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The ergonomics specialists from Ergon in Koblenz became famous in the 2000s with their ergonomic wing grip. But they are not the only company dedicated to biking without discomfort. Many complete bike manufacturers also have ergonomics on their agenda. Specialized was one of the pioneers who took a scientific approach to the interaction between man and machine.
At SQLAB, or Aesculapius, the name says it all. The company originally came from the medical sector. A hot tip, especially for very sporty bikers or for bikers who tend to suffer from numbness in their soft tissues. Last but not least: the saddle specialist Fizik, which is one of the most important brands, especially in the road bike sector. The Italians have now also gained a foothold off-road with their successful Aidon e-MTB saddle.
We present the four companies and special products for e-mountain bikers. We also let the experts from research and development have their say. They explain how and why they are concerned about bike ergonomics.
We present these 4 ergonomics specialists:
(Click to go to the manufacturers)
Ergon
It was the wing grip that made Ergon, founded in Koblenz in 2003, famous. The GS1 had already gained popularity among touring and trekking bikers in the 2000s. Ergon has now sold over two million units. The history of the company is closely linked to Dr Kim Tofaute. The professional fitter and former competitive athlete came from the Cologne Sports University, where he worked at the institute of sports scientist Prof Ingo Froböse. At Ergon, Tofaute was instrumental in setting up the development department. Interesting fact: the Koblenz-based company only designed its first saddle in 2011.
In recent years, the ergonomics specialists have won various tests in our sister magazine BIKE with their grips, backpacks and saddles. Ergon was particularly early in the e-mountainbike sector. As early as 2018, the Koblenz-based company presented the first SM-E-Mountainsaddle, which with its wide nose, ergonomic cut-out and raised rear end provided particularly good support on steep, motor-assisted climbs.
The company's current flagship is the SM E-Mountain Core. The highlight: the saddle has a two-shell construction. Between the lower shell, which holds the struts, and the upper shell with the orthopaedic foam seat pad, there is a core made of BASF's Infinergy material: a rubber similar to polystyrene, which is already familiar from the soles of running shoes. This material absorbs shocks from the ground and enables the saddle to support a slight lateral rocking of the hips, as when running. As usual with Ergon, this and all other saddles are available in men's and women's versions.
More articles on ergonomics on the bike
Interview with Dr Kim Tofaute, Ergon:
EMTB: Bike fitting originally comes from professional sport. Why is it also relevant for e-mountain bikers?
KIM TOFAUTEIf you only ride to the bakery round the corner, you can manage without a fitting. However, many people start to notice problems after one hour of touring. E-mountain bikers often sit in the saddle for long periods of time and, due to their higher average age, are more likely to experience numbness or pain when biking. This is where a fitting can be particularly worthwhile.
E-MTBs are tending more and more towards steep seat angles, wide handlebars and short cranks. A problem from an ergonomic point of view?
You have to differentiate. In a very sporty application, a steep seat angle helps to put pressure on the front wheel. But once again, the performance sector has set the trend. A problem for the majority of more touring-orientated riders. The same applies to wide handlebars. Short cranks, on the other hand, are a positive development, as the shorter crank arm leads to more moderate pedalling angles.
Specialised
The Californians are by no means the only complete bike manufacturer to focus intensively on the topic of ergonomics. At Specialized, however, research into the subject of pain while biking was carried out at a particularly early stage using scientific methods. The impetus came from an article in a specialist magazine (see Interview with Emma Boutcher, Product Manager at Specialized). A biking doctor, Dr Roger Minkow, who had previously designed pilot seats and sports equipment, presented Specialized founder Mike Sinyard with the first roughly cut saddles as studies for an ergonomic saddle with a cut-out. Sinyard promptly hired him and pushed through Minkow's saddle concept, which seemed spacey at the time. Despite the massive headwind from his riders, development departments and shops.
Today, Specialized makes its own saddles, shoes, gloves and soles. Larger dealers even offer services including professional fitting, for which Specialized has developed its own software and measuring instruments. The most recent sensation was caused by the sinfully expensive 500 euro Mirror saddle from the 3D printer (above), which our colleagues at BIKE magazine found to be very comfortable, but not groundbreakingly so.
Conventional Specialized saddles are just as good. On the E-MTB, Specialized relies primarily on the Bridge saddle (below), which offers a very defined riding position and plenty of rearward support thanks to its raised rear end and short shape. A wide but shallow cut-out in the centre relieves the softer fabric. As with most saddles, the pressure should primarily be on the sit bones. The Bridge is also available to buy separately. Three widths are available. Unlike the expensive 3D-printed Power Mirror saddle, prices start at a very fair 40 euros >> e.g. available here.
Interview with Emma Boutcher, Product Manager at Specialized:
EMTB: Specialized got to grips with the subject of ergonomics very early on. How did this come about?
Emma Boutcher: At the end of the 1990s, a medical study by Dr Irwin Goldstein showed that cycling increases the risk of erectile dysfunction in men. This was a bitter blow for the bike industry. But it was precisely this study that inspired the development of our first Body Geometry saddle.
