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SOC 14: Metropolis Shows Quick Release Saddle-and-Post Prototype, Plus New Gravity Gradient Carbon Components

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FSA Metropolois Gravity seat post handlebar carbon (2)

This next one goes out to anyone who has ever worried about leaving a saddle on their bike when locking it up or loading it on a car rack. Instead of using a saddle cover or a plastic bag and locking it up, what if you could easily remove the saddle in seconds without messing with your adjustment? That’s what the company is wondering with their prototype Metropolis seat post. The design is sound, but Metropolis is wondering how many people would take advantage of the seatpost design. Find out how it works after the jump…

FSA Metropolois Gravity seat post handlebar carbon (3)

FSA Metropolois Gravity seat post handlebar carbon (6) FSA Metropolois Gravity seat post handlebar carbon (5)

Once the quick release lever on the back of the post is flipped up, the red saddle clamp unit can be slid out of the post. This is clamped to the saddle rails and allows for fore/aft adjustment of the saddle. There is another bolt on the seat post itself which adjusts the black cradle and allows for saddle tilt. Once everything is tightened down simply slide the saddle into the seatpost, lock down the lever and go. In addition to saving your saddle, it seems like it might be a bit of a theft deterrent (do you really want to steal that bike with no seat?) not to mention certain saddle bags would still allow for easy removal of the seat – meaning you can remove your saddle and saddle bag in one fell swoop.

The Prototype weighed in at 374g which isn’t terrible, but not super light. Metropolis isn’t sure they are going to offer the seatpost for sale – if you want one, speak up.

FSA Metropolois Gravity seat post handlebar carbon (12)

FSA Metropolois Gravity seat post handlebar carbon (11) FSA Metropolois Gravity seat post handlebar carbon (10)

Gravity was also showing the newest components in their Gradient line which is aimed squarely at the Enduro/all mountain market. Their new Gradient stem is a 31.8mm aluminum stubby that is sold in 35, 50, and 60mm lengths. Retail is set around $89.99.

FSA Metropolois Gravity seat post handlebar carbon (14) FSA Metropolois Gravity seat post handlebar carbon (13)

To shave as much weight as possible, the stem has a number of cutouts for a total weight of 142g in size 35mm. Gradient stems will pair perfectly with the new Gradient full carbon bars which are a departure from their Gradient CSI bars which are carbon bonded over a thin aluminum core. The Gradient full carbon bars are currently 740mm though a 777mm bar could be in the works. At 740mm the carbon gradients come in at 168g with a 31.8mm clamp.

FSA Metropolois Gravity seat post handlebar carbon (20)

Finally, Gravity’s Gradient carbon crank is nearing production. Currently in its 2nd generation of prototyping, the crank’s carbon layup has been altered a bit and should be ready soon.

metropoliscomponents.com

ridegravity.com

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James S
James S
9 years ago

Why? There’s really no black market for stolen saddles. What happens is crackheads and jerks steal your saddle and seatpost because it’s just too easy to do with a quick release seatpost clamp. The real solution is to just use a bolt on seatpost clamp. Problem solved.

Adam
Adam
9 years ago

James – Been to a flea market in a large urban area lately? Saddle theft is a huge problem in the SF Bay Area. I’ve even heard stories of thieves getting through looped sections of bike chain around the rails to steal Brooks seats and other high value items.

Greg
Greg
9 years ago

@adam-absolutely correct, the Laney and Ashby flea markets are proof of that.

shafty
shafty
9 years ago

The seatpost would be super helpful to any fitter that stocks mostly one brand of saddle. Then only the height would need adjustment. Or is that just dreaming?

Von Kruiser
Von Kruiser
9 years ago

Also for fitting bikes at shops they would love this saddle for quick change on saddles. Saddle sales could use a tool like this from entry level gel saddles to highend fit exchanges.

vectorbug
9 years ago

A major downside to the quick release is leaving the saddle on when the bike is locked up (what if you don’t want to take it with you once in a while).

It’s then extra easy to swipe the saddle without all the fuss of an awkward seatpost.

But I could see it being popular with commuters who own brooks saddles.

James S
James S
9 years ago

But are all those saddles at the flea markets there BECAUSE they were easy to steal? Which then creates a market for people who then buy them back. Yeah, maybe someone might steal a Brooks once in awhile, but I’ve been locking a bike in San Francisco for years and nobody has ever stolen my saddle. There are a lot more valuable parts on a bike that you could easily steal that rarely get stolen. What about forks, stems, brakes, handlebars, shifters, etc? I could get those off a bike in seconds, yet the only time that stuff gets stolen is when a bike is left too long and is completely stripped.

Lucaslazer
Lucaslazer
9 years ago

East bay here, can corfirm. Had a brooks swallow stolen. Send a batch of these out to the bay and they will sell.
It could also be leveraged for bike shops to do quick saddle fitting.

Ripnshread
Ripnshread
9 years ago

Nice design on the seatpost. What if the quick release lever could be removed and I could put it on my keychain? When I used to do fittings the saddle set up is one of the longest pains in the arse about the whole thing. Same goes when you set up and send out loaner saddles for customers to test ride. Only problem I see is its functionality as a seatpost. Looks like it would be kinda a pain to adjust fore/aft since it doesn’t look like it can be done with the saddle on the bike.

Glen
Glen
9 years ago

It’s an idea for me – I have a short amount of seatpost adjustment on my downhill bike and often take my bike to riding places on the train which means pedalling. I could get a dropper but wouldn’t want it to be damaged so this would fit in my bag a lot easier. As it stands I plan on getting a post that can pivot the saddle to be parallel with the post.

FSA USA
FSA USA
9 years ago

FSA USA – Hello all and thank you for your comments. At first we were a little concerned on how to sell this post since it’s so different. However after talking w/ our distributors at Sea Otter (especially Jeff at KHS), they came up w/ the idea of using this as a tool for seat swap during fitting and saddle test rides. We are now ordering the top clamp individually next week and will push this as more of a tool. Once in the shops, we feel it will naturally sell to people who do not want their Brooks, Velo Orange, Selle Anatomica, Cardiff, etc… stolen. Thanks for you input and comments. Get out and ride your bike… I know I will today. Cheers.

nash
nash
9 years ago

ride a Ti frame and use an alloy seat post, nobody will be removing your post- not even you

Johhhn
Johhhn
9 years ago

This looks great ! When it is going to be available in shops ?

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