AENOMALY Releases 2 Position SwitchGrade DUO 1

Aenomaly is proud to (finally) announce the release of the Limited Edition SwitchGrade DUO. Two years in the making, the DUO is the newest addition in the war against painful and hard climbs. Introducing several key refinements and a new compatibility system designed to future-proof riders’ investments, the SwitchGrade DUO saddle angle adjuster can be adapted to suit a variety of riding styles.

Pronounced “Do Woah”. Call it what you want, just don’t call it slow.

Built for speed and complete with cheat codes: up, tilt, mash. Down, tilt, partay.

SwitchGrade DUO Features at a Glance

• Two index positions separated by 12 degrees for quick angle changes on the fly.
• Micro-adjustable climb angle setting.
• Spring-loaded haptic lock delivers fast no-look changes.
• Independent fore-aft saddle adjustment.
• New interchangeable shim system enables fitment across a wide range of dropper posts.
• New A frame design is compact, sleek, and strong.
• >1 degree change in effective seat angle when positioned into Climb mode.
• Option to install lever front or rear facing.
• Compact, short-throw lever prevents snagging on shorts, pants, or tow-bars.
• Machined grips for added security.
• Low profile, low stack design.
• Compatible with a wide range of dropper posts.
• Fully rebuildable in under 10 minutes using basic tools.

Technical Specifications

• Machined from 7075 T6 and 6061 T6 aluminum.
• Dimensions: 92mm x 55mm x 40mm.
• Weight: 160g (excluding installation hardware).
• Additional stack height dependent on dropper post, average 10mm.
• Compatible with saddles with 7mm tubular rails.
• Product of Canada: manufactured in Whistler, individually hand-assembled, packaged, and shipped direct from Vancouver, BC.

Pricing, Options, and Availability

• Colorway “Gold Fusion” – all black with gold lever. Some customizations possible with the option to purchase gold titanium bolt upgrade, not included.
• Pricing: $225 CAD, $195 USD, €160 Euros, £140 GBP.
• Available now in very limited quantities.
• Visit www.aenomalyconstructs.com to learn more and follow us on Instagram.

What’s the deal with saddle tilt anyways?

The SwitchGrade helps riders optimize saddle ergonomics on the fly for improved comfort, performance, and pain relief when climbing, and provides increased control and safety when descending. There are times when negative saddle tilt is good (eg. for climbing) and other times bad (eg. on level ground it can lead to increased pressure on wrists and shoulders). The same can be said for positive saddle tilt. The SwitchGrade’s on-demand actuation solves this so you can have your cake and eat it too. No more compromises. 

The SwitchGrade DUO accommodates two independent rotating systems: system rotation via your seatpost’s native dual bolt system, and saddle rotation courtesy of the SwitchGrade. The two systems work together to provide a wide range of options so riders can dial in their preferred saddle angles.

Benefits of negative saddle tilt (nose-down) for climbing: 

• Counteracts incline grade which provides the feel of pedaling on level ground.
• Increased support prevents slippage off the saddle during steep climbs.
• Promotes optimal lumbar alignment enabling an upright, comfortable seating posture for improved breathing and reduced arm fatigue.
• Counteracts the effects of suspension sag.
• Increases comfort by reducing saddle pressure on soft tissues areas (perineum) and sit bones (ischial tuberosity).
• Enables even weight distribution between front and rear wheels leading to increased traction and balance.
• Provides effective back pain prevention, see: Salai, M., Brosh, T., Blankstein, A., Oran, A., Chechik, A. 1999. “Effect of Changing The Saddle Angle on the Incidence of Low Back Pain in Recreational Bicyclists.”
• Increases efficiency and performance, see:
  • Wilkinson, R.D, and Kram, R. 2021. “Nose-down Saddle Tilt Improves Gross Efficiency During Seated Uphill Cycling.”
  • Fonda, B., Panjan, A., Markovic, G., Sarabon, N. 2010. “Adjusted Saddle Position Counteracts The Modified Muscle Activation Patterns During Uphill Cycling.”

Benefits of a positive saddle tilt (nose-up) when descending: 

• Increased clearance: the SwitchGrade DUO locked into Flow mode will drop the rear of the saddle nearly 30mm.
• Increased control: positions the saddle such that the perimeter can be used more effectively for steering or act as a reference point for technical maneuvers.
• Increased safety by positioning the rear of the saddle away from sensitive body parts in the event of accidental contact.

Why did we make a two-position SwitchGrade? 

Customers who ride in regions characterized by steep climbs and descents asked for a simpler, less fussy solution. The reality is many of us ride mountain bikes in the, you know, mountains, which mostly means either incline or decline gradients. While the idea had merit we had our doubts feeling that introducing a two position SwitchGrade created duplicity. Those doubts were quickly allayed when we threw a leg over the first test mule in March of 2022.

Switching between 2 positions is faster than the classic 3 position model. While the general use-case remains the same, operation of the DUO is dead simple – a trait valued by those who want to minimize faffing before a big climb.

Who is the SwitchGrade DUO for? 

We made the DUO for gravity riders including enduro, freeride, park, and those that live and ride in winch and plummet regions marked by steep ups followed by even steeper downs. Or so we thought.
Since we first previewed the SwitchGrade DUO last April at Sea Otter (yes, we’re that late) we have received numerous inquiries from ebikers as well as gravel, road, and bike-packing/touring cyclists. Needless to say it’s a bit difficult to nail down who the DUO is for solely based on the bikes they ride. Instead, we propose that the DUO is for riders who want improved performance and comfort but appreciate simplicity and minimalism.