More bikers associate that with Specialized than with any other brand. What's the secret?
There isn't one. But if you want to put it this way, our "secret sauce" is the combination of sound research, a broad database for fitting, close collaboration with our riders and a very dedicated development team. When the rider no longer thinks about the bike and saddle because they simply fit, then we have achieved our goal.
SQLab
It all started with measuring: As a sales partner for the Hobson Seat from the USA, which was specially developed for prostate problems, SQLab quickly recognised how important it is to correctly measure the sit bones to determine the right saddle width. To this day, the company offers a tool based on corrugated cardboard for home use.
In collaboration with two sports physicians, SQLab soon develops the Active System, an elastomer at the rear transition from the frame to the saddle shell. Unlike conventional saddles, this allows the pelvis to rock back and forth when pedalling - a movement that is completely natural when running. In addition to the elastomer, the saddles constructed in stages - SQLab calls this the Ergo-Wave - are characteristic of the Bavarian company. The often quite wide and flat saddle nose is at the lowest point, the support for the sit bones is slightly raised and the rear of the saddle is even higher. Together with the deep hollow in the centre of the saddle, the soft tissue should be completely relieved when sitting. The SQLab saddles therefore offer a clearly defined riding position with maximum load on the bones. This takes some getting used to, but anyone who struggles with numbness in the soft tissue will find the ideal partner here.
Developed specifically for E-MTB Saddle 60X offers particularly good rear support. Another typical SQLab feature is the wide selection of four sizes from 13 to 16 centimetres wide. Not to be neglected: In addition to saddles, SQLab also offers many other ergonomic parts designed to prevent pain when biking. From pedals to differently offset handlebars and insoles to grips. The latter were particularly convincing in the last tests of our sister magazine BIKE. The 711 Tech & Trailwon the ergonomics tip with its very ergonomic shape, despite full trail performance without a real wing.
Interview with Max Holz, biomechanic and former MTB pro, head of the development department at SQLab
EMTB: What is bike ergonomics all about?
Max Holz : People are not made for cycling, but for walking. The bike must therefore be ideally adapted to people at the contact points so that no pain or damage occurs.
With your saddles, you sit exclusively on the sit bones. That can be unusual. What is the ergonomic advantage?
A bone does not deform and is not crushed. Physiologically, it is necessary to load the bone instead of the soft tissue. Otherwise there is a risk of pain or even damage, especially to the genitals.
What is important for the handles?
The fingers are angular, not round, when gripping. A good grip must take this into account and support it accordingly. The best way to relieve the carpal tunnel itself is to use handlebars with more back bend, then even wide handlebars are no problem from an ergonomic point of view.
Fi'zi:k
Admittedly: For a long time, wide, northern European buttocks and the typical upright MTB riding position were not the ideal partners for a Fizik saddle. However, the Italian brand, which derives its name from the phonetic spelling of the English word "physique", has been on the upswing for several years now. In addition to road and cross-country riders, the developers are also targeting sporty enduro riders and e-mountain bikers. As with all relevant ergonomics companies, development here is carried out in close cooperation with bike fitters and with the help of modern tools such as seat pressure measurement. In addition, the subsidiary of saddle giant Selle Royal relies on a special vacuum process as well as a great deal of manual labour, which should enable foam saddles to be manufactured with particular precision. This is crucial in order to be able to precisely control the padding firmness of the saddle in the respective areas.
One of the saddles manufactured in this way is the saddle developed for E-MTBs. Aidon. With a flexible saddle shell and thick but firm padding, in our experience it really does absorb impacts from the ground well. Like most modern saddles, the Aidon has a clear cut-out to relieve the soft fabric and a raised rear end to provide more support on climbs. This is particularly important here, as the upper material is abrasion-resistant and easy to wash off, but slippery.
The wide and well-padded nose allows you to slide forwards significantly on the climbs. Chic: Instead of individual sawn-off struts, Fizik has long favoured a continuous saddle frame onto which the saddle shell is clamped. In our experience, this results in less creaking and gives a high-quality impression in terms of workmanship. The Fizik Aidon saddle is available in 145 and 160 millimetre widths from 89 euros >> available here. Typically for Fizik, a good choice for a sporty clientele. For relaxed tours, there are more comfortable options on the market.
Interview with Alex Locatelli, Product Manager for saddles at Fizik
EMTB: For a long time, Fizik recommended saddles based on the flexibility of the spine. What is ergonomics based on today?
Alex Locatelli: Yes, the spine concept has been tried and tested for a long time. Thanks to our close collaboration with bike fitters, we now take other aspects into consideration. Seat pressure measurement in particular enables us to work even more precisely in saddle design.
What is the ergonomic relationship between the area of use and the saddle?
The geometry of the bike has an important influence on the rider's position on the bike. In addition, different bike types have different requirements for a saddle.
What is important with E-MTBs?
You sit upright in the saddle for a very long time, even on steep climbs, over roots and bumps. Our Aidon e-MTB saddle therefore has a thick but firm padding, while the flexible saddle shell provides additional shock absorption. The raised rear end provides the rider with support on steep uphills.
