Triathlon Gear Review

Gear

USE Alien Aero Post

Finally, an Aero Post for Everyone!

Take one well made, great looking, fantastic riding and lightweight aero post and combine it with two mounting positions and you have an aero post for everyone. The Use Alien Aero Road and Triathlon/TT posts finally solve one of the most ignored needs for triathletes.

I've always been shocked at how so many aero post manufacturers put a centimeter of setback in the clamp. Why would a triathlete buy a tri bike with its 76-78 degree seat tube only to use a seat post with rearward setback? Bikes are designed to be ridden directly on top of the seat tube. Otherwise, when you mount your saddle a centimeter behind the seat tube you effectively convert a tri bike into a road bike. The extra length puts your hips, quads, back, etc. too far back to be aerodynamic and comfortable. To get low enough up front when riding at 74 degrees you have to bend too much at the waist and/or ride on the tip of the saddle. This increased bend reduces your ability to expand your diaphragm and is, along with riding on the tip of the saddle, simply uncomfortable.

Use solves that problem by building the lightest and best looking aero post available with a tri specific seat clamp. If you want or need an aero post with a little setback for whatever reason, then you can choose the Alien Aero Road. Either way, you'll own one of the best looking and performing pieces of cycling gear available anywhere at any price.

Please note that I have owned several Alien seat posts including the Carbon Road and Tri posts and the Aero Road and Tri posts. In the past I have complained about the mounting clamp being one of the more difficult to work with. I only continued to use the posts because I became an expert in removing and installing saddles and I recognize both its beautiful shape and light weight. Fortunately for you if you buy a new one, Use has significantly improved the clamp by going from a two to one bolt system. The "Cyclops" mounting system uses a single 3mm bolt that improves on the twin 2.5 mm bolts. One problem was with the bolt head size itself since the smaller the Allen wrench, the easier it is to strip the bolt head. Moreover, going back and forth between the bolts to tighten the clamp is slow and tedious.

My recommended method for installing saddles on a Use post is to mount the saddle in the clamp with the post out of the bike. Snug the bolt so that the pieces stay together but allow you to slide the saddle fore and aft. Install the post in the seattube and snug it down. Don't worry about setting your saddle height until you have fully tightened the saddle clamp. Now position your saddle in the clamp with the nose slightly down. Then push down at the back of the saddle with significant force to make sure the saddle is level (or at whatever tilt you prefer). Make sure that the tilt of the saddle is only checked with significant pressure on the rear of the saddle because that where the saddle will be when the mounting bolt is fully tightened. Release the pressure on the rear of the saddle and tighten the bolt. As you tighten the bolt you will see the nose of the saddle rise. When the bolt begins to protrude out of the front of the clamp you are tight enough. Then adjust your saddle height and you’re ready to ride.

Yes, this mounting process is definitely more tedious than most other posts but once you get the hang of it it's really pretty easy. I think it’s a reasonable price to pay for the reduced weight, great ride and good looks of the post.

KDG

Use’s Descriptions:

Alien Aero Triathlon - Triathlon / TT specific

The USE Alien seat post has been the market leader in the lightweight performance sector for six years. The Alien has continually evolved with the latest being the Alien Cyclops. Using a larger (3mm hex key) single bolt central to the clamp design, the Alien Cyclops makes adjustment easier and faster. The new Cyclops design is stronger than ever and is even 5g lighter. The Alien Cyclops has a unique one-key release mechanism that makes re-adjustment as simple as a turn of the hex key.

New Triathlon / Time Trial Aero carbon features forward position clamp to help perch more aerodynamically and aid transitions to running if a Tri-athlete. Clamp parts and Alien Hook have been hard anodised giving maximum anti-corrosion from salt-water body run-off after Triathlon open water swims.

The position of the rider is critical. The Triathlon Alien Aero offers the rider up to 8mm layback (12mm less than a standard Aero Alien).

The Triathlon Alien Aero seat post is designed for the rider who says speed is everything. The Aero post has undergone strict CFD testing to ensure the optimum shape is obtained. Not only is it the fastest post in the range it's got to be one of the best looking.

Before any Aero post leaves our factory, we ensure it passes our NDT (Non Destructive Testing) facility. All this analysis and testing ensures that the Aero post is chosen by champions.

CONCEPT

Ultimate lightweight Aerodynamic seat post
Designed for the performance rider
To perform on the world stage (Alien: 2 X Tour de France King of the Mountain and multiple MTB World Cup victories)
Chosen by the worlds best athletes who do not compromise

TECHNOLOGY

Utilises the latest carbon and manufacturing techniques
Hand moulded carbon tube
At the forefront of technology and engineering excellence
Extensive FEA & CFD development
In house testing
Development and testing support from Giant, Specialized and Cannondale
All tubes are NDT tested before they leave our factory

MATERIAL

Tube - Full hand moulded carbon construction
Graphics - tough and durable
Head / Clamp - Extruded (except the bolt on the clamp) 7075 T6 Aluminium
CNC'd 7075 T6 Aluminium
Strong and lightweight materials
Anodised Aluminium parts - up to 45 microns
3M bonding techniques and methods

PERFORMANCE

World-class athletes through to amateurs
Time trial & triathletes
Alien: 2 X Tour de France King of the Mountains
Alien: Multiple MTB World Cup victories

ALIEN TRIATHLON AERO CARBON

Weight: 168g (27.2 / medium)
Size: Available 27.2 diameter
Length: S (250mm) / M (310mm) / L (365mm) / XL (400mm)
Material: Carbon Tube / CNC'd 7075 T6 Aluminium head & clamp
Finish: Satin Carbon / Hard anodised
Layback / Offset: 8mm (Alien Cyclops Clamp).
Cyclops Clamp (5g lighter than twin bolt Alien clamp) Hard Anodised

How do I know what size Aero Tri seat post I need?

Measure the top of the seat tube to the centre of the rail, then use the information below to find the correct size Aero Tri seat post.

Small: 130mm - 190mm

Medium: 185mm - 240mm

Large: 235mm - 280mm

X Large: 275mm - 310mm

Example 1: 225mm of seat post showing will need a Medium.

Example 2: 245mm of seat post showing will need a Large.

Alien Aero Road

The position of the rider is critical. The Alien Aero offers the rider up to 20mm layback (10mm more than a standard Alien).

The Alien Aero seat post is designed for the rider who says speed is everything. The Aero post has undergone strict CFD testing to ensure the optimum shape is obtained. Not only is it the fastest post in the range it's got to be one of the best looking.