Specialized Power Comp with MIMIC Saddle review

The Power Comp with MIMIC is part of a range of saddles from Specialized that uses the brand's MIMIC technology. It was initially designed for women, but is now marketed as unisex.

MIMIC is a material Specialized developed to solve the soft-tissue discomfort many female riders were experiencing.

It's named MIMIC because it's designed to mimic soft tissue, to offer tailored support and relieve pressure.

The MIMIC material is a multi-layer cushioning system that Specialized claims reduces pressure on sensitive soft tissue.

Traditional foam is replaced by thousands of foam beads designed to offer unparalleled support and comfort.

Specialized prides itself on offering a wide range of saddle shapes and sizes. As such, the Power Comp with MIMIC comes in three sizes – 143mm, 155mm and 168mm. I tested the 155mm version.

Hollow Cromoly rails help to keep the weight low and are said to be durable; the Power Expert with MIMIC and S-Works Power with MIMIC iterations offer lighter weight, with titanium and carbon rails respectively.

At 240mm long and weighing 234g, this was the shortest and second-lightest saddle of the group I tested together.

Specialized Power Comp with MIMIC performance

The shape of the saddle and the padding offered excellent support and comfort for my sit bones, on short and mid-length rides.

The soft-tissue recess, made from supportive foam, was comfortable for my lady parts, offering the right amount of support and softness, which helped maintain blood flow, largely preventing numbness, chafing and sores.

However, on rides lasting longer than four hours, I felt some discomfort in the labial area, causing me to adopt a more upright position to relieve pressure when the terrain allowed.

I found it very easy to move around the saddle on spicy sections of trail, finding the correct position when switching quickly between ascending and descending.

The Power Comp proved an ideal saddle for cross-country racing.

Thanks to its short length (240mm), and down-sloping nose and wings, the saddle was unobtrusive and never got snagged on my clothing, which makes it great when tackling technical descents.

I would have appreciated a touch more flexibility in the wings to enhance comfort, particularly on chattery trails, where there was a noticeable buzz.

However, this isn't a significant issue for the type of riding I typically engage in.

There is a good choice of widths, and the Power Comp is one of the best-looking women's mountain bike saddles I've tested, plus it’s compatible with Specialized’s SWAT accessories.

Specialized Power Comp with MIMIC bottom line

Overall, this is a comfortable saddle on and off the trails for short to mid-length rides and favours a more upright riding position.

If you prefer a cut-out design, or are looking for a saddle for marathon rides and all-day epics, you may want to look elsewhere.

Rides lasting longer than four hours caused some discomfort in the labial area, although my sit bones were well supported throughout.

However, Specialized has done a good job of balancing value, performance and style.