SQlab Claims Innerbarends 2.0 Can Save Watts

Mar 16, 2023
by SQlab  
SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends

PRESS RELEASE: SQlab

SQlab designed their first Innerbarends back in 2007, and are now introducing the latest evolution of them, called 410 & 411 2.0.

Regular barends had been mainly a '90s thing, offering additional grip positions. Bars have been becoming wider and wider, and now, the Innerbarends sit almost exactly at the same spot like the outer-barends back in the time (when bars were between 580 and 600mm wide).

SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends


Modern Innerbarends are very popular among bike packers and long distance racers with flat bars, as well as marathon racers (but only for training & local races, because they are forbidden by the UCI, which claims these would be "too performance enhancing").

That being said: An internal study by SQlab has shown that the power savings at a speed of 36 km/h averaged 5 %. This means 14 watts saved. Full study can be found HERE


Still, the overall looks of Innerbarends are quite polarizing.

SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends


The main reasons riders use them are:
- easy change of grip position, relaxing hands, elbows and neck (also less arm pump)
- despite the changed grip position, the brake levers are permanently within reach (increased safety)
- less drag due to more aerodynamic position (especially on long straights)
- also quite useful for steep, but technically less challenging climbs (shifting more weight to the front)

SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends

The two, new Innerbarend models:
410 2.0 and 411 2.0

SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends
SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends
Side by side comparison


SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends
The 411s are more slimline & lighter, than the 410s


Important, additional updates:

A) The clamping widths were reduced, which makes them compatible with all brake levers & grips on the market.

B) Both now can be perfectly integrated with SQlab’s sportive MTB grips, namely the “711 Tech&Trail 2.0”and “7OX” grips, which makes them need even less room on the bars.

SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends


How to integrate the Grips:


SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends
SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends
Remove the blue shim of the Innerbarends, and the locking ring of the grips:


SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends
SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends
Use the assembly paste (included in Innerbarends’ packaging), to push them onto the grips.


SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends
SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends
And mount the combo on bars, noting the max. NMs of your precious carbon bars, in case.


Because it is all about the looks, some more images:


SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends

SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends

SQlab 410 or 411 2.0 Innerbarends


SQlab 410 & 411 2.0 Innerbarends are available, now.
Pricing for both models:
44.99 USD // 39.95 EUR // 35.99 GBP

