Specialized’s women’s-specific Mimic technology caused a stir when it was launched in 2018, not only due to the popularity of the Power saddle it was incorporated into, but for the company’s open and taboo-crushing approach to women’s comfort. Now the range has been expanded to include the Romin Evo and Phenom Evo saddles.
Building on the popularity of the women’s Power saddle with Mimic, the expanded range includes a broader range of saddle shapes with Mimic technology, which is designed to eliminate hotspots and reduce swelling in sensitive areas. The range has also been simplified to make it easier to choose the ideal saddle, according to Specialized.
As any cyclist will know, finding the right saddle is a completely personal choice, where the results can be unnoticeable at best, and the cause of much angst at worst. Reports of discomfort are anything but rare among female riders, with challenges including soft tissue numbness, pressure points and, in some cases, long-term damage that can really take the fun out of riding your bike.
What is Mimic technology?
Mimic technology was developed alongside bike fit expert Dr Andy Pruitt from the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine.
Pruitt, who is also known for his work with Specialized on the Body Geometry fit system, studied changes in female physiology over time on the bike. The results included swelling of the frontal labia when using saddles with cutouts and, in many cases, a pressure point on the nose of the saddle.
Specialized claims Mimic technology replicates the soft tissue that the saddle comes into contact with by using multiple layers of specific foam densities.
There is no cutout feature, but instead a concave groove to relieve pressure on the labia without causing swelling and the associated discomfort. A thin layer of memory foam is used on the nose to alleviate any hotspots here.
More Mimic for 2020
Although the Power saddle shape is the most popular in the range (with both men and women), Specialized recognises it’s not the best option for all riders, and is rolling out Mimic technology into more models for women. At the same time, Specialized says the line-up has been simplified, with saddle ranges renamed in line with existing models.
The Romin Evo with Mimic replaces the Oura, the long-nosed model with a curved profile, while the Phenom Evo with Mimic replaces the Myth model, again long-nosed but with a flat profile.
Specialized saddles are priced at four different levels, just like the company’s bikes, from the top-of-the-range S-Works option, through Pro and Expert, to the more value-orientated Comp.
The Romin Evo with Mimic comes in Pro, Expert and Comp levels, while the Phenom with Mimic is available in Expert and Comp. Both are available in 143, 155 and 168mm widths.
The short-nosed Power saddle is also now available at Expert level in a 130mm width, replacing the Toupe 130. This expands on the existing Power with Mimic range that already includes 143 and 155mm widths at S-Works and Pro level, and 143, 155 and 168mm widths at Expert and Comp level.
All saddles are compatible with SWAT, Specialized's discreet under-saddle mounting system for storage.
Specialized Mimic 2020 saddle range
The full Specialized Mimic saddle range for 2020 is below. Prices listed are indicative of the markets in which individual models are available.
Specialized Women’s Phenom Evo Comp with Mimic Widths: 143, 155, 168mm Price: £84 / $130 / AU$130
Specialized Women’s Phenom Evo Expert with Mimic Widths: 143, 155, 168mm Price: £105 / $160 / AU$180
Specialized Women’s Romin Evo Comp with Mimic Widths: 143, 155, 168mm Price: $130 / AU$130
Specialized Women’s Romin Evo Expert with Mimic Widths: 143, 155, 168mm Price: $160 / AU$160
Specialized Women’s Romin Evo Pro with Mimic Widths: 143, 155, 168mm Price: £158 / $240
Specialized Women’s Power with Mimic Comp Widths: 143, 155, 168mm Price: £84
Specialized Women’s Power with Mimic Expert Widths: 130, 143, 155, 168mm Price: £105 / $160
Specialized Women’s Power Pro with Mimic Widths: 143, 155mm Price: £184 / $240
Specialized Women’s Power S-Works with Mimic Widths: 143, 155mm Price: £230 / $300
Specialized stores offer a saddle fit service, measuring your sit bones with a non-intrusive test to determine the recommended saddle width.
