Crank Brothers Cobalt 3: Seat post

Crank Brothers Cobalt 3 Seatpost is an elegant, lightweight alternative to common as muck carbon for powerful riders of semi/compact road/TT bikes. However, the sample's clamp was poorly conceived and exceeding fiddly to adjust-not what I'd expect on an £80 seat post.

Measuring a whopping 400mm long and available in the standard 27.2,30.9 and 31.6 diameters, the cobalt continues the brand's trademark flawless, almost fluid and undeniably seductive lines. It's fashioned from 7075 series aluminium which is in many respects ideal for finishing kit-especially lofty seatposts thanks to a superior strength to weight ratio. Detailing and accuracy of machining is pin sharp, our 27.2 slipped seamlessly inside the seat tube, snugged tight by the frames binder bolt in a matter of turns.

There's even a series of embossed dots designed so you can put a drop of paint to denote exact in-a-glance saddle height. Objectively a 10p cable tie will serve precisely the same purpose but then, to paraphrase Wilde, the cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. Ours was the inline model designed to place the rider in a more aggressive, aerodynamic stance-perfect for time trial duties but there's also a version with twenty-degree layback (to counteract ultra steep frame angles while providing that extra bit of momentum on the climbs).

Despite the relative thin gauge tubing, ours has never felt remotely whippy-even with 300mm exposed. 70 kilos shouldn't overly stress fitting kit but provocatively lashing the tagalong aboard and heading for some very challenging descents it didn't flinch allowing me to concentrate on turning a steady, even cadence so, theoretically more powerfully built riders shouldn't have any problems. By the same token, it never felt like a pneumatic drill after two hours or so chasing through rutted lanes and trails. For all this, the cradle is a prime example of form over function being time consuming to set up and developing an unnerving habit of loosening mid ride- a real pain if your multi-tool hasn't a torx bit.

Verdict

Beautiful post scuppered by a silly clamp.