Submitted by
BoozyTheClown
a Cross Country Rider
from San Antonio, Tx
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2005
Strengths: Looks well-made
Weaknesses: Clamping-mechanism is poor. Serrations wear out.
Bottom Line:
As nice as this post may look, the clamping mechanism is short-lived. Once you come down on your saddle with only a decent amount of pressure (I weigh barely 155 pounds), its over...with a screeching sound, the saddle tilts down and the serrations in the clamping shells are worn out forever and will no longer provide enough friction to firmly hold the saddle in place. The two-bolt tightening mechanism is also a really bad idea. It's a real hassle to tighten the damn screws, especially out on the trail after the damn thing just blew out on you. After a blow out, I had to tighten the bolts so hard, that the threading came out of the clamps. Control tech fixed that. After that I landed an air on the saddle cuz I slipped off the pedal and got my ass-crack wiped by the rear wheel. You like landing your ass on a quickly rotating knobby tire at high speeds?? -barely hanging on to your ride just because the saddle clamping mechanism blew?? Then buy this. Otherwise save your money.
Submitted by
Brian Lang
a Weekend Warrior
from Roanoke, VA USA
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2002
Strengths: Low cost, reasonable weight, stays clamped without slipping.
Weaknesses: Might be a tad on the weak side--mine bent just slightly after a couple years and stayed just slightly bent until now, when it bent terribly after five years of service. For a 180 lb. rider and being run as high as possible without exceeding the manufacturer's height limit, this isn't SO bad, but I wish it had been a little stronger. I was considering replacing it anyway because I've had it so long that I was worried I might be near the end of its fatigue life, which would be a possibility with any lightweight aluminum bike parts that bear load and get ridden hard (frames/handlebars/stems/etc.)
Bottom Line:
If you're as heavy as I am or heavier and you need a long post, you should probably spend a few more $ to get a stronger post. If you're lighter, or if you don't need to have your post set very high, this might be a good one. The price is pretty good.
Bike Setup: Litespeed Obed F/S built for cross-country racing.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
JOE
a Cross Country Rider
from Westerville, OH, USA
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2002
Strengths: When I first tried this post about 3-4 years ago, the quality was quite good, especially with the ribbed mast. I am a bigger rider (6'6"/235 lbs). My first two posts had at least 2 years each of hard riding with no failure.
Weaknesses: weak clamp, sub-standard materials
Bottom Line:
Control Tech obviously lowered their quality standards. I broke two brand new ones, one within the first hour of a ride. I compared the new clamp pieces with one of my old ones...the new clamp pieces lost nearly 1 mm in thickness!! I called Control Tech and they actually admitted switching switching manufacturers...the rep also said there were at least 3 brands out in the market that were better . I would never buy one again. I will be sticking with the Titec Hellbent
Do not buy this post. The seat binder is a poor design and is prone to failure (and squeaking).
I've had this post for 3 years and have broken the seat clamp twice. First time it was replaced by CT free and quick, second time it will be replaced by Thomson.
Submitted by
Lester Browne
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2001
Strengths: It works and keeps me sitting on my saddle... ribbed for strength.
Weaknesses: "my seat decides to takeoff like the concorde and ram into my pee pee" :D :D :D :D :D :o :/
Bottom Line:
I only weight about 145 pounds so this thing works for me and does it's job. I do ocassionaly have the problem with the seat clicking out of place but only when i land a drop or jump with no feet on the pedal (don't try that). I imagine it will eventually wear the teeth if I continue to practice landing with my "middle foot" on the saddle, but that's just speculation. I don't think it's the lightest product on the market but I've never had a chance to weigh it.
Strengths: extremely durable and verstile. very stiff
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
not sure how some people are having problems with the post failing. used ControlTech for over three years on each of my bikes without any problems. one post has over 20,000 miles logged on it (commuting, training, racing). it has survived TT, cyclocross, singletrack, 24hr racing, Triathlons, Duathlons, and crits. and about 5 car and racing crashes (post survived without a scratch, I was not so lucky). considering it has survived over 3 years of inner city commuting with over 190 lbs of total load on it, that is not to shabby.
I have enjoyed their product so much that I am going to buy 2 more for my new rides.
Bike Setup: '98 Cannondale super V 2000 XTR/ Race Face Turbine LP/ Race Face Ti Bottom bracket
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Thomas Davis
a Cross Country Rider
from Ft. Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2001
Strengths: clean welds inexpensive
Weaknesses: clamping mechanism strips cheap logo
Bottom Line:
This seat post came with the Trek 970 that I bought off a bike mechanic. I wasn't riding very much them, but to no avail the stupid indexing teeth stripped out. This thing is a piece. I only weigh 155 to 160 and I couldn't for the life of me keep the seat where I needed it to be. I won't blame it on incorrect installation since the mechanic that I bought the bike off of set it up for me. Control Tech really needs to rethink their design and the materials that they use. The one that I have is the cheaper model with the rib down the middle of the seat post tube. I purchase a Kore Lite post and have been using for 2 1/2 yrs with increased frequency and difficulty in riding and I have yet to have a problem. I just purchased a new frame and my Kore doesn't fit, so I will be trying out a Thompson next. Stay away from Control Tech and buy something that actually works. Thanks Control Tech for making me almost sterile on more than a few occasions.
