Is this gravel bike suspension? Ergon CF Allroad Pro Carbon - Install & Review 

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For me, as a saddle adjustment obsessed person, this is a great seat post, as fore-aft setting doesn't change tilt setting and vice versa.

@@szczyp2963 Fore/aft and up/down adjustment…agreed!

@szczyp2963, agree. I wasn’t expecting this, but did want to change the fore/aft and was thrilled that it worked and didn’t mess with anything else.

@mfosiecki, I had read a few months ago about people shimming with thin cardboard, so was surprised to find the “carbon” shim in the box. I guess they heard this feedback. Good on them

@@AnAvidCyclist I've been on this seatpost since I bought my Canyon in 21- it's been great, I got a new saddle and did a deep clean and there is no shim in mine?? Did it fall out? I never took that bolt out before and opened it up. Do I need it?

Thanks for that @thecappy! Syntace has been a bit off my radar for a number of years, but that looks like a great alternative. Both for Di2 and for Fizik carbon rails.

Yikes! I think I damaged my eyes looking up what the CGR was! 🙂 More seriously, I don’t think I’d be able to get as forward as I like with any setback post. But great to include options, even if you have to go to eBay to find them

😁

@@AnAvidCyclist BTW I have Easton EA90 seatpost. It is interesting because it has mechanism which alows to swap saddles without touching height or tilt, an inovative solution.

I’m fully onboard for carbon seatposts at this point. I swapped the Ergon for an Enve just to see and found the Enve to be very compliant. So I wouldn’t turn down an Ergon, but I wouldn’t pay a premium either. Interesting to see that Canyon has walked away from the design too. - but I couldn’t get the Enve to tip the nose up at all, and for whatever reason, I need a bit of nose up. So I’m now a week into riding on the Thomson Carbon. I went back to that because 1) carbon and 2) I know the clamp adjusts the way I need it too. Honestly, it’s a bit depressing to see how modern frames are moving toward forcing proprietary and house brand seatposts. I fear for our future ability to tinker with our bikes!

@@AnAvidCyclist unfortunatelly all things around us are getting in that direction. I work as IT service personel and now almost there is no chance to fix something, you can just replace with other part. Car industry also, just reading some FB publications about modern cars engines. Engineers decided to put intercooler inside the intake manifold, also starter is now inside of gearbox bell housing on some cars, drivecahin is put on side where gearbos is, timing belt is submerged in engine oil. WTF where this World is going 🤔🤦‍♂️

Thanks for the nice comments! Yeah, the water was a thought, but 1) I don’t really ride in the rain much and 2) it should just drain out the bottom. Should! Depends on the BB design whether you’re exposing your bearings, of course. If this thing starts creaking from dust/grit, then it’s coming out. Noise is unforgivable!! 🙂

Completely agree that the saddle swap is incredibly easy, but the tilt adjustment is a pain if it’s tight in the seat tube

Hmm, just wrapped up the 100 miler at Rebecca’s Private Idaho yesterday. It’s pretty much all gravel and had a TON of washboard this year, and I didn’t experience this leg thing with the Ergon. ymmv

​@@AnAvidCyclist Chapeau and well done on RPI. If not tried already, would still recommend experimenting with and without on some fairly longish repeatable test circuits and seeing what the legs feel like afterwards for comparison. Who knows, maybe RPI less comfortable but faster next year 😉 Good luck with it either way.

Another commenter said they were able to do that. Sadly, it was too tight in my frame. At any rate, it’s a one time hassle, since people rarely want to change the saddle tilt.

Probably depends on the rider weight. If there is a weight limit then it’s likely you could find it on the ergon site. As a non-bike-packer I can’t imagine wanting to have a large amount of weight up high and out back like that. At least not if you stand to climb at all

I don’t know, seems possible since the ends are clamped together

Sorry, I was trying to say that the brooks saddle didn’t work for my butt

@@AnAvidCyclist gotcha, I thought that based on your statement in the video. I just wanted to make sure there wants anything structural with the saddle & the post & the saddle & you. Great video, very destructive & concise

My rails measured fine. One challenge I had was because I flipped the head to allow a more forward position. The docs don’t say anything, but you need to flip all 4 of the head pieces, not just the outer 2 pieces. So basically you have to completely disassemble the seat-post. Not sure if you’re running into this exact problem, but figure it was worth calling out. If your saddle rails aren’t standard width, then you are likely in trouble for all seat posts.