Dealer locators can be found on:
SQlab-usa.com & for rest of world: SQ-lab.com

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Press Releases Sqlab


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133 Comments

  • 80 1
 5% power savings at 36 km/h? That's ~22.5 mph, which is roughly the average speed of the TDF peloton. Who the hell is pedaling a mountain bike at that speed?
  • 20 0
 haha this is probably 3-4x the speed of an average rider climbing on singletrack
  • 104 1
 Noone to date, since they didn't have these. Now though...
  • 11 2
 There ain't no way I'm attaching those knee knobblers to my bars!
  • 2 0
 It'll be 1,25% of power savings at half that speed, which is more fitting for a mountainbike application.
For a marathon rider it could be noticeable, they are going 30 km/h in a straight line for sure
  • 32 1
 Like with Crocs, I’m sure there’s some benefit somewhere but I still have my dignity!
  • 6 1
 @bunjiman82: Just imagine blowing a hand off and going chest to bar with these things on.
  • 1 0
 @maxwellington: 100%, at least don't make them sharp!
  • 8 0
 Come on, in the lead up to that 40ft gap you've always been ~5% short of! These would be perfect!
  • 2 0
 Overclocked e-bike?
  • 21 0
 Goodlord, that's 2mph slower than the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow.
  • 9 0
 @bikes-arent-real: European or African?
  • 4 0
 Looks like they would be great for bikepackers and flatbar gravel riders looking for another hand position that's also slightly more efficient. Doesn't seem like a good fit for the crowd on pinkbike. But I imagine these will get a good review on bikepacking.com.
  • 1 0
 @jaredmh: I don't know really. I can imagine many of those who do long and exciting descending also do climb wide boring fireroads. I can imagine for them this may be a good option. If it doesn't get in the way, why not?
  • 1 0
 @vinay: because when they do some serious riding they may crash and then this may empale them as happened to my friend with a pair of x-lite stubbies back in the 90's!
  • 1 0
 @bunjiman82: Sounds painful, but would these be that dangerous? I've seen those classic bar ends (which actually attach to the end of the bars) and they were often metal tubes. Occasionally even with a plastic plug that, compared to a typical bar-end plug or a closed grip, could easily fall out or push through. So these provided little to no protection. My grips are wider towards the end and closed (something from Ergon) but I feel there still are some grips or bar-end plugs out there which look more dangerous or painful than the rounded tips of these stubbies here. Of course you can always have freak accidents, but I've done some beautiful tumbles but don't recall myself having harsh encounters with the front or top of my handlebar. More with the bottom of the bar where people have loads of levers dangling (looking at you, Scott).
  • 1 0
 @vinay: you could be right though these look like prime candidates to cause some damage to me and I wouldn't risk it personally.
  • 1 0
 @razor: You are confusing dignity with insecurity.
  • 3 2
 @bunjiman82: Riders nowadays are such wimps.
We rode with toe clips, pulled tight, in flappy shirts and a styrofoam helmet (eventually, in the beginning we didn't even wear a helmet), no protectors of any kind, no suspension, no dropper posts, no disc brakes, no plus size tubeless tires with inserts. And we rode everything the trail threw at us, no flowy, smooth specially made trails back then.
And yes, everybody used those extremely lethal bar ends.
  • 2 1
 @WhateverBikes: yeah you right, we were all reckless idiots when we were young, but at some point most of us grow up... lol
  • 1 1
 @bunjiman82: I still have a scar in my chest from when I was stabbed by my brake lever in a crash a few years ago. Just glad it wasn't a carbon lever Smile . Still, I wouldn't ride with a brake lever. The Klunkers were safe in that respect, riding with coaster brakes.
  • 1 0
 @vinay: tup
  • 1 0
 @jaredmh: I have the previous versions of these on a hardtail... Set up for bike packing. The extra hand position Is nice over long distances on the road or smooth dirt.
  • 49 0
 Shouldn’t they be called “bar middles”?
  • 9 1
 As their name already implies, "Bar Inners".
  • 9 0
 @Sanderson22: they look like cute widdle baby deer antlers lol
  • 5 0
 @glenno: Steer horns.
  • 6 0
 Bar mitzvah!
  • 1 0
 Middle fingers. I'd be worried about getting one in the ribs when crashing.
  • 30 1
 "Because it is all about the looks, some more images:"

