Fizik are better known for their saddles, but the Italian company offer a range of components. There’s plenty of clever thinking evident in the design of the Cyrano Carbon seatpost.
The clamp that holds the saddle in place fits both round and ovalised rails, its 47mm lower section spreading the load when the clamp is tightened and holding the saddle securely in place without undue force (8Nm, as marked on the post, is plenty).
We measured the layback as 25mm (from the centre of the post to the middle of the top clamp) but there’s plenty of back and forth adjustment for fine-tuning.
But it’s the ease with which you can adjust the saddle angle that is really striking. Loosen the rear bolt slightly, then use the adjuster wheel at the front to tweak the nose of the saddle up or down. When you’re done, tighten the rear clamp again. If you’re princess-and-the-pea sensitive to saddle position you’ll be glad of just how quickly you can get the angle sorted.
The finish is subtle and attractive too – just as well, given its price tag. It comes in three lengths (270mm, 330mm and 400mm) and three diameters (27.2mm, 30.9mm and 31.6mm) so there should be a version to suit your bike. Our 330x31.6mm post weighed 223g, which is reasonable rather than super-light.
The Cyrano also adds comfort out on the road, taking the sting out of rough surfaces. The wall of the post varies in thickness, which is designed to give side-to-side stiffness with a little bit of front-to-back flex.
While it won’t transform a rock-hard racer into an armchair, it does smooth the edges off sharp bumps and mutes vibrations from the road surface. Stomping hard on the pedals when riding in the saddle fails to produce any noticeable lateral flex, so the Cyrano is a good choice for sportive riders and road racers alike.
This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.