The USE Alien carbon post provide the ultimate combination of lightweight and improved ride quality due to the vibration dampening of carbon fiber. The 350mm shaft will work with any compact frame. Made in England from a superior quality fiber and using a weave pattern designed specifically for its application, the USE Alien is as strong as it is light. The sculpted aluminum Alien one-bolt Cyclops clamp crowns off this carbon beauty. A natural fit on any high-end bicycle.
Features
270mm Length 152 grams
350mm Length 185 Grams
Carbon matte finish
One-bolt sculpted Alien head
Vibration dampening carbon fiber
Select from 25.0 x 270mm, 27.2 x 270mm, 27.2 x 350mm or 31.6 x 350mm
At 30 years old I’ve been cycling all my life on everything from bmx, mountain and road bikes. I used this post for 3 years, it was easy to install and once fitted where it needed to be it never needed adjustment. For all the folks out there writing poor reviews complaining about it slipping and trouble installing I have one word for you... Fail. This is the only post I’ve found to never slip, allow you to "fine tune" due to the fact that there are no grooves. Like I said I’ve riden almost every breed of bikes out there with almost every variety of posts, this post does its job, looks great and is light weight. Planning on buying another for my new Seven, just here checking prices. =P
4/3/2010 5:53:17 PM
Anonymous :
I have used the Alien post for 4 years, yes it is difficult to adjust, once set it never moved. Recommended the post to friends, same criticism but did not move and seat didn’t pop off. My girl friend with no bike mechanic skills installed the post on all her bikes, same criticisms, same result, Pay attention when installing the post, then forget it, works great
4/3/2010 5:52:37 PM
Anonymous :
I have used the Alien post for 4 years, yes it is difficult to adjust, once set it never moved. Recommended the post to friends, same criticism but did not move and seat didn’t pop off. My girl friend with no bike mechanic skills installed the post on all her bikes, same criticisms, same result, Pay attention when installing the post, then forget it, works great
9/12/2009 9:19:08 AM
Anonymous :
I have the old style Alien with two adjustment screws. It was installed in 2004 and performed flawlessly until the middle of an important ride in 2007. I took it back to shop where purchased and again everything went well until the summer of 2009. Once again the seat moved during a ride and since I had moved I could not take it back to the LBS where purchased. Took to another shop and mechanic were clueless on the torgue. One kept tightening until he broke on of the alloy bits that tightens on the rail. I did not realize the piece was broken so the post failed about 5 miles into a ride so I had to pedal back without a saddle. Needless to say I am conflicted on whether to keep the post of not. When it works it is great but when it fails it sucks.
9/1/2009 7:50:56 PM
Anonymous :
Comical how emotionally invested people get in things.This seatpost is beautiful to look at and is very lightweight. But despite careful installation by me and my LBS, torque wrench or no, the saddle pops off while riding. Just look at the design and you can see how it’s possible. Why bother? Look at the Thomson. It’s brilliantly designed and constructed. Campy too.
8/27/2009 7:45:03 PM
Anonymous :
I am amazed at the bad reviews, but, every person is different. This the is the best post I have owned, and I have tried most of them! It is tied for number 1 with the bontrager post line for easy adjustment. It has a horizontal adjustment just like the bontrager, except it is from the back, the bontrager is from the side. Most other posts require tightening from underneath in a manner that is just not that easy to do (post always gets in the way especially when using a tri allen wrench). This post does not. My only two complaints on this post would be, and I am int picking here..
It is too adjustable. Most other posts have clicks, this is smooth so it takes more time to get it completely perfect.
It appears to compress the seat mounting rails, although they always uncompress when the post is released. When I say compressed I mean bend, like bending a straw not squishing a straw.
If I had the money, all 8 of my bikes would have this post or the bontrager race xlite.
7/11/2009 10:50:47 AM
Anonymous :
I have owned this post two years and always found this post difficult to adjust properly. The bolt is too small to tighten very much. Today, it slipped mid-race causing me to drop out despite careful assembly. I am now online shopping for a replacement. I have never had a post fail in decades of riding. My advice, avoid this one.
4/9/2009 11:30:43 AM
Anonymous :
I have used a USE Alien Carbon Seatpost for more than two years and it is one of the best posts I have ever owned. It is very light, very strong, nice looking and does a good job in damping road vibration. The manufacturer offers several clamp sizes to fit all of the different diameter saddle rails on the market. Ask your vendor about the correct clamp size for your saddle before purchasing. It is a little tedious to adjust but it does not require a degree in mechanical engineering as someone suggested. If your favorite tool is a crescent wrench, then you may wish to have your local pro bike shop do the installation. Otherwise, follow the directions, use a torque wrench if you have one and don’t install it the night before a race.
