SQlab Performance Grips

SQlab Performance Grips

Debuting in 2018 - the SQlab Award-winning Grip Series!

The newest innovation in grips from SQlab landed a 2018 Eurobike gold award. The judges raved, "Apart from the saddle, the grips are the most important point of contact between rider and cycle. With its new series of grips, SQlab has expanded its range: four different designs each in three different sizes mean that all riders can be sure of finding the right grip for every ride."

SQlab Grip Series Overview

SQlab Performance Grip Series

70X Gravity & E-Performance

The perfect fit for maximum control. The surface offers maximum grip, even in moisture and mud. Fingers are optimally supported in any situation by the front and bottom, while the outside provides the necessary comfort.
Sizes: S, M

70X SQlab Performance Grips Details

711 MTB Tech & Trail

711 SQlab Performance GripsThe outer contact area of the 711 grips is less rounded and flattened instead. The flattened area of the grip also raises slightly towards the outside for support. Based on the natural contour of the hand on a grip, contact is drawn forward and slightly rearward at the same time. The clamp is located inside and the clamping sleeve is only in the inner third portion of the grip. This allows for more material for increased cushioning and a confident “tacky” feel. The flat angular bottom offers a perfect form fit. The design organically flows with your palm and fingers.The 711 offers extended pressure distribution and hand support compared to a wing design that supports only the outside of your hand. This grip can be squeezed less tightly because it fits better. Your bike remains under control with less effort. The increased comfort is especially evident after a hard trail ride or marathon.
Sizes: S, M, L
711 SQlab Performance Grips Details

Providing a Secure Grip - SQlab Performance Ergobar

Handlebars are round, and grips are also mostly round because it is simple.But fingers are anything but round: They easily slip on a round object and cannot hold on unlike, for instance, a flat table corner.

The Ergobar is a wave-shaped profile on the front and right side, which produces a flat, slightly angular grip bottom. A perfect fit for angular, bent fingers.

The slightly wavy shape of the Ergobars maps the different finger lengths of the hand.

Ergonomics thought out in detail - and all around.

SQlab Performance Grips Ergobar

SQlab Performance Grip Surface

When it comes to the grip surface, SQlab operates on the principle: as round as necessary and as flat as possible.

Round may sound comfortable, but round shapes on grips only produce a small, limited surface area.

An ergonomic grip with a wing reduces pressure considerably, but a secure grip may no longer be suited to all terrains under certain circumstances.

And so enter the SQlab grip concept. Flattened and drawn forward and down to maximize the surface area comfort. The fingers can wrap around the grip securely. The slightly angled, flat shape creates the perfect form fit. Contact surfaces are distributed across the complete grip and the flattened area is optimized providing a comfort level similar to a winged grip.

SQlab Grip Surface

The proof is in the pressure mapping

Pressure = force/area, which means the new SQlab grip design allows for far less pressure on the hand.

The 711 Grip - The flat support surface and the added material on the outside reduce pressure to a completely new level for MTB grips.

The 70X Grip - despite the continuous clamp sleeve and the harder rubber, the pressure is barely higher than with the 711.

SQlab Performance Grips Pressure

Relief for the hand

SQlab grips are designed to provide relief to two pivotal areas - the ulnar nerve and the carpal tunnel pass.

Grip pressure on ulnar nervePressure mapping on the contact interface with the hand and grip has shown that the pressure in the outer region of the hand is the largest. This is also where the ulnar nerve runs. The ulnar nerve is responsible for the sensitivity of the ring and little finger. Consequently, SQlab increased the contact area in the outer region of the grip and hence reduced the pressure.

The carpal tunnel supplies nerves to the thumb, index and middle finger. Here the nerves exit and branch off to the fingers. The carpal tunnel pass is a very sensitive area which can usually be relieved by selecting the correct handle bar sweep for a straight transition from lower arm to hand. However, pressure relief with grips is also important. Several conventional ergonomic grips have a so-called relief wing which extends too far inwards. Often this relief wing is too hard and can cause unwanted pressure on the carpal tunnel pass.

Grip size measurement since 2006

Personal grip size is important. Grip size is the measurement from the tip of the middle finger to the crook of the thumb. The fingers grasp the grip precisely by this measurement. In the new SQlab grip series, sizes differ in range, length (only the 702, 710) and shape.

 

 

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Grip Measurement

The pelvis

When sitting normally, the sitbones support the body‘s weight and have the capability to withstand high pressure. This should also be the case when riding a bicycle. With an athletic riding position, the perineal area of men and the lower positioned pubic bone arch of women on the saddle.

The well branched out network of nerves and blood vessels of the perineal area reaches from the anus via the genitals to the upper pubic bone arch. On the sides it reaches past the pubic bones. 

These are capable of carrying a small weight – but a pressure reduction is essential. An even pressure reduction in the perineal area and the pubic bones is achieved through the lowered nose of our SQlab step saddle concept.

The sitting position

When sitting, the sitbones (areas marked in green) serve the purpose of supporting the body’s weight, hence they can endure a high load and pressure. They should also be utilised in this way when riding a bike.

 

In a dynamic riding position the contact point moves from the tip of the sitbones, forwards along the pubic arch to the pubic bone and the central perineal area is used for resting on for both genders. Women however, typically have a lower pubic arch which can result in higher pressure from the saddle nose when riding in a dynamic riding position. The surface area the riders weight is resting on is especially critical in a very dynamic and forward riding position and in such a case the riders weight should not only be supported in the centre but also on the pubic bone.

 

The sitbone and pubic bones both come together from their widest points in a “V” shape. This means the more dynamic the riding position, the narrower the saddle is allowed to, and should be.

Already in 2002 we developed a simple equation which uses the distance of the sitbone tips in dependence of the riding positing to calculate the perfect saddle width. This method has meanwhile been established globally. The method may be interpreted slightly differently from different saddle manufacturers and many leave the adjustment equation away all together, but our basic concept is used in all of these measuring methods.

 

The flexibility of the spine has much less influence on the positioning of the pelvis as often assumed. Spine and pelvis should remain in a natural position relative to each other and not be forced into a certain position, even if the body is very flexible.

 

Especially with the SQlab step saddle it is no longer necessary to tilt the pelvis backwards as the typical pressure zone of the perineal area and pelvis arch no longer pose a problem due to the lowered position of the saddle nose. The energy which is often required to hold the pelvis upright while the upper body taks a dynamic and forward position is no longer required with the SQlab step saddle and can instead be used for pedalling and propelling the bike forward. In addition, there is substantially less load on the spinal discs.

Saddle

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