In addition to the tried and tested two-bolt clamp version, the WCS carbon seatpost from Ritchey is now also available with an intelligently designed one-bolt clamp. The screw inserted from the side pulls two clamping jaws together, which fix the saddle in place. The clamping principle, already familiar in a similar form from Bontrager and Specialised seatposts, offers several advantages over other clamps. Assembly is simple because the often annoying fiddling with several components associated with other clamping variants is no longer necessary. In addition, the clamping screw is only loaded in the direction of pull, which makes failure unlikely. The WCS post with single-bolt clamping is available in diameters of 27.2 (300 and 350 millimetres long), 30.9 and 31.6 millimetres (300 and 400 millimetres long respectively). The version we tested with a diameter of 27.2 millimetres and a length of 350 millimetres is very light at 184 grams; its contribution to suspension comfort on the saddle is at the same good level as the WCS aluminium seatpost we used as a reference. Two adapters are available for 9.90 euros each for fitting saddles with carbon stays with a diameter other than the standard seven millimetres.
Reference/InfoCosmic Sports, phone 0911/310755-0; www.ritcheylogic.com
Price: 229 Euro
PLUS: light, comfortable, high-quality workmanship, easy-to-fit saddle clamp
MINUS: expensive
Photo: Daniel Simon