Shows no images of the barends being used.
  • 5 0
 fucking exactly
  • 5 0
 If dude rolling that gnarly rock garden had been holding the bar antlers I'd have considered buying a pair. Actually probably not but it'd be impressive!
  • 3 0
 @bunjiman82: m.pinkbike.com/photo/24364852
&
m.pinkbike.com/photo/24364851
  • 29 1
 I just ride with my thumbs up. This is free, and saves me 20W. Or was that because I changed lightbulbs in the house to LED ones?!?!?
  • 28 2
 I run these on my Xc bike, and they are awesome. When you are on a fire road or riding to the trails on the road, it is a noticeable difference in speed and comfort. The old ones were a split clamp so you could remove them without taking off your controls.
That said, if you are riding a 150mm trail bike doing 95% single track ride, they are probably pointless.
  • 16 10
 I came here to say “hard pass because they’ll make me look like a roadie.” Thanks for confirming my suspicions.
  • 3 4
 So pointless for most of us Wink
  • 1 0
 I switched from drop bar gravel bike to a rigid MTB. This only interests me for long double track or road sections where i miss having the hoods hand position. Is the split clamp version still available anywhere? Would also benefit being more aero for road sections now having wider bars.
  • 1 0
 Ok, I found the split clamp version. i will buy and try.
  • 1 0
 How? I'm struggling to see how these handlebar things give you more power. Is it for when you're out of the saddle?
  • 1 0
 @iduckett: saving watts is not the same as gaining power. Basically they are saying if it take 300 watts to go 22 MPH with these you would be able to travel at the same speed at 286 watts. (Because you are more aero)
  • 1 0
 @myshiningone: just grab de bar next to the stem?
  • 21 0
 Perfect application for the new ribbed-for-your-pleasure ODI grips!
  • 11 2
 most of the readers here won't have had the joy of a zoom bar end in the palm of their hand. no one worried about being gutted by one of those. Less snow flakes around back then though.
  • 1 0
 I wouldn’t have ever remembered those existed if I hadn’t read your comment. You can a buy a pair of Ned overend signature model ones on eBay right now for £44.
  • 2 0
 I had a pair of zoom bar ends also, but the Scott branded AT4 handlebars were dope. Those bars had no less than 9872 different hand positions. My body may have been screaming and severely fatigued, but my hands never got tired!!
  • 1 0
 @sofakingwetarded: that is peak 80s mtb
  • 7 0
 I have the old ones on a hardtail that I use gravel riding and they are quite comfy. Don’t knock ‘em until you try ‘em!
  • 4 0
 These definitely look a lot better than the full bar ends I ran inside my grips a few years back. I tried it for bike packing when I was recovering from a broken wrist, and it definitely helped to have a few more options for hand placement before I got back to 100%.
  • 4 0
 TOGS-Thumb over Grip System is the micro version of this concept. I tried them. The worked....kinda. Then I crashed and got poked painfully hard by them. So, I took them off and just hooked my thumb around the brake clamp on the bar when I was climbing and got roughly the same effect. My sense is that these offer a higher risk of injury if the same event happens.
  • 2 0
 just dont crash Wink
  • 2 0
 and there ya go folks, a first hand user experience, crashed and got poked by the “pokey” thing he’d clamped to his bars … there’s a lesson there Wink
  • 1 0
 Same exact thing happened to me with TOGS, but needed 4 stitches in my shin to close up the puncture. Gonna revert to your method.
  • 5 0
 With the old school bar ends you could stuff a lit firework in it and hey presto, FIREWORKS JAVELIN competition with your buddies. Sadly, these dont have that feature.
  • 5 1
 Cycled 1000km through New Zealand's South Island on these. If you don't see the need for these, you're not the target audience. The rest of us will continue enjoying these damn things.
  • 6 1
 I have no idea how would I use it, maybe some closeup of how to actually hold this?
  • 5 0
 I have the old ones on a city bike, it's similar to a brake hood on a road bike, you kind of hook your thumb and lean the crotch of your hand on it. They aren't big enough to really hold like an old school barend.
  • 3 5
 Ummmm...did you miss the pictures? Tell me you only read the articles, by telling me you only read the articles....
  • 6 0
 @handynzl: there is literally ONE picture which give you so-so idea about this, not even a closeup and few others just showing how this thing looks on the bars unused. From this picture it looks totally awkward and uncomfortable, so maybe I am missing something.
  • 3 0
 @Weens: as long as it is the crotch of your hands, it might be alright. If it is the crotch ending up there it might be quite unpleasent...
  • 2 0
 @lkubica: m.pinkbike.com/photo/24364851
&
m.pinkbike.com/photo/24364852
  • 4 0
 seems like its effectively a temporary reach adjustment for long smooth climbs. I bet you could put a hand guard on it and folks would be more accepting of it.
  • 1 0
 I remember seeing some thumb hold like things that came out a few years back (perhaps the first versions?) and thinking....I often put my thumbs over my bars anyway (when going uphill) just for a change of hand position and you can use your brake clamp for more or less the same thing. But actually needing it as an accessory......probably not.
  • 1 0
 TOGS (thumb over grip system) is what you're thinking i believe. I have a mate who uses them, absolutely swears by them for longer rides, you can use the alternate hand position on much rougher terrain with them.
  • 3 0
 Love these on the hardtail and tallboy. Anytime I'm spinning the hands immediately go to these for comfort, and no you don't magically slip off and gore yourself...
  • 1 0
 I've run one of these to make my flat bar zwift trainer feel like drops for about 3.5 years. They are an incredibly well designed product and they transform the pedaling experience on flat bars. Not happy about the clamp switch but SQlab in general knows what they're doing. If there is any fire road in your life this is worth your consideration.
  • 4 1
 Uh, I think I'd rather use "TOGS" (Thumb over grip system. Similar idea without the threat of being gored.
  • 1 0
 TOGS are great. These seem like they would be just way to big. Togs are soft and you can set them up loose to move in the event of a crash.
  • 3 0
 Does anybody else do the TMNT thing with the pinkie over the top?
  • 2 0
 They also stop the top of your brakes getting scuffed when you turn your bike upside down to put your wheels in in the car park.
  • 4 0
 Sqlab the Impaler was his name..
  • 3 0
 We don't need more stuff sticking out from our bikes to cause more pain during crashes. Hard pass for me.
  • 3 0
 I use my handguards the same way as innerbatends... Perhaps they could fusion for more ergonomics..
  • 3 0
 Actually they are positioned about where the bell would go...so they should be called....
  • 1 0
 If they made a detachable bit so you can take it off for descending/full trail rides it'd be a much nicer product. I often just grab the break leaver for this purpose anyway, works well.
  • 1 0
 If they are not on the end of the bar are they really “Bar Ends”?!? How about something cool like “inboard nippily hand grabby bumps” or “ergonomic isotonic composite watt saver deluxe edition 2.0”???
  • 3 0
 Guy looks like a T-REX on wheels
  • 11 0
 I'm cool with this.
  • 2 1
 My car has a 160 watt engine. So if I put my bike on the roof rack with a set of these on it's more cost effective than an engine remap! I'm sold!
  • 6 0
 160 watt would be 0.214564 horse power.
Are you sure your car have less than quarter a horse power?
  • 4 0
 @Hexsense: His car has the same HP as my girlfriends legs.
  • 11 1
 @JSTootell: Then he should probably just ride your girlfriend.
  • 3 0
 @toast2266: She does most of the riding though.
  • 1 0
 @JSTootell:
  • 2 2
 headset cable routing, pinky protectors, bushguards, and these things. For the ultra-modern clean cockpit, packed with features. This might be the most gimmicky MTB product I've seen this year.
  • 6 0
 I was thinking the same thing and then i (unfortunately) remembered Canyon's steering stabilizer
  • 1 0
 @two-plank: I stand corrected.
  • 2 0
 Based on those photos it looks like they should integrate reasonably well with most single lock-on grips on the market too.
  • 3 0
 Perfect match with my ASCIS
  • 2 0
 Have these on my hardtail. I love them. It was cheaper than buying a gravel bike...
  • 2 1
 Not a throwback?! Grip glue and another way to get stabbed in the gut when you go OTB. Sounds old school to me, but love it!
  • 2 0
 It's 2 words y'all fyi - bar ends
  • 2 0
 But tell me more about the SQLab energy gel packets...
  • 1 0
 I'd rather pedal the extra 14 watts then attach those ugly things to my bars
  • 1 0
 Remove a bunch of headset spacers instead. Oh wait you can't because of the headset cable routing.
  • 1 1
 Nice! A new way to hurt yourself in case you fall ;o)
Maybe a vintage trend?....

