As an editor, you are used to flowery press releases. Every morning, with a cup of freshly brewed coffee in your hand, you want to lean back and smile at the sometimes pompously inflated, sometimes wonderfully dramatised advertising fairy tales of eager PR strategists. Saddles with all sorts of special frills that boost the punch in your legs by 20 per cent in one fell swoop. Chainrings with a turbo effect. All that sort of thing. The story of SQlab maker Tobi Hild might seem similarly over-the-top. To find the perfect shape for the new 2018 handles In order to find the optimal shape, he allegedly rode the trails again and again for two years with plastic blanks, using sandpaper to feel his way towards the optimum curve by curve, millimetre by millimetre. A nice story, really delicious, one is inclined to smile. But anyone who regularly rides the Isar trails in Munich will see Hild constantly whizzing around on his bike with SQlab prototypes. The thing with the sandpaper - you wouldn't put it past him.
There is hardly any other component on a bike that comes in as many variations and colours as the handlebar grip. Quietly and quietly, almost ignored by the flashbulbs of the press, the part has been continuously developed over the decades, with the "wing construction method" (Ergon) or the Lock On fastening clamp probably being the biggest innovative steps. The novelty value of the seemingly conventionally designed SQlab grips is hardly recognisable at first glance. The special feature is the shape. While most grips are round, those from SQlab have numerous small surfaces and edges that are barely visible to the eye. Just as the ergonomics of the hand require. When you make a fist, your fingers form the shape of a nut rather than a circle. Anyone who has ever tried to hold on to a round surface will know that this works much better on an edge. SQlab goes one step further. Because not all bikers are the same, the new grips are available in three different versions - from the "wing model" with a large contact surface to the rather hard, purist downhill part. Each grip is also available in at least two different thicknesses. The pair prices are between 29 and 34 euros.
We tested the downhill version "70X" as well as the comfortable "711" version for long-distance bikers. The focus of the 70X is primarily on grip, which is why the surface is quite heavily profiled to prevent the hands from slipping - for example in the event of heavy shaking or muddy conditions. And it works. However, the ergonomically optimised shape of the grips is far more striking. It's almost as if the 70X forms a symbiotic connection with your hands. There is little sign of the cushioning mentioned in the product information. The 70X are rather hard. If you like it soft, you should go for the long-distance model 711. The grip is somewhat slimmer and much softer. Impacts are noticeably cushioned here. In addition, the shape (flatter upper side and outwardly rising design for good lateral support) has been optimised for the demands of longer rides. Some force is required to mount the handlebars, as the plastic clamping sleeve incorporated on the inside only covers one third of the handlebar length. The other two thirds are bare rubber, which you have to force onto the handlebars using force or brake cleaner, for example. Once they are correctly aligned, they are really comfortable to ride. No question, the new SQlab feel good. Even if you had sandpaper with you on tour - you wouldn't want to sand away even the smallest shred.
Conclusion on the SQlab 70X & 711
SQlab has not reinvented the MTB grip. Models from other manufacturers also offer a comfortable and non-slip grip. In terms of ergonomics, however, the Munich-based company has maximised what is possible. Only scientific studies can clarify whether this relieves the postural muscles or brings other biomechanical advantages. However, thanks to three designs and different thicknesses, everyone can definitely find the grip that suits them. The quality is top, the feel is optimal. Unfortunately, you won't find any bright colours. All the models mentioned are black. Only the 70X is also available in a subtle neon yellow coloured version.
