Specialized Power Comp Saddle
03-28-19, 08:04 AM
#1
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Specialized Power Comp Saddle
Anyone that knows me, knows I avoid 1 thing on my bikes.. and that's "House Brand" parts(Bontrager/Specialized). But, I recently made an exception for a saddle because the saddle I had was just crap. Was a Cross saddle with wayyyy too much curvature and it just wasn't comfortable. So, when I went in for a fitting for the new bike (I had to replace the crashed bike), I looked into a new saddle.. and the shop offered me a Power Comp to test.. and if I don't like it, return it whenever.. and pick something else. I've never "tested" a saddle before. I read reviews and then buy something based on whether or not I feel it's reviewed well enough and fits my needs.
ANYWAY.. I've had the chance to ride the saddle a couple of times now, and will continue to break it out and for an ultimate opinion.. But, SO FAR.. It's pretty amazing. Bar far the most comfortable seat I've had to date. But, I'm still in the discovery process. I need to test it on a nice, long ride (once it warms up here) to make sure it's the real deal.. but, so far the results have been pretty positive. No numbness. No tingling. Just the right amount of padding/support and it's wide enough for my ample bottom, lol.
It's not a fancy version with carbon or anything. It's just the stock Power Comp Cromo/155.
So, anyone else riding one of these? and if so, what do you think?
ANYWAY.. I've had the chance to ride the saddle a couple of times now, and will continue to break it out and for an ultimate opinion.. But, SO FAR.. It's pretty amazing. Bar far the most comfortable seat I've had to date. But, I'm still in the discovery process. I need to test it on a nice, long ride (once it warms up here) to make sure it's the real deal.. but, so far the results have been pretty positive. No numbness. No tingling. Just the right amount of padding/support and it's wide enough for my ample bottom, lol.
It's not a fancy version with carbon or anything. It's just the stock Power Comp Cromo/155.
So, anyone else riding one of these? and if so, what do you think?
03-28-19, 08:18 AM
#2
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I rode a 155 Power Expert for a couple of years. I went through 8 saddles before I found the Power saddle. I rode a 140 mile ride on the Power saddle last summer and it was comfortable all day. I got that saddle torn up in an accident. I strayed and tried other saddles. I'm back on a Power Pro Elaston. The marketing guys at Specialized say that sitting on Elaston is like "sitting on a 1,000 pillows". I'm not sure about that, but it is comfortable so far and the padding feels great on the sit bones. I am doing a 75 mile ride with 5600 feet of climbing on April 6th. That will be the real test of how the Elaston does on long distances. I have mine level on the first 2/3rd of the saddle so you can push back against the tail on hills. Good luck with your Power Comp, I hope you find the Power saddles as comfortable as I do.
03-28-19, 09:02 AM
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Tried a Power Pro a couple months ago. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't an improvement on the Toupe I was trying to replace, so I sold it and stuck with the Toupe. I think I like the longer nose on the Toupe for shifting around during rides.
03-28-19, 11:21 AM
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The Power saddle, to me, is one of the biggest innovations in cycling in the past decade.
I dont think its a coincidence that almost every company that makes saddles now has a Power equivalent (PRO, Selle Italia, San Marco, Prologo, Giant... I’m sure there are more). I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Specialized has made so many variants of the Power saddle (after colors, widths, special editions, there’s mimic, elaston and arc).
The power is only significantly more comfortable than some other saddles (IMO) if a) you lack a thigh gap and b) you ride with your hips aggressively rotated. I have very thick thighs and narrow hips (to the point where walking and running are quite uncomfortable) so a saddle like the toupe was always rubbing. I have to get low to put down a significant amount of power because my torso weighs so little relative to my legs. So I spend a lot of time in that rotated position. For me, and somewhere around 8 or 9 of my riding buddies, a stub nose saddle with a large cutout is just a no-brainer.
I dont think its a coincidence that almost every company that makes saddles now has a Power equivalent (PRO, Selle Italia, San Marco, Prologo, Giant... I’m sure there are more). I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Specialized has made so many variants of the Power saddle (after colors, widths, special editions, there’s mimic, elaston and arc).
The power is only significantly more comfortable than some other saddles (IMO) if a) you lack a thigh gap and b) you ride with your hips aggressively rotated. I have very thick thighs and narrow hips (to the point where walking and running are quite uncomfortable) so a saddle like the toupe was always rubbing. I have to get low to put down a significant amount of power because my torso weighs so little relative to my legs. So I spend a lot of time in that rotated position. For me, and somewhere around 8 or 9 of my riding buddies, a stub nose saddle with a large cutout is just a no-brainer.
03-28-19, 11:25 AM
#5
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I LOVE my Power Arc Expert saddle, I've tried a couple, and this has solved like ALL of my discomfort issues. (with previous saddles like the stelle italia I'd get all sorts of numbness and back pain.
03-28-19, 12:02 PM
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I ended up with a Power Expert after a Retul fitting. Made a world of difference, but it's tricky to set up perfectly. My fitter wasn't in the shop when I picked up my new bike and transferred the saddle over, so if feels off now. I don't get the perfect sit-bone support unless the angle and fore/aft positioning are dialed in.
03-28-19, 02:58 PM
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I have a Power Expert saddle on every one of my road bikes. By far, the Power saddle is better than every other saddle I've ever ridden.
05-26-19, 10:25 PM
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So I've decided that my old Specialized Toupe is at the end of its life. I was set on picking up a Frabric Shallow, but at the LBS I was introduced to the Specialized Power Expert. Now I'm rethinking my Fabric purchase.
From the posts here it seems like the Expert is a pretty good saddle. As this thread was started in March, and it is now the end of May, are you all still happy with the Power saddle?
The is a HUGE difference in price between the Expert and Pro. Anyone ever look at the two side by side to see what the big fuss is about?
