[Closed] New roadie bike - stuck seatpost - help!

I think the 'sleeve' will be a shim, designed to make your seatpost fit your seat-tube. Just lather it in grease and whack it back in. if you've managed to remove it once, you can remove it again if needs be - much easier once it's all greased up. If you remove the sleeve, you may find you have a seatpost which slips down constantly.

You're on the money with that description! The guy I bought it off did mention the 'shim' and that it would be tough to move. You're right, getting the post and shim out is no problem, but they really are well jammed.

I'll have to get some grease tomorrow - any recommendations for type and application? they really seem welded together!

Many thanks, by the way!

is it new from a shop or 2nd hand?

I'd be a bit annoyed either way tbh and are you sure that the sleeve is just a shim and not supposed to be an insert bonded into the carbon frame?

Andyl,

I bought private, 2nd hand.

It's my first serious bike to be honest so I believe it's a shim - it has little tabs around the top that look to me like it's a separate part from the frame. It just seems to have really dug into the seat post (carbon fibre upgrade, I'm told).

Sorry, meant to add: the frame is aluminium.

Finish Line white grease. I have bought two tubes in my (long) lifetime of farting arond with bearings, other moving bits and bits that don't move.

It almost lasts forever.

Might be worth sticking up some photos just to make sure we're not giving you duff advice.

Is there a lip on the shim, something you can tap off with a suitable drift?

hot water.

Screwdriver in the shim slot.

Be prepared to replace, or just buy a seatpost of the correct size.

Assuming that you manage to get the shim off you need to use a carbon compound rather than grease when you reassemble it all. If you uses grease you'll never get it out once it is in.

As above, don't use grease on carbon, it can swell and delaminate the carbon, that might be why the post is welded to the shim, carbon paste is what you want
Or a seatpost that's the right size without a shim...

Guys, thanks so much for the advice - my brother-in-law barged in this morning and did it with brute force and grips (in the picture). Still thinking of adding some of that carbon grease for future.

Now I need to know just what height to set the seat! Novice Alert![img] [/img]

Ps, here's me new wheels - super excited!

Can anyone advise me best & easiest for proper seat height?

New Giant:

For seat height, put your shoes on and put your heel on the pedal with the crank in line with the seat tube at the bottom of the stroke (leaning against a wall of course). When you straighten your leg you should just start taking a little weight off your backside as you lock your knee, but not enough to lift it off the saddle.

At least, that's what my dad told me

I hope those pedals are temporary until you get some spds and proper road shoes? Also to get the ultimate respect of any passing roadies. Slam that stem!

Mrbelowski; nicely put sir - that's welcome clarity on a aspect that's always been over complicated. Many thanks!

Organic355: yes the pedals are temporary - I gotta cover a few miles first (and save a little more) Then I will be going straight for shiny new cleats & shoes. No doubt I'll be straight back to you fellers for advice on the best deals.

Again, many thanks guys for your help from a guy (literally) just starting out on the road.

Cheers,

Greg.

Ps. What the hell does 'slam that stem' actually mean? We have a phrase over here in rural northern Ireland "give 'er dixie!" Which might translate as similar?

http://slamthatstem.com/

very nice bike i had one in red but was a little to small for me still rode really nice with a few alterations