The genesis of the Specialized Power saddle evolved around the need to engineer a better women's race-level saddle, one that truly eased the pressure and pain from soft tissue interaction with the saddle. The shortened length, shaping, and general features proved some advantage, and surprisingly tested well with men. Still, the Body Geometry testing and design team became aware and reassured that while a central cut-out relief channel could be effective for many men and some women, many women still had serious issues. The team began to understand that proper support could be much more comfortable than a void. The result of the co-development process drove the design of various foam technologies that could offer the proper level of support, at a reasonable recess from the saddle platform, and how it would need to be adapted from the primary central zone, through the nose of the saddle. As the design served to mimic the shape and requirements of the female anatomy, it was called MIMIC, and here it is integrated into the Power Expert Saddle with MIMIC.

The aptly named Power Saddle line from Specialized represents the push for the best combination of power, efficiency and actual physical health and comfort while riding in an aggressive position. Yes, it is designed for forward hip rotation, such as what you'd find while riding in the drops, or simply having more overall drop from the saddle to the top of the bars. The shorter structure of the saddle is often referred to as "stub-nose" though not all short models truly fit that term. By removing the forward extension of the saddle, where few people actually truly ride much, the Power Expert reduces the area forward of the main sit bone contact points.

This adjustment eliminated a friction zone, and it also had the effect of keeping the rider in-place more, to the physical location where an informed bike fit process would identify the best extension and fore-aft for an efficient and repeatable powerful pedaling action. Otherwise, the Power design has been shaped for this posture, with a proper width and central relief channel derived from the Body Geometry system. It is designed to reduce pressure on soft tissue and get sit bones placed and lifted in the proper width support zone to reduce pressure on soft tissue, as well as impingement of nerves and arteries. Development though lab and rider testing directly informed MIMIC. The result was a design and material combination to make numbness and pain disappear with a system that mimics the body’s response to different types of pressure to create equilibrium within soft tissue. New saddle features and relief shapes were integrated with new and existing platforms as the team applied innovative MIMIC technology, which uses a multi-layer system and various foam materials to maintain equilibrium and minimize swelling in soft tissue.

This brings to the specifics of the Power Expert Saddle with MIMIC. At first glance one can see that the open cutout of the standard Power design appears gone. Actually it is still there in the shell itself. The full length recessed relief channel is mostly there, but the key central soft tissue zone (essentially where the shell cutout is), is partially filled in and has smoother transitions all around, with a somewhat stepped transition forward towards the nose. The MIMIC materials are applied in various configurations based on location and need, and visually Specialized is highlighting the zone in silver. At the rear of the saddle the standard Level 2 PU foam and the shell provide sit bone support- lifting the bone structure to reduce pressure on arteries, nerves and soft tissue. The MIMIC zone starts in the shell cutout, with soft memory foam that delivers anatomical support to prevent soft tissue swelling. Moving out towards the nose, soft foam eliminates pressure. The overall effect is proper blood flow, with less harsh pressure points, and supportive equilibrium even when in the aggressive riding posture the Power was optimized for.... Read More