The Specialized Phenom Expert saddle is a flat profile saddle that features Mimic technology and titanium rails. The shape allows moving about and changing position well, which makes this saddle better suited for mountain biking than gravel riding.
- Women’s saddle guide – how to choose the best women’s saddle
- 10 of best saddles you can buy for mountain bikes and gravel bikes – tried and tested
- Women’s bike vs unisex bike – understanding the differences
Specialized Phenom Expert with Mimic saddle – Technical details
As mentioned in the intro, the Phenom is Specialized’s flat profile, long-nose saddle – and although it is not mentioned in the product description, this saddle was specifically designed to be a mountain bike saddle.
Specialized has equipped this saddle with hollow titanium rails and Level 2 padding for extra comfort, and of course, as the name suggests, the Mimic technology. Mimic, if you’ve not heard of it, is the multilayered material added to the middle of the saddle to ensure blood flow to sensitive arteries – and although it was originally developed for women, it works for men as well.
The Phenom Mimic is available in three widths: 143mm, 155mm and 168mm. The size 143 tested weighs 241g.
Specialized Phenom Expert with Mimic saddle – Performance
I tested the Phenom right after I had been riding the Romin Evo Comp saddle, and I thought that I would get along well with this saddle as well. But after a three-day bikepacking trip trialling this saddle, I was aware that this seat is perhaps not best suited for flat terrain riding.
The Phenom’s flat profile doesn’t offer much support – but then again, off-road you’re not sitting on the saddle for such prolonged periods of time as on the road or smooth gravel, which means you don’t need as much support from the saddle. However, I feel that the shape of the Phenom made it feel narrower than the numbers suggest. I was testing the width I usually ride on Specialized saddles – 143mm – but I felt the area where I sit was narrower than the Romin and Power that I regularly ride on my own bikes. This might be also due to the rounder shape that the Phenom has.
Once I took the Phenom off the smooth tracks where I don’t need to shift my weight much, I got along with it a lot better. Mountain bike saddles have different requirements to road saddles, namely in that you move around the saddle a lot more and hence the smooth and flat shape of the Phenom actually works quite well off-road. No matter which way you land on it, you have a flat surface to sit on, and the edges of the saddle are very smooth so they don’t snag on clothing when you’re leaning the bike one way or another.
Despite the shape being good for off-road, I found that on most rides I felt the long nose of the Phenom was unnecessary. On the non-Mimic version of the Phenom, the more traditional cutout extends to the very tip of the saddle’s nose. On the Mimic version, I felt that the softer padding gets firm quite far before the tip, meaning that although the nose should allow for an additional riding position, I would not find it so comfortable.
In terms of overall comfort, I’ve been riding a saddle with the Mimic technology for quite a few years now and generally get along with it very well – and the Phenom was no exception with this despite the long nose. I had no saddle issues throughout the test period, and the way the Mimic eliminates the harsh edges of a traditional cutout works great for comfort and keeping the off-road dirt away from your bum.
Specialized Phenom Expert with Mimic saddle – Verdict
The Phenom Expert with Mimic saddle is not an all-rounder saddle – at least for me. The flat profile with a rounded shape works well for mountain biking and technical riding where you sift the weight around a lot, but anything where you might want to sit on the saddle for longer doesn’t really.
In terms of value, the titanium-railed Expert version I tested costs £115, but there is a cheaper cr-mo option if the shape suits you but your budget is limited.
A good saddle for comparison is perhaps the Bontrager Verse Elite saddle, which is cheaper and quite similar in shape to the Phenom – but it has a wider, more traditional cutout and weighs a smidge less (234g) with its austenite rails. WTB Devo w/Pickup titanium saddle’s shape is definitely different, but it’s got titanium rails and a higher price than the phenom at £125.
Overall, I think the Phenom is not a bad saddle, it’s just not one for me. I feel the shape is best suited for short sessions and the shape might affect how you feel about the width of the saddle – but if you don’t need a lot of support from your saddle and don’t mind the long nose, then this saddle is an option to consider, as the Mimic technology is still great.
You might also like:
- Specialized launch Women’s Power with MIMIC technology saddle
- Gravel cycling: experiencing a women’s bikepacking event
- Women’s Power Expert Saddle with MIMIC review
Product purpose:
And when you combine this technology with the long-nosed, flat profile of the Phenom Expert saddle, with its hollow titanium rails and Level 2 padding for extra comfort, you get a high-performance saddle that’s designed to help you perform at your best. It still features all of the Body Geometry design characteristics you know and love, so you can be assured of superior, all-day comfort in any ride position.”
Build extra:
Innovative MIMIC technology uses multilayered materials to maintain equilibrium and minimize swelling in soft tissue.
Lightweight and durable hollow titanium rails.
Level 2 padding: Medium density foam for bike feel with additional cushioning.
Size 143mm / Weight 241g
Product construction
Product performance
Product durability
Product weight
Product weight extra:
Product comfort
Product comfort extra:
product value
Overall performance:
Product likes:
Product dislikes:
Enjoy:
Buy:
Recommend:
Conclusion:
All the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click here.
