Focus Paralane: Hylix Seatpost - Part 1

Ever since I got the Focus Paralane, I had a problem with the seat post. I needed a seat post with zero offset, but it is nearly impossible to find, as the seat post diameter is an uncommon 25.4 mm.

For quite some time, I had to make do with the stock BBB seat post which has a rearward offset. To compensate for this, the saddle had to be pushed as far forward as possible, but there is a limit. The pedaling ergonomics is not ideal as the knee joint is too far behind the pedal spindle.

Finally, I managed to find a lightweight 25.4 mm diameter seat post by Hylix, with zero offset. Not only the outer diameter needs to be correct, the inner diameter also needs to hold the Di2 battery inside. Let's take a look at it.

Parts of the Hylix seat post. Comes disassembled like this.

It is quite hard to find a good quality seat post that is 25.4 mm in diameter.

The seat post is just a carbon tube. This opening size is suitable for a Di2 battery.

Outer diameter is accurate at about 25.4 mm.

Internal diameter is about 21 mm, big enough for the Di2 battery with rubber holder.

The other end of the seat post has an aluminium sleeve bonded to it.

The carbon tube and aluminium sleeve are then machined together to make them fit perfectly.

Seat post is hollow all the way through.

The rest of the seat post. Here are the parts for the saddle clamp.

One piece carbon holder for the saddle rails. Strong and lightweight.

The aluminium holder goes through the seat post, like the Litepro seat post design.

The two round rods will then hold the saddle rails in place.

Carbon tube weighs just 104 grams.

Saddle clamp parts weigh 47 grams.

This gives a total seat post weight of 151 grams, before cutting. It is really lightweight!

Here is how the saddle looks on the original seat post, which has a rearward offset that is too much.

With the new zero offset seat post, the saddle can be moved forward by quite a bit.

Seat post needs to be cut, as it extends too far into the frame, interfering with the bottle cage bolts.

However, I discovered a problem with the saddle clamp parts, which is a manufacturing defect. The threaded holes on the rods are slanted, which prevents the bolt and clamp from tightening correctly.

The holes on the rods have been drilled and tapped in a slanted manner, as you can see here.

I reported this issue to the seller, and they will be sending out a new set of rods which are drilled correctly. However, while waiting for the replacement, I tried to see if I can use some other parts first, so that this seat post can be used now.

Saddle clamp from the original seat post on the left, the Hylix seat post on the right. The original clamp looks so much stronger.

If I switch from the two rods to the big clamp, it weighs more.

Unfortunately, this does not work, as the hole distance on the clamp does not match the position of the bolts.

Due to the manufacturing defect, I was unable to use the new Hylix seat post. Watch for the second part of this post, to see how it eventually worked.