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SQlab Bike Saddle Setup Guide
How to adjust your bike saddle for the right riding position
A well-set bike saddle shapes your entire riding experience. With a SQlab saddle, you have the right foundation: each saddle is designed to clearly define the seating position and make it consistent from ride to ride.
For this concept to work, correct setup is essential. In this guide, we show how to set up your SQlab saddle properly clear, practical and aligned with our ergonomic approach.
The SQlab Feeling
The step shape defines the seating area and gives the pelvis clear orientation. Contact is concentrated in the rear section of the saddle, while the front area remains intentionally freer.
The Benefits:
Your pelvis naturally settles into a clear, defined seating position.
Sensitive areas remain free.
You sit more steadily and in control on the saddle.
The pedalling motion feels more direct and powerful.
The seating position remains consistent, even as rides get longer.
Due to the raised rear section of the SQlab step saddle concept, saddle height should be adjusted accordingly to reach the intended seating position.
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The Optimal Saddle Height
Saddle height has a direct influence on how natural and consistent the pedalling motion feels. When it’s right, the movement feels smooth and balanced rather than forced or corrective.
Saddle height influences joint angles at the hip, knee and ankle throughout the pedal stroke. A well-chosen height supports a balanced range of motion and helps avoid unnecessary compensatory movement.
Inner leg length × 0.883
With SQlab: set the saddle 5–10 mm lower to compensate for the raised rear section of the step shape.
The formula is based on established bike fitting practice and biomechanical observations. The factor 0.883 describes a proportion that places the saddle at a height where the leg reaches a natural extension at the bottom of the pedal stroke.
With SQlab saddles, the raised rear section of the step shape changes the effective seating height. That’s why the calculated value is typically adjusted slightly to fine-tune the riding feel.
Tip for measuring your inner leg length:
Stand barefoot with your back against a wall and place a book firmly between your legs, simulating a saddle. Measure the distance from the top edge of the book straight down to the floor.
The pedalling motion feels round and fluid
The hips remain calm, without side-to-side movement
The pelvis rests securely, without pressure shifting forward
Power transfer feels consistent, even on longer rides
On full-suspension bikes, the seating position changes as soon as you sit on the bike and the suspension compresses. The term sag describes how far the fork and rear shock sink into their travel under the rider’s body weight. This compression changes the effective saddle height and saddle tilt while riding. Keep this in mind when assessing the riding feel, before finalising your saddle tilt.
No matter what type of bike you ride, this starting height creates a riding feel that is both relaxed and efficient.
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The Optimal Saddle Tilt
Saddle tilt plays a key role in how balanced and natural the seating position feels on the bike.
You sit calmly and securely on the seating area, without sliding forward
Your posture feels balanced, without actively supporting yourself on the handlebars
Contact remains even, even as load and intensity change
The pelvis can move freely and naturally
The basic setup always starts with a level saddle nose.
From there, the process is simple: ride, sense, fine-tune.
Even very small changes in tilt can noticeably affect how the saddle feels, while large adjustments are rarely necessary.
Mini-Check
You tend to slide slightly forward
More weight shifts onto your hands and arms
The seating area feels less clearly defined
Contact noticeably moves into the more sensitive front area
Pelvic movement feels restricted
Contact feels too compact
The pedalling motion loses its light, fluid feel
You remain calm and stable on the seating area
Contact feels even and consistent
Your posture feels natural, without active compensation
The front area feels free
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Saddle Position in Clamping Area
The saddle’s position is adjusted via the clamp on the saddle rails.
This range positions the rider in a balanced alignment between saddle, pedals, and handlebars. Keeping the saddle within this clamp zone ensures the ERGOWAVE® and pressure distribution function as intended.
For the initial setup, place the saddle centrally within the marked clamp area. This provides a neutral starting point from which the seating position can be fine-tuned.
Shifting the saddle on the rails changes how your body weight is distributed on the bike:
how directly power is transferred into the pedals
how much weight rests on the seating area versus the handlebars
how naturally the upper body settles into position
Within the SQlab clamp range, these adjustments are small but noticeable in feel. That’s why fine-tuning works best in small steps, always followed by a short test ride.
The pedalling motion feels calm and even
Weight feels evenly distributed
Contact remains clearly focused in the rear section, while the front area feels freer
The upper body stays stable, without active compensation
As a practical reference, the position is often well balanced when, with the cranks horizontal, the knee sits slightly in front of the pedal axle.
Clamp the saddle only within the marked clamp area
Start from the centre of this range and adjust gradually
Make adjustments in small steps
Observe the specified torque for the saddle clamp
Mini-Check
The posture feels shifted forward
More weight rests on hands and arms
Contact noticeably moves into the more sensitive front area
The pedalling motion feels heavy or delayed
The posture feels overly stretched
Contact feels less direct
You remain calm and stable on the seating area
Contact feels even and consistent
Your posture feels natural, without active compensation
The front area feels free
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Why Proper Setup Pays Off Immediately
When your SQlab saddle is set up correctly, you notice it within the first few kilometres:
Your upper body feels more relaxed
Power transfer into the pedals feels more direct
The sit bones rest securely and consistently
You feel more in control of the bike
Longer rides feel lighter and more enjoyable
The Goal of Proper Setup
The goal of proper saddle setup is not to chase a specific number or fixed position.
It’s about creating a seating position that feels clear, reproducible, balanced and consistent from the first pedal stroke onward.
When height, tilt and clamp position work together, the saddle becomes a stable point of contact rather than something you need to think about. Your posture settles naturally, power flows smoothly into the pedals, and the bike feels easier to control over time.
The result is a riding experience that feels composed and intuitive, allowing you to focus on the ride itself rather than your seating position.
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Summary: Setting Up Your SQlab Saddle Correctly
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SQlab saddles are designed to clearly define the seating position through their step shape and ergonomic form. To experience this design as intended, correct setup is essential.
In this guide, we’ve shown how to:
understand what defines the riding feel of a SQlab saddle
adjust saddle height to account for the raised rear section
fine-tune saddle tilt based on feel, starting from a level reference
position the saddle correctly within the clamp area on the rails
use small adjustments and short test rides to refine the setup
Rather than following rigid rules, the focus is on awareness and perception: how the saddle feels, how weight is distributed, and how naturally movement flows on the bike.
When everything is aligned, the saddle supports your riding position quietly and consistently – creating a riding experience that feels balanced, controlled and enjoyable, ride after ride.
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