SQLab: Defining the science in sport
Innovation & Excellence in cycling, for everyone
by Robert Thorpe, with images by SQLab & Ben Thorpe (banner image & 2/5/6)
SQLab is probably one of the most established and long-term technical brands within the cycling industry, that you really ought to have heard of. Since it’s infancy in the early days of the mountain bike revolution of the 1990s, when SQLab founder, Tobias Hild developed products for the MTB downhill sport, under the brand name ‘Amazing Toys’, they’ve been analysing, researching and creating performance products to help cyclists across the world. It was during these early days that this first iteration of SQLab designed and created the first step saddle and handlebar grips with a lock function, and in doing so, set the standard for innovation and excellence that still defines SQLab today.
SQLab is unashamedly technical and scientific, as it’s team of scientists and researchers continually strive to make cycling more comfortable and healthier for everyone, maximising performance along the way. Indeed, their name is taken from Greek mythology; Asclepius (German: Äskulap) in ancient Greek mythology is the healing god of medical arts. With his magical healing power, he is believed to be a master of the art of healing like no other. A typical representation of Exclepius is a bearded man leaning on a snake-entwined staff – like the SQLab logo of today. The snake (colubrid) eventually became the symbol of medicine, and to this day can be seen used in this context in many medical and pharmaceutical facilities.
At SQLab, with their team of medical specialists, they place a strong emphasis when developing products, on the need for ergonomics and the health aspects in cycling. As a result, they’ve hence adapted their brand name to the God of medicine in modified form, and symbolically use a snake-entwined saddle to complete their recognisable and iconic logo.
The sit bone measurement innovation
Having survived those heady days of mountain bike development as a cycling genre, by 2002, this group of scientists and cyclists were the first saddle manufacturer in the world to develop a system for measuring the sit bones and determining the optimum saddle width, depending on the sitting position of the cyclist. Maybe the ups and downs and bouncing of trail riding was the driver – who knows! However, this industry-leading idea became established globally over the next few years, and in the current climate of high-performance cycling, it’s now unimaginable to buy a saddle without first having a sit bone measurement. From the heart of Bavaria in Germany, SQLab were setting the standards for innovation, by taking a scientific approach to provide cyclists with comfort and performance in perfect harmony.
Setting the standards for excellence
By early 2003, it was time for the current company, SQLab GmbH to be officially founded, in Frundsbergstraße in Straßlach near Munich. A single-family house served as an office, with two office containers being as a warehouse, and the development laboratory was initially housed in a small wooden house. However, despite the limited space, these very clever people were using ground-breaking technology in new ways, developing technical ideas into solutions and products to help in analysing how cyclists can be more comfortable and perform better on the bike.
Highly sensitive pressure measuring systems were being developed and used in those early days of the new SQLab company. The scientists and doctors were pressing the button that would lead to an analytical future on 2-wheels, as the SQLab founder’s mood energised everyone into a mood of creativity and excellence. The real test laboratory, however, is and always has been the Munich Isar trails directly in front of the door, where all the products of SQLab and all competitors are constantly tested and new ideas refined before they later hit the cycling industry headlines. In the years since these early days, riders such as Hans Rey of mountain biking fame, and World Champion Road TT rider, Hanka Kupfernagel have benefited from the exceptional comfort and performance of SQLab research and technology. Ultimately, if we are to maximise performance, comfort comes first.
Getting to grips with cycling
It’s not only the saddle however, where SQLab has been developing and innovating for riders. One of the other important contact areas, the handlebar and our hands have also been analysed in minute detail, measured and subsequent products created in order to aid cyclist comfort and performance.
From developments such as the SQLab 711 Grip in 20011, which didn’t require metal except for the clamping screw, and which resulted in is less weight, better grip and unprecedented comfort and grip, all the way through to their recent Performance Line Grips (and other products) which show how Ergonomics can win races, SQLab have remained at the forefront of the cycling industry for their scientific approach to cycle accessories. The current Performance Line products are weight optimized and made from the lightest materials available, like Carbon & CFK, Superlight Foam, Silicone rubber compound and Titanium Screws.
Science, survey and significant improvements to performance
Winning numerous global industry awards along the way, by 2015, the new SQLab surveying system was introduced, taking the bike fitting and analysis science to all cyclists, and not just the elite riders of the World Tour. The new and technologically advanced measuring stool with knobbed plate in a new, modern design was introduced. The good old measuring cardboard was now obsolete and replaced by this new burl plate, with its special measuring paper. From now on, one sheet of paper was sufficient to determine the exact sit bone distance, and it created an even more accurate measurement result, using the pressure point technology that SQLab had become renowned for.
In the brand organised iQLab seminars, retailers are taught the technicalities and learn how to read the measuring paper. In addition to the sit bone distance, pelvic malposition can also be detected with the technology, meaning that cyclists can sit and ride in perfect comfort – all ride long. Using this and other technological innovations, SQLab continues to go from strength to strength, using computer tech and its latest software to measure and analyse data from cyclists, allowing this amazing company to continue to innovate with world-leading products for cyclists. Products such as the new edition of the Innerbarends in 2017, and new slimmer and more defined cycling short pads, to ensure that everything is done to sit you comfortably on their exceptional and world-leading bicycle saddles.
Riding into the future, with SQLab comfort and performance
These days, a full technical clothing range is a part of the product options produced by SQLab, along with specialist insoles for your own unique feet and cycling shoes. It means that whatever your cycling needs, be it on tarmac or trail, SQLab have got you covered from head to toe – literally! SQLab is a brand where detail matters; they are one of the few cycling brands in the world to measure the width of your hands, providing cycling gloves in width fittings – and their bike fitting technology in now used in over 23 countries across the global cycling community.
Over the next few months and into the future, we’ll be talking in detail to the very clever cycling scientists at SQLab and bringing you a series of articles, blogs and reviews to better inform you about how technology can help every cyclist, at every level and in every genre of our amazing sport. Whether you ride for fun or to compete, SQLab is without a doubt a cycling brand that needs to be at the forefront of your mind. After all, as a cyclist, you’ve been at the forefront of their thinking since 1992, as they’ve measured, analysed, researched and thousands of cyclists in their quest for innovation and excellence in cycling.
