Specialized rolls out Mimic tech to more women's saddles

The brand has continued the 'beyond gender' approach it took with its bikes

Specialized MIMIC women's Power saddle
(Image credit: Picasa)

Specialized has released two saddles with the Mimic technology it released in 2018, building the female design focused material into existing men's models - the Romin and Phenom - whilst discontinuing the women's specific Oura and Myth.

The brand championed a 'beyond gender' ethos when it did away with the female specific bikes in its ranges, instead advocating women ride unisex frames with adjusted touch points.

>>> How to choose the right saddle for you

Now, it's replaced the women's Oura and Myth saddles with the WMN Romin Evo Mimic and WMN Phenom Mimic saddles.

Mimic is short for ‘biomimicry’ – the practice of designing based on biological entities and processes. The fabric replaces a cut out design and features three different memory foam densities designed to account for changes in the density of female soft tissue.

>>> The best women’s saddles

The aim is to reduce discomfort felt my women who 'fall into' the cut out, creating serious discomfort, which can even result in surgery. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdroZNYqHJk

The discontinued saddles and their replacements share similar design ethos' - the Romin Evo provides a long nose and curved profile like the Oura - this is ideal for racers who like to move around a lot between efforts.

Romin Evo WMN with Mimic

 

Comparatively, the Phenom is a long nose, flat profile saddle like the outgoing Myth - it's popular among mountain bikers but has been used to success on the road.

>>> The best men’s saddles

The rest of the saddle shape will remain the same, so female Oura and Myth fans who would rather use a cut out can opt for the standard Romin or Phenom, and vice versa.

The move away from the separate men's and women's saddle families will tidy up the offering from Specialized, though could be a disappointment to fans of the outgoing models.

Myth WMN with MIMIC

The price point structure will work as per other perches in the Specialized range, with the top end S-Works, then Pro, Expert and Comp rungs on the ladder. The Phenom Evo Comp WMN with Mimic will cost £84, at Expert level it will be £105. The Romin Evo Pro WMN with Mimic will cost £58.

Each of the new saddles will come in 143, 155 and 168mm widths. Alongside this news, by popular demand the brand has also announced a new Power Expert saddle, in a 130mm width.

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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan

Michelle Arthurs-Brennan is a traditional journalist by trade, having begun her career working for a local newspaper, where highlights included interviewing a very irate Freddie Star (and an even more irate theatre owner), as well as 'the one about the stolen chickens'.


Previous to joining the Cycling Weekly team, Michelle was Editor at Total Women's Cycling. She joined CW as an 'SEO Analyst', but couldn't keep her nose out of journalism and in the spreadsheets, eventually taking on the role of Tech Editor before her latest appointment as Digital Editor. 


Michelle is a road racer who also enjoys track riding and the occasional time trial, though dabbles in off-road riding too (either on a mountain bike, or a 'gravel bike'). She is passionate about supporting grassroots women's racing and founded the women's road race team 1904rt.


Michelle is on maternity leave from July 8 2022, until April 2023.