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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
