Skinnier seatposts are in vogue at the moment for the same reason skinny seatstays are popular: the theory is that they offer greater flex and therefore comfort.

The saddle clamp will be held in place with one or two bolts. Twin bolt systems are more common as they are more secure and spread the load better. Some have the bolts fore and aft, some are left and right, it just depends on manufacturer. Whichever material you go for remember to use the correct grease when installing it into the frame as each requires a different paste to help prevent seizing and damage. Diameter When it comes to cancelling vibrations, there are several steps brands take to aid this in frame construction: using thin seatstays; placing the seatpost clamp lower down so that more seatpost is exposed (allowing for more flex); and using a narrower seatpost A carbon seatpost is effectively an additional step; a cherry on top.The same brand is also responsible for bringing dropper seatposts to the road audience: the Specialized Diverge, in its S-Works form, features a 'Command' dropper post. The theory is that those riding the adventure road bike, like mountain bikers, will want to be able to adjust their saddle height to suit the terrain. Alloy posts are relatively light, cheaper and easy to install and maintain but they can be a harsh ride. A key factor is the diameter of the seat post. This must directly match the internal diameter of the seat tube of your frame. The majority of modern seat posts are 27.2mm, 30.9mm or 31.6mm wide, with the latter often described as oversized. At 300mm in length, the Enve seatpost is available in 0mm, and 25mm-offset versions. While quite a few carbon posts have a metal clamp head bonded on the top, the Enve post is carbon through and through.

There's the Canyon VCLS (it stands for Vertical Comfort Lateral Stiffness) seatpost, which uses a 'v' shaped split to create two thinner strips of material and thus disrupt the buzz from that nasty tarmac before it reaches the rider. 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. As is consistently the case, aluminium is perfectly adequate and will do the job. Carbon seatposts, however, offer greater dampening from road vibrations and are lighter.If you don't feel your bike needs to be any more comfortable, and you're not fussed about 100 grams, then aluminium seems like a smart choice. If you want to drop the weight or add some cushion, look to spend more. Though some brands like to play exception to the rule, the majority of bikes are designed to fit a seatpost of either 31.6mm or 27.2mm. Materials: The most common seatpost materials are aluminium and carbon fibre, with the former being less expensive and more commonly found on low- to mid-range posts and bikes, and the latter being the option of choice for premium bikes. Carbon fibre is generally regarded as being more comfortable due to its vibration-absorbing characteristics, while top-end carbon posts are also the lightest on the market. However many – especially trail and gravity MTB riders – still favour premium aluminium posts for strength and confidence.

How much is the nose of the saddle behind the BB measured vertically with the bike on level ground? Similarly, if you ride a very small frame size and intend to have the saddle quite low, make sure there's nothing obstructing a longer seatpost from slotting in. However, whilst you can always cut a seatpost that's too long, you can't add to the length if it's too short. Rear lights can be a bit of an issue when it comes to an aero post, although many brands now offer adaptors that allow for the shape.Concerted efforts have been made in recent years to further squash out the road buzz that can translate to fatigue over long miles. 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 you use a carbon seatpost, make sure to fit it using a thin layer of carbon paste as this stops it slipping. Pay attention to the quoted torque at which you should tighten the bolt - overdoing it can cause it to snap. If you don't own a torque wrench already, here you can find our recommendations for the best torque wrenches for bikes. Some manufacturers produce a saddle with an oval shape rail which can only be used with corresponding seatpost. It looks round from a distance until you try and put it in a traditional saddle rail and tighten it… Colour

Aero road bikes come with aero seatposts. These are flatter and designed to channel air more seamlessly, limiting the resistance that slows you down. Construction material plays a large part in comfort. Alloy, titanium and carbon are the three materials to choose from.Leisure riders just need to make sure they’re buying a seat post with the correct diameter and in the correct length. If you’re in doubt, remove your existing seat post and have a look towards the end of the post and chances are it will have the diameter and length stamped on it. Racers should look for the lightest and stiffest carbon seat post that they can afford. So long as your reach doesn’t get compromised it may be worth trying an inline post too for increased pedalling power – especially on seated climbs. FWIW I saw a tandem yesterday with a steel seatpin with steel Ahead stem(approx 10cm) fitted to the top,with an old type bolt through saddle clamp fitted to that,believe it or not it looked very neat. There are different lengths on offer, too. Seatposts will have a marker which shows the minimum amount of post that can be inside the seat tube. If you ride a small frame with a lot of seatpost showing, you'll need to make sure you buy a post that allows for this.