Why does the DUO have 12 degrees of separation? 

The answer’s simple: to give riders more range. And to make it stronger, lighter, low stack, stealthy, and sick looking. Okay so maybe not that simple, let’s get into why.

The SwitchGrade line of saddle adjusters, including the DUO, was designed to help riders climb steep trails that average 15% grades (8 degrees) or more. This has been foundational to informing and guiding our development path.

“We postulate that tilting the saddle nose down would have a smaller effect on shallower slopes and a larger effect on steeper slopes due to the increase in gravitational force acting to pull the rider off the saddle.” - Wilkinson, R.D, and Kram, R. 2021.

These guys know what they are talking about. Translation: gravity gets angrier by the degree. Additionally, as slope increases, a confluence of forces band together to make climbing harder such as friction, suspension sag, changes in muscle activation patterns, upper body fatigue, constricted breathing, and more. Our goal was to address when the problems start, not before. We call this nexus point “SAM” which is short for Saddle Angle Mismatch. We won’t get into it here but SAM is the point at which a change in slope leads to noticeable discomfort such as groin pain, numbing, back pain, knee strain, fatigue, difficulty breathing or combinations thereof. SAM is different for all riders since we have our own unique pain and tolerance thresholds. Read more about SAM here.

Staying focused on steep climbs is the reason why we did not make the DUO with 5, 6, 8 or even 10 degree angle difference. The ideal DUO user is a “mountain” biker after all (not grassy knoll or hill bikers, commuters, or sea wall goers).

The truth is if you mostly climb moderate grades less than 10% there is a good chance you don’t need to mess with saddle tilt, let alone a saddle tilter; your dropper post should suffice in most cases (just keep a hex key handy for those rare epics and you’re golden). Lastly, consider that it’s the cumulative effects of the hardest portions of the climb (ie. when it gets steep and/or technical) that wear you down, not the easy low grade sections which work to lower a trail’s overall gradient rating.

From a design perspective, modeling the DUO around 12 degrees allowed us to keep critical geometries intact without compromising wall thicknesses, pin diameters, stack height, design aesthetics, or strength. In fact, we managed to trim weight from 170 grams down to 160 grams while increasing strength in key areas.

Lastly, the SwitchGrade was designed for universal use but every dropper post on the market has a distinctive design and unique geometries and dimensions which is a monumental challenge. Designing for 12 degrees provides enough tilt range to fit a wide range of seatposts.

So are the two positions climb and flat?

We prefer to call the two positions Climb and Flow, but the DUO can be customized to suit a variety of needs. As mentioned above, some riders will opt for a “climb and flat” setup while others may go for “flat and send.” 12 degrees of “macro” angle tilt in combination with micro-adjustability gives riders a lot of options. Let’s explore some possible setups.

Winch and Plummet setup

We generally recommend a balanced -6 degree / +6 degree setup for starters until you become familiar with the SwitchGrade. Winch and plummet riders may benefit from -8 / +4 degree settings if their trails are really steep.

Enduro and gravity riders

Gravity riders (eg. freeride, park, enduro) place a premium on increased clearance and steering control. Locking the SwitchGrade DUO into Flow mode drops the saddle nearly 30mm for massive additional clearance. For enduro riders and racers an ideal setup would be -5 degrees / +7 degrees, enough negative tilt to get you up to the next stage with energy to spare, and increased clearance to push hard to the podium. For freeriders and park riders, the DUO can be set at 0 / +12 degree nose-up position for safer entry and exits even in the steepest chutes.

E-bikers and goats

On the opposite end of the spectrum, e-bike riders and cardio beasts who ascend ungodly steeps may lean (pun intended) towards a nearly flat saddle and anywhere from -10 to -12 degree negative tilt. Tall and limby riders who frequent insane steeps can opt for two climbing positions. Don’t laugh, we see more than a few SwitchGrade customers with this setup. 

Ultimately it boils down to this: paired with your dropper post’s native 2 bolt system the setup choices for the DUO are endless.

How much stack does the DUO add? 

Overall stack height depends on what dropper post you have but the average is 10mm. If your post requires additional adapters stack may rise.

A quick word about stack.

As riders we have been conditioned to worry about stack height which, if you have a fixed seating position, can be a concern because it dictates how low you can slam your saddle. The SwitchGrade DUO, when locked for descending, drops the saddle 30 mm but also optimizes the nose position so it can be maneuvered for precise steering control.

In essence, adjustable saddle angle mitigates the effects of stack and instead, provides the benefit of optimized positions for climbing and descending – higher when you need it for climbing, and lower when descending. In Climb mode, the DUO’s swingarms rotates counter-clockwise about an axis and raises the back of your saddle 20mm and forward 10mm as it follows an arc. This movement steepens effective seat tube angle by 1 degree which is valuable when climbing. This explains the feeling of wonder and disbelief that SwitchGrade users experience the moment they try it on a steep climb for the first time. Conversely, when tilted backward for descending, stack height lowers to yield 30 mm of additional clearance. We believe adjustable stack is pretty cool.

When will the SwitchGrade DUO be available? 

The Limited Edition SwitchGrade DUO is available now in very limited quantities and ready to ship. Just don’t wait too long because once they’re gone, they’re gone.