SQLab is all about comfort for mountain bike riding, founded by Tobias "Toby" Hild in 2002, it was the first cycling brand to focus on ergonomic cycling parts. From its extensive range of award-winning best mountain bike saddles to mountain bike grips, they work with medical specialists to help cyclists with pain and numbness.
SQLab also claims to be the very first brand to introduce a sit-bones distance measuring tool for the best MTB saddle fit, and they have now launched their all-new saddle, the 611 Infinergy Ergowave Active 2.1 Carbon. Not only doesn't it have the longest name ever, but it's also packed with 20 years of SQLab saddle expertise.
Aimed at all-mountain and enduro riding, the saddle will debut at Eurobike in Frankfurt next week. Before we get our 'ass' on the new saddle at Eurobike, we had a look at some of the details of the latest SQLab saddle.
Fit and comfort
SQLab has developed and tested over many years its Active Technology System. Active Technology is the brand's unique system designed to enable the physiological movement of the pelvis during pedaling and provide relief for the intervertebral discs.
Like all SQLab saddle models, the 611 Infinergy Ergowave is available in a host of widths, five in this model from 13-17cm, which should guarantee that the sit bones on every rider will lie flat on the saddle, relieving the sensitive perineal area in men and the usually deeper positioned pubic arch in women. The indentation in the middle of the saddle is designed to give excellent blood supply, and a lowered saddle nose ensures a better pressure distribution at the sit bones or to give them the correct medical name, the Ischial Tuberosity.
Manufacturing technology
The shell consists of a new plastic/fiberglass mix which additionally enables the active function via the material flex. Also and uniquely the cover is not pulled over the entire surface of the saddle, there are only "Tapes" in the important areas of the saddle which are connected directly to the Infinergy foam, without glue, and is claimed to improve the faster rebound characteristics of the material. The 611 Infinergy Ergowave Active has a claimed weight of 212 grams in the 13cm size, and up to around 249 grams in the largest size.
The Carbon rails for the saddle are made in Switzerland and in the past have required a lot of manual labor in production, with the result that more expensive carbon products are now coming from low-cost countries. SQLab has decided to take the opposite approach, with a combination of automation and manual labor that makes local production in Germany and Switzerland possible. They claim this means precision and attention to detail are of the highest level and achieved using robot technology, with over ten years of carbon robot automation processes being developed in Switzerland.
The 611 Infinergy Ergowave Active is priced at $259.99 / £199.99 / €229.95 and we are looking forward to seeing, being measured for the precise fit promised, and testing out the comfort level of the 611 Infinergy at Eurobike next week, stay tuned for more...
