{"id":1243,"date":"2023-08-10T01:30:17","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T05:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikefinest.com\/?p=1243"},"modified":"2023-08-10T01:44:36","modified_gmt":"2023-08-10T05:44:36","slug":"what-is-a-seat-post-shim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikefinest.com\/what-is-a-seat-post-shim\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is A Seat Post Shim And Why Do You Need It?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When some people hear about seat post shims, they think they are unsafe and waste money. Others feel differently and believe they save money as you don\u2019t need to buy a new seat post. But what is a seat post shim exactly?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A seat post shim is a plastic or metal adapter that allows you to fit a narrow seat post into a broad seat tube. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You probably are not sure if you need a shim. Perhaps, it\u2019s the working mechanism that is not clear. You may also be asking, \u2018must I spend money on a shim?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, I had the same concerns, and since they are no longer there, I\u2019ll love to help clear yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s dig deeper into our title.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"what<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

What Is A Seat Post Shim? Do You Need It?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As I mentioned, a seat post shim is a plastic or metal adapter that joins a narrow seat post to the seat tube with a bigger diameter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, these adapters or tubing come in steel, aluminum, or PVC constructions. Shims feature a cut-off that makes them stretchable for easy fitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But why is a shim necessary? Do you need it? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, if your seat tube is wider than the seat post and you don\u2019t have the money to get a new seat post, then yes, you need a shim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have two bicycles at home and one has a slimmer seat tube and requires a matching seat post, you also need a shim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what are the advantages of seat post shims? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A shim allows you to unite a narrow seat post with a broader seat tube, which means you don\u2019t have to get a new seat post. From a financial perspective, that means you save money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other advantage is that a shim allows you to swap seat posts regardless of their thickness. Moreover, it increases the number of potential seat posts which could fit your seat tube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does A Seatpost Shim Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Seat post shims have a simple working mechanism. They simply wrap around a narrow seat post and makes it as thick as the target seat tube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, the Cane Creek Seatpost Shim<\/strong> converts a 28.6mm seat post to 31.6mm thick to fit into a 31.6mm seat tube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, the CYSKY Seatpost Shim<\/strong> converts a 27.2mmm seat post to 30.8mm thick to fit into a 30.8mm seat tube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that most shims work both ways. For example, when the Fouriers Seatpost Shim 31.6 to 30.9mm<\/strong> comes with the measurements 31.6mm-30.9mm and 30.9mm-31.6mm, it means the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n