Bike Setup: Trek 970 with XT/LX and current bike Santa Cruz with same components
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
greg
a Weekend Warrior
from the hills
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2001
Strengths: looks ok
Weaknesses: it's apiece of junk,strips out
Bottom Line:
the bottom line is these things should be called strip tech, not control tech,the seat clamp design sucks,my two boys each stripped theirs and i stripped mine,my fault you say? i say the thing is a piece of sh*t!although i did fix the problem by drilling two holes in it and driving roll pins into them,it's not adjustable after that,but who in the hell adjusts their seat after it's where you like it anyway,cheap piece of crap, buy a thompson ZERO freaking turds
Submitted by
Brian Smith
a Weekend Warrior
from London, England
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2001
Strengths: the post is strong, very happy withit until it went wrong....(next section)
Weaknesses: Badly designed clamp. The ribbed surface doesn't hold the saddle well. If a weight suddenly hits it(I weigh 175lbs), in a way that most people would consider normal riding, the front rotates up and you slide off the back. After happening numerous times and gradually increasing the torque applied to the two bolts to do the clmap up, the part of the clamp that the bolts sit into, rises out of the top of the clamp and you can no longer undo or do up the clamp.
Bottom Line:
If you like to run your saddle back on its rails then DO NOT buy this post. Even if you don't, I would avoid it unless you are very light. I haven't ridden much since getting this bike, but I have managed to have 2 of these Ribbed post go wrong in the same way.
If they sorted the clamp out this would be a fantastic post BUT the clamp makes it useless.
Bike Setup: SC Heckler, Judy 100, XTR/XT/LX group except Hope Sport Fr Hub & Disc, Mavic D521 rims, Azonic bars, Control Tech stem and post, (the fantastic) Titec DHKti saddle(not a DH heavyweight), IRC treads
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Walter Buis
a Cross Country Rider
from Netherlands
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2001
Strengths: Hasn't bend yet (over 5 years of XC riding)
Weaknesses: price
Bottom Line:
After I bend the original Scott oem post(steel), the kalloy uno was next. It lasted 'bout a month. Not sure how long I use the Control Tech, must be well over 5 years now. Stil straight.
Submitted by
Kwon Shin
a Cross Country Rider
from Seoul, South Korea
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2001
Strengths: Design, Stiffness, Price
Weaknesses: Decals
Bottom Line:
It has a nice design, but a bit complicated to set up with the saddle. It's strong enough for my everyday riding(Road 70% / Mtn 30%). I haven't found any problem with this yet. So far, I'm satisfied with this.
Bike Setup: '99 Scott Al, all XT set, '99 Judy XC, Rolf wheels, Kore stem, Avid Brakes....
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Kwon Shin
a Cross Country Rider
from Seoul, Soth Korea
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2001
Bottom Line:
It has a nice design, but a bit complicated to set up with saddle than other maker's seatpost. It's strong enough for my everyday riding(Road 70% : Mtn 30%). I haven't found any problem with this yet. I'm satisfied with so far.
Bike Setup: Scott Frame, XT set, Rolf Wheels, Judy XC ....
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Jonathan Curry
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2000
Strengths: Neat "Control Tech" Logo. Didn't bend for two years of occational riding.
Weaknesses: Bent in third season with increased riding.
Bottom Line:
I was glad to see I wasn't the only one that bent this post. I bought it with the thought that the internal rib would make this a strong seatpost. But early this season it bent and slowly bent more and more. The cheapo Kalloy I had lasted 4 years!
Bike Setup: 97' Voodoo Wanga w/ LX/XT/XTR, WTB Powerbeams, 97' Judy XC, beat up old Trek System 2 saddle.
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Submitted by
francis scarpacio
a Cross Country Rider
from brklyn, NY USA
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2000
Strengths: made in USA, take it back it is an embarrisment
Weaknesses: the yield strength of the material is not high enough
Bottom Line:
it suks. my seat decides to takeoff like the concorde and ram into my pee pee. not a nice feeling. i re-tighten it, & still there wee numerous instances of this situation during the middle of the ride.
after careful analysis, it was concluded that the seatpost clamping area started to neck (beyonf the yield pt)for u non material scientists the material started on its was to failure (UTS).
BOTTOM LINE BUY A THOMSON
LITESPEED SHOULD BE EMBARRESED TO PUT THIS SEATPOST ON THERE BIKE. THE CNTRL TECH STEAM IS OK SO FAR
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