I Tried Specialized’s Power Pro Saddle—and It Fixed My Biggest Pain Point

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If you’ve ever finished a long bike ride feeling more sore than strong, your bike saddle might be the problem. After years of constantly shifting positions to relieve pressure—especially during indoor training—I tried the Specialized Power Pro with Mirror saddle, a 3D-printed design built to reduce hot spots and improve support. The difference was immediate.

A couple of winters ago, I upgraded my ancient bike trainer to a Wahoo KICKR CORE with Zwift, a smart trainer that works seamlessly with the virtual training app. But while Zwift helps gamify your workout by transporting you into various virtual worlds, offering countless workouts, and hosting virtual “races,” all of that gamification can’t change the fact that you’re sitting on a bike saddle in more or less the same position for the duration of your workout, rather than naturally shifting back and forth as you climb or descend rolling terrain on roads or trails. As a result, indoor training can really take a toll on your nether regions. 

My saddle of choice in this scenario is now the Specialized Power Pro with Mirror, a 3D-printed saddle that I first tested five or so years ago while it was still just a prototype. I had a friend and riding partner who was a product manager for Specialized at the time, and I was immediately fascinated when I saw her Mirror prototype, which had layers of honeycomb-shaped polymer used to support and cushion your most sensitive regions. I had been riding saddles with cutouts for years—the theory being that a cutout provides additional breathing room, reducing chafing—but for some people, the tissue simply swells into the cutout, no matter what type of anatomy you have. Sitting astride the Mirror prototype, I found the hammock-shaped saddle supportive, but forgiving, like a breathable, moldable cushion. But unfortunately, my friend needed the prototype back, so I went back to “normal” saddles for years.

This summer, I spent several months testing the Power Pro with Mirror saddle. It’s changed a bit from the prototype I tested years ago, but still features the same 3D-printed honeycomb structure and cushy but supportive polymer. Part of Specialized’s Power saddle line, with an extra-wide and elongated channel, the Power Pro has titanium rails and a reclaimed carbon fiber base that’s light but strong enough to withstand the rigors of mountain biking. I put it on my gravel bike, an ENVE MOG that’s built to get a little rowdy and off-roady. And then, I put in some miles. 

My main takeaway: I stopped constantly shifting positions while riding. Shifting my weight around in the saddle is something I did often while riding, and I realize now that it was in an effort to relieve pressure. I have all sorts of saddles on my bikes, and I scootch around on all of them—except this one. As I spent more time in the saddle, I also noticed that hot spots I’d been riding with for years were fading.

I’ve only had the bike on the trainer for a short while, but initial test rides on the Mirror saddle suggest what I learned during the outdoor riding season: the correct saddle won’t force you to shift around in search of comfort. And that’s all I need to know as the indoor riding season commences. Only problem now is that, once fat biking is on the menu, I’ll have to choose whether the Power Pro saddle lives inside on the trainer, or out in the wild on my fat bike.