I know, I'll post on OCUK forums for an answer

jaybee

jaybee

jaybee

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Joined
10 Jul 2008
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My mountain bike has a saddle. (great huh?). This saddle is attached to a tube/pole. (no really) This tube/pole is stuck inside the frame, aka it won't move up or down. It's been like that for about 10 years (the last time I rode it). It's a quick release saddle (ironic) yet I've emptied a can of WD40 around the stuck tube and tried pulling it (hard) and it won't budge. It does not appear to be rusted but is obviously seized up.

What's the score OCUK? Take it to a bike shop and bend over whilst they drill it and break the frame utterning "yeah as I said, that was always likely" or is there another method I am not thinking of? Why do I want to move it, I've grown a bit since 2000 :) It's actually an alright bike for a 1997 mountain bike and I wanted to put it to good use. Front suspension, V-brakes, chrome alloy frame...hang on...is that even good anymore?

Cheers
 
I have the same thing with an old bike of mine, I've tried everything from oil to a hammer and even 3 mean all trying to turn the seat at the same time. Nothing worked...
 
Could you strap/zip tie something to the seat to give extra leverage to twist it/free it up?

Scaffolding pole, broom stick, breaker bar etc.
 
Cold welding? Pretty tough to unstuck, you will need to apply a lot of force but then risk trashing the entire seat tube and bike frame.
 
A pair of stilsons should do the trick. They grip tighter and tighter the more force you apply. Just be careful they don't crush the pole. Once it's free in a turning motion, it should be easier to pull up & down.
 
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Have you tried yelling and swearing at it?

Thats how i normally do these things :p
 
tbh if its been in 10 years the best thing is using a mini hacksaw by hand and hacksaw a few lines in the seatpost, a bikeshop will prob just tell you to use your own time and effort rather than paying for ours as we cant do anything special that you could do.....
 
I will go have a look at it again later and shout and swear at it whilst simultaneously giving it a good hard twist. Will post my findings.
 
I had this on an old bike, I just took the saddle and wheels off, turned the frame upside down, put the seatpost in a big vice and turned the frame, came out instantly.
 
Cuchulain said:
I had this on an old bike, I just took the saddle and wheels off, turned the frame upside down, put the seatpost in a big vice and turned the frame, came out instantly.
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If possible, this.

Use the leverage that the bike frame can give you to get it out.

Have fun!
 
Saytan said:
if the bike is your size and everything works properly, then it's good to go. ignore bikesnobs who have to have this year's kit.
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OK Mr 2002 BMW 330Ci Clubsport, proud of your car are you?
Why not have a rustbucket that will do the same job - get you from A - B if this rustbucket is "working" fine.

I'll admit to being a biketartsnobnerd, BUT you are wrong.
IF the bike will just be used to pootle along a bridleway or a pootle along an mild xc course and cycle to work - sure it's fine, but that's it.

ps: a real bikesnob needs to have next year's gear, not this year.
 
Supercow said:
OK Mr 2002 BMW 330Ci Clubsport, proud of your car are you?
Why not have a rustbucket that will do the same job - get you from A - B if this rustbucket is "working" fine.

I'll admit to being a biketartsnobnerd, BUT you are wrong.
IF the bike will just be used to pootle along a bridleway or a pootle along an mild xc course and cycle to work - sure it's fine, but that's it.

ps: a real bikesnob needs to have next year's gear, not this year.
Click to expand...

The bike has not become less capable over time. It's still capable of shredding exactly what it was designed for

i'd suggest watching the MBUK film chainspotting. Yes, it is tame by today's standards from films, but it's still way above what most people will ever do in terms of technical, and the majority is done on mid-90s XC hardtails with an old bomber.

the bicycle is probably mankind's single finest piece of industrial design, and i loathe the throwaway culture that has become attached to it in the last few years


P.S i have XTR. And Ultegra. And titanium. I also have a 1940's holdsworth road bike
 
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I've seen chainspotting - Warner and Peaty ****ing about and stacking is hardly a good example. All of which they are doing is tame on a modern bike.

Calling an old outdated bike - and old bike, is hardly throwaway culture.
Don't know what Ultegra is, but good for you.
 
my point is there is no such thing as an outdated bike

if the op wants to do the same rides he did in 1997, then the same bike is more than capable.

It's a bit like computing really, if all you want to do is go on the internet a bit, then an old dell laptop (;)) is more than sufficient. Far too many people are overbiked, in the same way that far too many people are overcomputered.
 
I'd rather that my ability restricted me rather than my equipment though.

Hence why many people buy as good as they can afford or justify spending.

Also means that when you do get the chance to ride you are not set back by poor equipment, parts failing or requiring adjustment.
 
That is a fair point – and well taken, but I still disagree on some of it.
I personally do DH (and then some XC/AM on my other bike) and I would not have been as fast as I am now if I had been riding in 1997. My equipment lets me be better/faster over crazier terrain.
Fair enough that’s a more extreme example, but the same applies to my AM/XC bike. I can peddle all day as if I’m on a leisurely excursion, but can also descend like a demon when it gets rougher on it.

All of the above is possibly just exactly what Berger said. Now when it comes to “ a good rider can shred on anything” … well that’s an entirely different conversation.
 
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