2/18/2009 7:39:55 AM
Anonymous :
I’m an engineer and I can’t get this thing to work! I replace my saddle about every year and after three years I’ve finally decided to throw out this seat post. It is very difficult to install (although I think it’s more difficult with certain saddles) and very difficult to adjust. Sure - it is light weight and cool looking, but that does nothing for you if you cant physically get the saddle on your seat post and into the proper position.
2/10/2009 7:55:14 PM
Anonymous :
I’ve had this seat post for five years and it is great. No, if, ands or buts. I have Thomson Masterpiece and it is easier to
adjust but, heavier. I have the two bolt version and went to a company called Fastenal to buy stainless steel bolts to replace the originals that had rusted. Otherwise, if you can’t adjust the USE post you must have hand like feet.
10/26/2008 6:33:47 PM
Anonymous :
I bought this particular seatpost because I liked the way that the saddle rails are better supported than many other light weight seatposts.
After reviewing all the reviews here and on the online forums I decided to risk it anyways. Many have said the cyclops clamp is difficult to adjust. I do not find it so.
Max torque on the small 3mm hex head socket cap screw is 3.5 NM. I would highly suggest using a good high quality torque wrench for this. A bolt that small in diameter can easily snap if over torqued. The entire clamping design relies also on proper torque on the faster to generate the proper clamp force on the clamping head of the seatpost portion.
I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars because the description here at Excel sports and as well on USE’s own website doesn’t tell you right away that you may need to buy a 2nd cyclops clamp of different size if you have carbon rails
7/19/2008 10:46:46 AM
Anonymous :
I read the reviews expecting to have a hard time installing this post but it was no more difficult than my old Campag. post. It is not as intuitive but not so hard that it takes 15 minutes. I looked at how the clamp worked and adjustments were not terribly complicated. It is very important not to over-tighten the clamp. Just a guess but think that the way the clamp is designed is to generate leverage created by the bolt/clamp against the saddle rails (a multiple of the force applied). Thus, the amount of tightening is not directly proportional to the force applied by the clamp. I stopped tightening when there was still a lot of play left in the bolt and the saddle rails were very tight against the clamp.
7/16/2008 8:26:46 PM
Anonymous :
I like a post that goes about its job without too much fuss. This one does not. The clamp fails to inspire confidence; one 3mm bolt to hold a saddle is barely adequate. I have had it slip and had the bolt loosen, which makes for a worrisome ride. Also the saddle is difficult to install by comparison to Ritchey, Campy, Thompson - you need three hands to do it. A regrettable choice overall.
6/28/2008 1:50:52 PM
Anonymous :
It is hard to believe that people are having problems with this post. I have a carbon on my Look and just purchased an alloy for my cross bike. It is light, very easy to adjust and clean looking. I have used Campy, Ritchey and Thompson posts but this is the best post.
6/25/2008 8:36:07 PM
Anonymous :
I have one. Once it’s set (after MUCH aggravation), it stays put. It’s light and it looks good but there’s one simple fact:Simpler is better and there’s no seatpost clamp as simple, elegant and strong as Campy’s and all these multi adjustment or multi piece clamps are a complete joke.
6/23/2008 6:34:09 PM
Anonymous :
I just installed this seatpost today - anyone who says this is easy to install must be someone who works for USE. This is the worst seatpost I have ever worked with in 25 years!
6/4/2008 1:13:29 PM
Anonymous :
The USE Alien seatpost is very easy to use. It just requires a bit of patience, and understanding of the direction of rotation of the saddle while doing it up.
You have to angle the saddles nose slightly downwards, so that when you tighten the clamp the nose of the saddle will lift. Make sure the clamp is tight (torque to numbers rec), and it won’t move and should need no fine tuning.
It really is easy and takes a bit of practice and patience.
4/30/2008 8:26:54 PM
Anonymous :
I second the reviewer who said the post is a pain to adjust. I have a problem with it holding adjustment and it can’t be adjusted on the fly.
4/9/2008 7:30:15 AM
Anonymous :
I’ve used this seatpost for the last 8 months on my Storck CD1.1. It is a fantastic post. Extremely well made and not at all difficult to adjust.
2/25/2008 10:52:44 PM
Anonymous :
I would give this seatpost a zero if possible. The post itself is fine - still, lightweight, reasonably priced. The saddle clamp, however, is extremely complicated and difficult to install. I’ve installed three different saddles on this post and have had to spend at least an hour on each to adjust it and get it in the proper position. The one bolt concept is a good idea, but is impossible to make slight adjustments to and requires way too much time to install. I wonder if the product designers have ever actually put a saddle on it to try it out....
;)
