SQLab 30x16 handlebar, has anyone tried one yet?

serviceguy

serviceguy

Well-Known Member
Looking for a handlebar to solve my wife issues with her wrists getting fatigued while riding on her converted e-bike. Apparently the pronounced sweep angle should prevent compression of the whatever nerve that goes through the wrist. The thing is expensive even in the alloy version so I’d rather the choice being backed up by some hard facts or direct/professional experience. Thank you.
 
Hahaha
You don't follow me too closely
I have 4 bikes with these bars.
Mind you I have had many swept bars but these have become my favorites not too little not too much. Maybe someday we will cross paths and you can test them.
 
mattybfat said:
Hahaha
You don't follow me too closely
I have 4 bikes with these bars.
Mind you I have had many swept bars but these have become my favorites not too little not too much.
Click to expand...

That's weird though, I followed all your recent builds and those bars never caught my eye (I do remember you use SQLab saddles). I guess things escape our attention until we actually pay attention to them. So, in your experience the swept bar does help with the wrist/hand pain/numbness I suppose? Do you use the 12 deg or the 16 deg? Ah, went back to your blog and checked, 16 deg. Bu what rise? Looks like the tallest. Looks good, you can tell there's something different but not too obvious like some of those weird contraptions you see on bike packing bikes these days.

Side note, if you find the time please update your blogging thread, it was a true joy to read.

mattybfat said:
Maybe someday we will cross paths and you can test them.
Click to expand...
I know, I was looking forward to it every time that I was at a ride in your area but you never showed up. Much sadness!
 
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I have the 12 deg. Sweep on my XC bike. This bar combined with Ergon grips provides much needed comfort on long days in the saddle.
 
I was jokingly going to tag Matty when I read the first post with something like "I'm sure he runs these weird bars" and not surprised he actually does. 🙂

I have wrist issues and most handlebars are practically unridable to me. I wanted to go with the SQLab bars but the 30mm rise is a no-go for me as it would place my handlebars way too high. Ended up with the Salsa Flat handlebars with an 11 degree backsweep on my one bike. Other bike has a 12 degree 3T bar that's no longer made that I prefer.

@serviceguy NSMB had an interesting article on the bars from SQLab. Interesting to note is they preferred the aluminum bars.

nsmb.com

NSMB.com - SQlab Bars Defy Convention with 12º and 16º Sweep

Virtually every mountain biker rides handlebars with sweep between 7 and 9 degrees but is that actually the sweet spot for everyone?
nsmb.com nsmb.com
 
Santapez said:
I was jokingly going to tag Matty when I read the first post with something like "I'm sure he runs these weird bars" and not surprised he actually does. 🙂

I have wrist issues and most handlebars are practically unridable to me. I wanted to go with the SQLab bars but the 30mm rise is a no-go for me as it would place my handlebars way too high. Ended up with the Salsa Flat handlebars with an 11 degree backsweep on my one bike. Other bike has a 12 degree 3T bar that's no longer made that I prefer.

@serviceguy NSMB had an interesting article on the bars from SQLab. Interesting to note is they preferred the aluminum bars.

nsmb.com

NSMB.com - SQlab Bars Defy Convention with 12º and 16º Sweep

Virtually every mountain biker rides handlebars with sweep between 7 and 9 degrees but is that actually the sweet spot for everyone?
nsmb.com nsmb.com
Click to expand...
I ordered the high rise 16 deg bars, she always asked me to have higher bars. Interestingly, I run 750mm salsa salt flat carbon bars on 2 of my el mariachis.
 
I have a set of the PNW Range bars that I'll be selling with 10 degree backsweep if you want to try something in the middle for sweep.
 
I've had forearm pain and switched to sq labs 311 version 2 handlebar on my trail bike. It has a 16 deg backsweep which works for me. With the stock 9deg backsweep, my hands didnt line up right, but everyone is different. They helped, then i switched to rev grips- they are a suspension type grip. Works well for me (rev grips and 16 degree bar)
 
…and after a easy ride to the lake and back apparently the new bars and grips did nothing to improve the wrist/palm problem…or maybe they did, at least it’s not worse than before!
 
serviceguy said:
…and after a easy ride to the lake and back apparently the new bars and grips did nothing to improve the wrist/palm problem…or maybe they did, at least it’s not worse than before!
Click to expand...
For your wife or you?

The suspension setup correctly? Not too much weight on the bars?
 
serviceguy said:
…and after a easy ride to the lake and back apparently the new bars and grips did nothing to improve the wrist/palm problem…or maybe they did, at least it’s not worse than before!
Click to expand...
Would need to check after 4-5 rides as most adjustments don’t feel immediately better
 
serviceguy said:
…and after a easy ride to the lake and back apparently the new bars and grips did nothing to improve the wrist/palm problem…or maybe they did, at least it’s not worse than before!
Click to expand...
As far as I understood right, you didn't solve this problem at all? Or? Have you taken any further steps to improve the situation? I'd like to recommend an useful article(here)
 
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Sharpfran said:
As far as I understood right, you didn't solve this problem at all? Or? Have you taken any further steps to improve the situation?
Click to expand...
The cold season put this on pause, my wife doesn’t ride in the cold. No valuable feedback to provide yet.
 
For anybody needing an extreme backsweep bar (which, at this point in life, I find a lot more comfortable for the base of my thumb joints and my wrists), Carver sells a "MyTi Handlebar" with a 29 degree backsweep -- $150 in titanium, $100 in carbon, so pretty reasonably priced, too.
 
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