I don’t have the post anymore so can’t check the manual. However, I don’t recall a MAX insertion (of course there’s a MIN insertion). But you’re right, mechanically I would expect the leaf springs to have less compliance as you insert more of the post. I replaced with an Enve and then a Thomson carbon post and honestly am not sure that the leaf springs were noticeably better than these carbon posts, so if you’re going to have little exposed post I’d probably recommend skipping the ergon post and just getting a decent carbon post instead. Good luck!

Not sure if you saw, but that’s the purpose of the shim between them. Apparently earlier versions didn’t come with the shim and people were using cardboard, etc. I never experienced any creaking, but it’s probably inevitable as grit will for sure migrate down there. I found it to be a hassle to clean that area, and I’m not one to regularly clean my bike.

@@AnAvidCyclist i did, interesting to see an indepth review anyway

I don’t remember where I got it, but it’s an Effetto Mariposa. They have several models with various heads and ranges. Mine has the non-ratcheting head which is absolutely tiny for getting into tight areas. I think it goes to 15nm. It’s been a great purchase, but wasn’t cheap.

Brought to you by the Michigan Board of Tourism!!! Ha!

Thanks for the recommendation. I was interested in how they used the carbon fiber layup and 2 leaf spring design to provide compliance with no maintenance or adjustment. Similar to a Lauf fork. Ride on!!

ive been using the redshift stem and seatpost for a while now on one of my gravel bikes. they work exceptionally well.

Yeah, some people seem able to do that. It was too tight in the seat tube to adjust. 🙁

I ran a gravelking SK 43mm in the back for several years. It’s probably 3-5mm on each side, but no more than 3 to the seat tube. Would not be good with any mud at all, but most of my events are in the dry part of the PNW so hasn’t been an issue.

It’s an Effetto Mariposa. They have several models with different torque ranges and heads. This model does NOT have the ratcheting head which makes the head very small which is great for getting in tight areas. If you’re in the US they have gotten harder to find. Competitive Cyclist and REI both used to carry them, but neither seem to currently. I’ve been very happy with mine and it gets steady use. Good luck

Thanks for the suggestion. I may be too much of a traditionalist for that though! 😂

@@AnAvidCyclist if you got balls, they will be way more respected with an ISM saddle. No more unintended ball contact will occur.

The weight weenie in me loves to dream about buying boutique parts like those. But the practical side usually wins after looking at details like the saddle support and imagining being stuck in the middle of nowhere regretting my choices 😂

You’ll need to check with Ergon on that one

Thanks, but I really dislike any saddles with split rails

Thanks. I would love to hear from anyone who has used the Thomson Carbon post. I like their simple design and the proven durability at very light weight.

Thanks! It’s more that it’s just “fiddly”, anyone could do it and get it set. Once it’s set you’re good. A bit more dexterity than I have wouldn’t hurt either!

Sounds like that would make a great addition to RU-vid as an instructional video. Post a link here when you’re done.

I love the original Alliante. I’ve got several in a box, just in case. No matter what I know I can always go back to that saddle and be happy

Go to 30mm and even less PSI! 😁

cant, velominati rules....

@@oOoACFREEMANoOo, ha! Well, just a few years ago, they would have limited to you 21-23mm tires. It’s possible they don’t know what they are doing!! 😮

That would definitely help, but was too tight in my frame to adjust that way. Even without the shim and the assembly paste. 😢

anything for new "technology" 😂 agree a wider tyre is another option instead of this complex thing

I think it’s fun to try new approaches and am glad that we have engineers out there designing new stuff. Some works and some doesn’t. In terms of complexity, this is no where near as complex as a shock. I think it’s a very interesting application of carbon’s unique properties. Same as the Lauf fork, which I’m not interested in but glad they are thinking outside of the box

Ride 200 km on a suspeded bike and compare the time with a gravel bike, you will know the answer.