Close inspection of my shiny new Bontrager carbon fibre seatpost has revealed a problem. The Bontrager website describes the Race XXX Lite as having "'Double D' tube for superior strength" (I swear I didn't choose this post because of a predilection for all things DD). The idea is to allow more back-and-forth flex while limiting side-to-side flex, by making two opposing "sides" of the post tube thicker than the other two. The problem with mine is that the thicker sections of the tube are aligned at about 45 degrees to the seat rail clamps, which obviously can't be right.
This picture shows both the 'Double D' section and the alignment problem:
I bought it as brand new on eBay from a seller who also advertises an apparently identical Ritchey Superlogic version (doubtless produced by the exact same manufacturer). Apparently the seller's entire stock has exactly the same problem (which probably explains why they are so plentiful and cheap on eBay - they are seconds that Bontrager/Ritchey wouldn't accept), so the seatpost has gone back for a refund, and I've gone back to trawling the usual places for an alternative.
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