Seriously train harder if you want to be more efficient on the climbs!
  • 1 0
 Quick, somebody model these and put them up on Thingiverse so I don't have to.
  • 2 0
 Nope
  • 1 0
 No through the headset cable routing, please. Thank you in advance.
  • 1 0
 I'm thinking...bar end routing(TM). Mmm. Read it here first.
  • 1 0
 Mountain bikers over here waiting for the 420 version to be released
  • 1 0
 Shit. Thought this was an e-bike article
  • 2 0
 I miss my Onza!
  • 1 0
 I've still got a pair of anodized X-Lite stubby bar ends in my spares box.
  • 1 0
 I sometimes use Code lever body as innerbarends.
  • 1 0
 16 days early on this one boys
  • 1 0
 Another thing to pierce my spleen with!
  • 1 0
 I had to double check that it wasn't April 1st...
  • 1 0
 Like we need more potential for impaling ourselves…
  • 1 0
 Are these the things uci banned a couple of years ago?
  • 1 0
 Now, mount some hand guards on them and Enduro has gone full.
  • 1 0
 Looks like a good way to lose an eye on a hard landing.
  • 1 0
 Can it be attached to a seat? Asking for a friend.
  • 1 0
 extra large togs
  • 1 0
 The eyepoker 3000
  • 1 1
 Wow, this is satan friendly I like it!
  • 1 0
 Togs
  • 1 0
 $45 lobotomies for all!
  • 1 0
 Bike diddles.
  • 1 0
 April is early this year
  • 1 2
 Came here expecting to find a way to make my ebike battery last longer. Left disappointed.
  • 1 1
 I ve founded what it is for!
It's a new sextoy right? lol
  • 1 2
 Had to check the calendar...April 1st already?
  • 1 1
 NO!
  • 5 6
 Who fing cares.
  • 1 3
 We’re losing the spirit of MTBing





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