From the posts here it seems like the Expert is a pretty good saddle. As this thread was started in March, and it is now the end of May, are you all still happy with the Power saddle?
The is a HUGE difference in price between the Expert and Pro. Anyone ever look at the two side by side to see what the big fuss is about?
05-27-19, 05:23 PM
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Just upgraded to an Arc Expert after multiple saddles worth of perennial issues.
Perennial issues are gone, but had a little bit of saddle bone soreness. Not sure i'm meant to let the seat bed in, or if i should try swapping to the regular power.
Perennial issues are gone, but had a little bit of saddle bone soreness. Not sure i'm meant to let the seat bed in, or if i should try swapping to the regular power.
05-28-19, 12:59 AM
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I recently got a proper road bike and replaced the stock saddle which I didn't like even in the shop, with a Specialized Power Expert right off the bat. Comp has a bit more padding which doesn't seem so nice to me. I've yet to do a properly long ride on the saddle, but up to two and something hours - it is just brilliant.
My other bike is a touring bike with a chopped up B17, so I have a pretty high expectations for a comfortable saddle - but my initial impressions of the Specialized Power are great.
My other bike is a touring bike with a chopped up B17, so I have a pretty high expectations for a comfortable saddle - but my initial impressions of the Specialized Power are great.
05-28-19, 11:21 AM
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I'm still using my old Toupe, but after my ride last night I think the days are numbered for that saddle. Time to start looking around. Still hearing and reading good things about the Power Expert though. Good to hear/read about real world experiences.
05-28-19, 11:43 AM
#12
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I find myself in the extreme minority of folks for whom this saddle does NOT work. It came on my Roubaix Comp and having given it about 200 miles, gave up. I attribute it to my own specific anatomy, given the near-instant-icon status of the Power saddle.
I first had it set up with a fairly high positive tilt (+2 deg. I believe). Eventually nudged to 1 deg. then to perfectly level, still not finding the sweet spot. The contact point on the left side of the saddle kept causing my leg and groin area to go numb. I'm also someone that likes to spend long days on big climbs, and like a more traditional long, narrow nose on which to move around some on 15+ mile climbs. I found myself immediately out of runway on the Power saddle.
Based on the remarkable reviews of the saddle I was eager to give it a run, but after 200 miles and 3 trips to my fitter, ended up going to my tried and true Selle Flite.
I first had it set up with a fairly high positive tilt (+2 deg. I believe). Eventually nudged to 1 deg. then to perfectly level, still not finding the sweet spot. The contact point on the left side of the saddle kept causing my leg and groin area to go numb. I'm also someone that likes to spend long days on big climbs, and like a more traditional long, narrow nose on which to move around some on 15+ mile climbs. I found myself immediately out of runway on the Power saddle.
Based on the remarkable reviews of the saddle I was eager to give it a run, but after 200 miles and 3 trips to my fitter, ended up going to my tried and true Selle Flite.
05-28-19, 12:23 PM
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I've put over 1000 miles across 3 different Power variants. The standard Power Expert hurt my sit bones even after a month, so I bought a used Power Pro Elaston and exchanged the Power for a Power Expert with Mimic. The latter is my favorite of the three.
Elaston makes the area supporting the sit bones a bit softer, which is noticeable on long rides. It doesn't alter the shape of the Power in any way AFAIK. It's still tricky to get the right saddle angle with both Power and Power Elaston. I find a more negative angle makes riding in the drops and my clip-on aero bars feel fantastic, but then I can't avoid slipping forward too much when riding on the hoods.
The Mimic tech was designed to support soft tissue without constricting blood flow, and also has tapered wings. Although it's marketed to women and I'm not one, I found it much more comfortable/forgiving to ride on the nose and at more saddle angles than the standard Power, which has to be dialed in precisely or else doesn't feel great.
When I had a bike fit I also tested the Power Arc, but felt that it didn't support me as well as the standard Power. I didn't have a lot of time on it or try many positions. Supposedly the Arc benefits those who want to move around on the saddle, so maybe it performs better in real riding conditions.
Elaston makes the area supporting the sit bones a bit softer, which is noticeable on long rides. It doesn't alter the shape of the Power in any way AFAIK. It's still tricky to get the right saddle angle with both Power and Power Elaston. I find a more negative angle makes riding in the drops and my clip-on aero bars feel fantastic, but then I can't avoid slipping forward too much when riding on the hoods.
The Mimic tech was designed to support soft tissue without constricting blood flow, and also has tapered wings. Although it's marketed to women and I'm not one, I found it much more comfortable/forgiving to ride on the nose and at more saddle angles than the standard Power, which has to be dialed in precisely or else doesn't feel great.
When I had a bike fit I also tested the Power Arc, but felt that it didn't support me as well as the standard Power. I didn't have a lot of time on it or try many positions. Supposedly the Arc benefits those who want to move around on the saddle, so maybe it performs better in real riding conditions.
05-28-19, 01:04 PM
#14
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Update:
I tried the Power Elaston and I think it's the most comfortable saddle I've used....up to 30 miles. After 30 miles, it is too soft and my hips went numb. I then went back to the Power Expert and all is good. I'm putting in some big rides and I did 75 miles on Saturday and the Power Expert gives a good combination of enough padding and not too much padding. I was super tempted by the Power Pro, but I know the Expert worked for me in the past.
I tried the Power Elaston and I think it's the most comfortable saddle I've used....up to 30 miles. After 30 miles, it is too soft and my hips went numb. I then went back to the Power Expert and all is good. I'm putting in some big rides and I did 75 miles on Saturday and the Power Expert gives a good combination of enough padding and not too much padding. I was super tempted by the Power Pro, but I know the Expert worked for me in the past.
