Destined for the road and mountain bikes of the fast crowd, SQlab has just introduced their Performance Line. Featuring new grips, bar tape, a saddle, carbon bar ends, and a new pair of riding bibs, the products all include the SQlab ergonomic edge, but in a lighter design perfect for high end bikes.
The new SQlab 612 R Ergowave saddle is an evolution of their stepped rear design. Only this time, the saddle has a shorter and narrower nose plus a slightly narrower mid section which should be better for more aggressive riding positions. It’s also incredibly thin with a flexible shell and closed cell foam and a carbon version that tips the scales at 125g. There is also an S-Tube version which adds 25g to the total weight. Both models are available in 12, 13, and 14cm widths with prices of €149.95 for S-Tube or €229.95 for carbon.
Of course, SQlab thinks that their One12 SQ-Short would be the perfect companion to their saddles. Uniquely, their shorts feature a “hard and thin” chamois that is just 4mm thick with dense polyurethane foam. Their claim is that like saddles with denser padding are better for longer rides, so are denser chamois. The bib shorts come in XS-XXL sizing and will sell for €189.95.
For your hands, the Performance Line starts with the 711R ergo grips. By eliminating excess material, SQlab got the grips down to just 59g for pair of grips that still offer a fairly thick, ergonomic grip. Available in S, M, and L, the grips are made from a silicone rubber compound.
For more grip options, you can add a pair of their inner bar ends like the 411 Rs. These carbon grips are meant to be placed inside your grips on the handlebar and offer a secondary place to put your hands when on long, relatively smooth stretches of dirt, pavement, or gravel. Since the 411 Rs are so thin and made form a carbon material, the weight has dropped to just 40g per pair and will sell for €129.95.
Finally, SQlab has a new handlebar tape with a unique raised nub structure for increased grip and comfort. Those nubs are about more than just comfort though – they actually serve as a sizing guide for the thickness of the bar tape wrap.
If you overlap the tape so that all three rows of nubs are showing, that will make the tape the thinnest for the ‘small’ setting. Overlap it so two rows are showing, and that’s medium. Overlap so only one row is showing and that will give you the large or thickest ‘setting’. Each roll is 2000mm long which should give you plenty of tape to wrap to your liking.
Available in all black, or red with white accents, each tape set weighs in at 70g, and the tape itself is 30mm wide. Each roll will sell for €19.95.
