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Between €300 and €400 per saddle. Yes, you read that right. When you click “Confirm Order,” your credit card might cry harder than you do during the next Étape du Tour sportive between Bourg-d’Oisans and Alpe d’Huez. But here’s the thing. Whether or not you’re convinced on paper by the concept of a saddle with 3D padding, you have to admit that it works. I took the plunge for good two years ago. That’s enough to cover 45,000 km sitting on a Specialized Power Mirror. Let me tell you about it.
By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr
The Specialized Power Mirror saddle was first unveiled in 2020, just before the pandemic. I was even one of the first to test it, on one of the brand’s gravel bikes, while riding the dirt roads around Girona. I thought it was great. I have to say, back then everyone was talking about this 3D-printing thing with a “magic liquid” that turns into an infinite honeycomb structure. But I didn’t think it was amazing enough to replace my three Fizik Arione saddles—one for each of my two bikes plus a spare for test bikes—a model I’d been riding for eight years. And yes, all that does add up to a significant expense. And above all, with its unique dimensions—a wide crescent shape and a short nose—the Power Mirror requires very precise adjustment, which makes all the difference between a so-so feel and absolute comfort.
On paper, though, this was the saddle that could solve all my butt problems. Because, let’s face it, I’ve been struggling with this for 35 years. My butt and my feet—that’s a whole other story for me. I’ve tried just about everything. Portuguese cork, English leather, laser-cut carbon, memory foam that mostly just remembered to hurt me. The result? A collection of saddles gathering dust and a butt that felt like it was on fire after three hours of riding.
So this first quick test really shook me up. Not quite enough to switch to the Mirror, though. I took the plunge in two steps. First, an S-Works Power for its shape, then a Fizik Antarès Adaptive to try out the 3D padding. In both cases, it was still too hard. So I took the plunge—“just to see.” During the winter of 2023–2024, I put the S-Works Power Mirror back on a bike, in addition to a standard Power on my gravel bike. I was lucky enough to find the right setup right away—the right setback, the right tilt. I rushed over to see Julien, the ergonomist at K7 Bikes, a Specialized Concept Store: “You measure everything with a laser—angles and millimeters—I don’t want to change a thing!”
To be honest, I initially complained about the weight: 200 grams in the 143 mm width at nearly 400 €, that’s heavier than a Nutella-filled croissant. And then there’s the look… let’s just say it resembles a manta ray that’s watched too much Blade Runner. I know. It’s the saddle Remco uses, but I still couldn’t avoid the teasing from my riding buddies—except for those who are die-hard Specialized fans and think that everything the California brand puts out is “always top-notch” anyway.
I mounted the Power Mirror on my Tarmac, tightened the screws, and hit the road. First, 50 km just to test it out. Then 100. Then 600 within the week. Then rides in the rain. Then sweaty sessions on the indoor trainer. Whether it’s a €50 promotional pair of cycling shorts or a €250 pair from Q36.5, it’s all the same. Anti-chafing cream? I looked for it last year while organizing my bathroom cabinet, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. It must be somewhere between my dreams of climbing Alpe d’Huez like a mountain goat and my old neon socks (the ones I wore the last time I climbed Alpe d’Huez like a mountain goat).
Early 2025, second build, second bike, second Power Mirror saddle. A Pro model this time, with aluminum rails—a bit cheaper but still 45 g heavier on the scale. Hence the importance of the laser measurement I mentioned earlier, if you’ve been following along. My two bikes, my two saddles, are adjusted exactly the same. I can switch from one to the other with my eyes closed.
So, what’s the verdict? A few days ago, a friend asked me what I thought of this saddle. It’s crazy—that question made me realize I hadn’t thought about it in months. It also made me realize I’d ridden 45,000 km over two years on one or the other of my two Power Mirror saddles. Neither one shows any signs of wear. But it’s mainly my butt that’s been given a new lease on life. For 35 years, almost every ride was a negotiation: “Hang in there until the aid station—then you can walk like a cowboy.” ” In fact, I often used that excuse to tell anyone who’d listen that ultra-distance riding wasn’t for me. “My butt hurts too much, guys, but I promise I’ll keep up with you via GPS tracker.”
Today, I hop on my bike, I ride, I go downhill, I drink my coffee. Period. Not a single pressure point, not a single irritation, not even a quiet “ow” when I get back in the saddle the day after a 150 km ride. The best saddle in the world is the one you don’t even notice. The Power Mirror pulled off the perfect heist: it vanished from my consciousness. And honestly, for 300 to 400 €, it’s the only “theft” that’s ever made me smile. Specialized launched the Power Evo Mirror this summer, with a slightly different shape. Remco uses it. Not even in my wildest dreams would I switch!
If you’re still suffering as 2026 approaches, give it a try. Your butt will send you a postcard from paradise. As for me, I’m off for a ride. No cream, no pain, and with the smile of a guy who’s finally won the war against his butt.
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