycling publication for a decade. With hundreds of buyer's guides, reviews and how-tos published in Bike Radar, Cyclingnews, Bike Perfect and Cycling Weekly, as well as in numerous publications dedicated to his other passion, skiing.

Colin was a key contributor to Cyclingnews between 2019 and 2021, during which time he helped build the site's tech coverage from the ground up. Nowadays he works full-time as the news and content editor of Flow MTB magazine.