Every once in a while a product comes along that makes so much sense you wonder how it hadn’t ever been done before. The new Orbea Digit Dropper Post is just such a product, making it quick and easy to lower your seatpost to a preset position at the top of the hill. Then, even more importantly, it lets you bring it right back up to your preferred climbing position just as quickly, hitting the perfect spot each and every time.
It works via a slotted channel on the back of the post with upper and lower limit set screws. You simply open the quick release collar and slam it up or down. The slotted channel keeps the saddle pointing straight forward, and the set screws ensure it goes only as low as you want and returns to the correct height. Officially, it offers up to 250mm of drop in 50mm increments. Technically, you could probably get almost 300mm if you don’t use the top set screw, with total amount of height reduction limited only by frame design.
Action video showing how it works below, drop on in…
It’s a 31.6 post that’ll fit other frames, too, so long as there’s a big enough slot with a round hole on the back of the seat tube. That hole is where the fine tuning bolt is placed, which allows for exact seat height adjustments.
The bolt running through the seat tube just under the binder loosens the adjustment slot to change the upper position, which ensures your saddle height is correct.
Without making too much fuss, it’s simply brilliant. It allows bikes at much lower price points to get a dropper post. It could even make for a lighter, lower maintenance option for high end bikes, too…especially for those that frequently pack their bikes for travel and don’t want to mess with cables or hydraulic remotes.
The quick release cam is burly, a good thing since it’ll likely be used quite often, but easy to open and close.
The head is a standard two bolt clamp system that sandwiches a lower cradle under the cap. Just loosen and tighten opposing bolts to change saddle angle.
For now, it’ll only be spec’d on the new Occam trail/all-mountain bikes and two other models (can’t tell you about those until mid-July), but they may consider aftermarket sales in the future.
