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Carbon seatpost help
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
I've just bought a carbon seatpost for the hardtail. I'm wondering can I just drop it in and tighten up as normal, or do I need to use some sort of anti-slip paste? It's an alumimium frame.
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I don't have any anti-slip paste on mine, but I do know mine has a max torque closure. So be careful not to tighten it too much or it may crack the post.
I don't ride my bike, my bike rides me... we are currently in counseling...
Relax about your carbon post. Don't use any paste or grease. While we're here, I'll point out that everyone should be using a little smear of bike specific grease on the inside of the seat tube when using a regular alloy post. Also lube the clamp so it slides on the frame nicely and lube the bolt threads too, or the QR cam if your clamp is a QR type.
So back to the carbon. No lube at all on the post or in the frame but do lube the clamp as described. Tighten to the manufacturers recommended settings. If you don't have a torque wrench and don't wish to purchase one then get a feel for how tight 5 NM feels. Basically it's hand tight without really giving it much oomph. That's also how tight one's bars and stem need to be and the stem/steerer need to be. All this applies with alloy too. No need to overtighten anything.
With QR seatpost clamps, use the same logic, get a feel for how tight is correct. If you struggle to close the lever, it's way too tight.
A lot of manufacturers recommend against using grease, but there are some people (including Leonard Zinn) do use a very small amount of grease. One thing you will need to watch is if you get it wet make sure you dry it out. Carbon & Aluminium will undergo galvanic corrosion which commonly results in your carbon post stuck in the frame