"Clicking it into climb-mode when I hit the first big hill, I was amazed how much more power it felt like I had, not just how much more comfortable it was.  It doesn’t actually give you more power, but it does let you access all the potential you have. If you’re not hunched over, clinging on to the bars you can get a lot more power down."

"This high-quality device lets you tilt the nose of the saddle down for improved comfort and efficiency on steeper climbs, and tilt the nose up for improved clearance on the descents. And it’s so damn good, especially for steeper eBike climbs and descents."

"The biggest impact on the climbing performance didn’t come from the Orbea itself, rather one of the modifications I made after it was delivered. I suggested the Aenomaly Switchgrade saddle angle adjuster to be a serious asset for eMTB a couple of years ago, but had yet to spend considerable time on an eBike with one fitted."

"Matt said the downward tilt was such an advantage on steep climbs that he really missed it when returning to a regular fixed saddle: "like the first time you tried a dropper post - you don't know what you're missing until it's taken away. The ability to tilt the saddle nose upwards for descending is another advantage; it effectively increases the dropper travel by moving the tail of the saddle further out of the way, and it reduces the risk of catching your nether regions on the saddle hull."

"We will look at the advantages of the SwitchGrade which, at least in my opinion, it will become indispensable on mountain bikes in the future, just like on a dropper post."

"Man muss sich durch den exzellenten Popo-Support nicht mehr so nach vorn an den Lenker ziehen, sondern sitzt entspannt."

And that brings me to my main takeaway on the Switchgrade Duo. Although it drastically augments our most intimate touchpoint in ways no other component ever has, it’s remarkably unobtrusive. It’s simple, sturdy, and small. I wasn’t constantly thinking about what role it was playing on my ride, or whether it was worth its minimal weight or moving parts. I can use it when I want to, and not when I don’t.

Aenomaly Constructs owner, Noel Dolotallas, noticed that many of his friends from all around around British Columbia were bowing their saddles down, and he was inspired to find a better solution. To kowtow toward a climb is one thing, but we don’t have to do it uncomfortably.

I used to have lower back pain and they are completely gone simply because I have a really good position when I'm climbing, but this thing I have been riding it now for four months. They sent it to me and at first I didn't really know what to think about it and now it turns out that I'm using it all the time, I just love this thing. Same thing, zero maintenance, I haven't done anything on it, it's been on my bike and I just play with it, use it all the time so I have really  good position climbing, really good position descending, super super good!

The Switchgrade 2.0 Evo mostly does the same things as the original version, but it’s a nice refinement of that design. The 2.0 Evo is a little lighter, a bit cheaper, can be swapped between different models of seatpost more readily, and is smoother and more refined in its movement. The Switchgrade Evo 2.0 also adds oval rail compatibility and a two-position mode that some folks might find preferable to the standard three-position setup.

"What I discovered in running the SwitchGrade in the nose-down climb mode is that there are steep climbs where it's not just more comfortable but I feel I have more power as well."

"I ride with multiple folks for whom this could be the best upgrade to their riding experience since dropper posts themselves."

"That is freaking cool."

Watch Seth as he installs a SwitchGrade on his gravel bike and gives it a go.

"We believe the concept is fundamentally sound, and it provides a true performance advantage both on climbs and on descents. Adding support and pushing your effective seat tube angle forward for climbing makes all the sense in the world, and gaining clearance around the back of the saddle on the way back down is equally beneficial."

"Now I still have the same forward trunk lean but I feel like I no longer have that insane amount of pressure on my perineal area I'm bearing much better weight through those ischial tuberosities or the sit bones but I feel like I'm just in a much more naturally forward position like you would want to be in while you're climbing your bike."

Nose-down climbing is an absolute pleasure on ultra-steep climbs, too. But in reality, I don’t tend to subject myself to that kind of suffering on an analogue bike too frequently. This is where my biggest revelation about the SwitchGrade quickly came into fruition – it’s an eMTB’ers dream. Seriously. When you’ve got that assistance at your toe-tips, you find yourself picking out the steepest and most tech climbs to get up the hill faster and make best use of the motor, and the SwitchGrade is a serious asset to improving comfort and control on the bike in these situations."

"Basically - AMAZING! I don't need to say anymore. Don't try one or you WILL want one!!"

"I also felt that the climb position was even more beneficial on an e-bike where it’s possible to ride up even steeper the trails. In short, the steeper the climb, the more the Switchgrade helped out."

"Gerade in steilen Rampen bringt das kleine Bauteil echte Vorteile, entlastet den Rücken und bringt Druck auf das Vorderrad. Ein Gewinn, nicht nur für E-Bikes."

"I think it's something you're going to be using like if you go into a place that's got a big climb - you got a 500 meter or 1,000 meter climb to do then you're going to rip down a really long trail."

My first ride with a Aenomaly SwitchGrade is reminiscent of the first time I rode with a dropper post or with tubeless tyres, such is the gravity of its benefit.

"In climbing mode, the SwitchGrade keeps you high above the bike with your weight above the bottom bracket. Being in this position gives you more power on the pedal stroke as you are pushing down, instead of being behind the bike and pushing forward. This also puts a lot more weight and traction on the rear tire, which keeps you moving up and forward easily."

"All body types will benefit from the improved ergonomics when climbing and feel less vulnerable with a seat in a friendly, positive angle while descending."

"The functional gains and compatibility of the SwitchGrade are huge talking points that are backed by solid performance."

The SwitchGrade EVO has found fans among pro riders like Brett Tippie, Brett Rheeder and Hannah Bergemann. But Noel isn’t stopping there. “We’re laser-focused on radical ideas,” he says. “We’re not interested in making ‘just another product.’ We want to solve real problems for riders.”

One of the biggest advancements in mountain bike design has to be the dropper post, with the ability to move your seat out of the way – helping you control the bike better.

Aenomaly’s SwitchGrade builds on that theory, enabling you to change the angle of the saddle via a lever on its underside.

"How I found myself. Right from the very first outing, the advantages in the saddle, even on technical trails, were immediately recognizable.
The position of the saddle with the tip tilted -10 degrees downwards greatly promoted the relief of the pelvic area, even with a saddle I already feel comfortable on. The weight is concentrated on the bones of the buttocks and highlights how wrong the neutral saddle angle is for climbs,
where you sometimes also get that unpleasant feeling of sliding backwards."

"As soon as it gets a bit steep, it's very comfortable."