Thanks! There really isn’t much feedback online, but heaps for the Mirror…power of the big S!
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Has anyone compared the Bontrager Aeolus and Specialized Power Pro with Mirror saddles? I have the Aeolus in 155mm on my road bike and have been happy with it on rides up to 6 hours or so. I’ve tried it before on my gravel bike on my trainer and was very uncomfortable after 45 mins or so.
While not cheap, the Specialized Power Pro with Mirror is on sale and looks like it may work. I have bigger thighs and tried a basic Power before and it rubbed too much. Based on some comments here, it seems like thats less of a problem with the Power Mirror saddles?
I know it’s hard to tell from the pics, but it looks like the Bontrager is a little more slim with a bit more pronounced flaring out as it gets wider if that makes sense? Hard to judge without seeing them both in person of course.
Any tips are appreciated!!
Bontrager:
Specialized:
I like the Aeolus a lot. I have the Romin mirror and not really that happy. It works to relieve sit one pressure. But feels like it’s putting a lot of pressure on the soft tissues and I am constantly fighting numbness.
I keep hoping Trek will come out with their versions of these saddles.
I have had hamstring rubbing issues with the power arc before, but haven’t specifically tried the power mirror.
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I have the Aeolus that came with my boone and have a power mirror on my aeroad. 2 vastly different shapes, but both work with my under carriage well!
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I have 4 powers saddles. 3 normal and one arc. I am a wide guy but my bones are 143 mm. I’ve ridden up to 15 hours in a day on it. Actually just remembered I rode through the night last year in a bike packing race when I had was recovering from covid and my lungs had a lot of fluid in them for 24.5 hours with a few breaks. My butt was the least of my worries but it was fine.
I would love to get a mirror saddle. just to pricey.
Just got my Pro version today. Going to test it tonight… healthy Z2 workout, so my legs won’t be doing much lifting.
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Thoughts on it? I am getting a lot of soft tissue pressure (which leads to my tip getting numb) with my Romin mirror. I really like the way it makes my sit bones feel. But I can’t handle the numbness that seems to happen very very quickly.
Been there myself 
One thing for me with these saddles is that I need to be very consistent on where on the Mirror I sit. Since it’s softer, I need to have better support on the sit bones.
So for me, I need to lower the saddle and move it forward, so I set further back on the saddle.
If I sit “in the middle” it’ll give me soft tissue pressure as well.
I have mine tilted as well 4 degrees down, measured by iPhone placed as such (@CincoGirl hope its OK I borrowed your photo ) :
Green is iPhone, blue is where I try to have my sitbones.
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this reminded me of something…
(which is to say, I think maybe you are sitting a bit too far forward on it? It might be too wide for your sitbones.)
also relevant: Numb Hands While Cycling? - 7 Causes - YouTube
What width are you riding? May be too wide.
This. I had the same issue. I got “measured” for a Power saddle in stores and they had me on a 155mm and I hated it. Numbness, soreness, you name it. Just terrible. Went down to the 143mm and most of the problems went away, but I think it was still too wide. The Mirror has more arch to it than the original Power, but the Arc has even more and worked really well for me. I’m tempted to try the Fizik as you can go even narrower, which is what I found I needed.
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I noticed the instructions say for a normal clamp to use 9nm (it says 12nm for side-clamp)! The only thing I’ve ever bolted down 9 or over are crank arms and a cassette lockring. I’m a bit nervous, and usually go with 5nm, but set it at 6nm for ride 1. Is it really likely to slip under 9nm?!
Same, I measured 155, bought a Romin Comp at 155… never ever got on with that saddle. I bought an S-Works Romin at 143 and it’s been my favorite saddle from a sits bones perspective. But with numbness, especially indoors.
The Power Comp saddle was much better with numbness, but position was critical and I couldn’t quite get it dialed in… I still use it outdoors with no real issue though.
I’ve got a few hours logged with the Mirror now (also 143) and there’s zero numbness. I also feel like I’m slowly “locking in” to the right position. I’m having minor discomfort now, but each ride is better and better. I’m thinking in another ride or two, it’ll just click.
It’s crazy how sensitive I am indoors vs outdoors. Outside, I feel like I could use an upside down bucket for a saddle and not care. Inside, if it’s not perfect, I’m getting a numb tip in a half hour
What is your bike/trainer setup inside? Any flex / motion present or essentially rigid?
I’m on a saris motion plate. It’s been much better with that and the power mirror for sure. But 1:30 is about my mental/crotch limit indoors
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Good deal. Along with that, consider any potential differences in your standing frequency along with potential of weight distribution where having the front axle a tad higher may help a bit. Most and more covered in the topic you’ve probably seen, but to share it for others if needed:
I’d put my money on standing frequency more than anything being the culprit. My front wheel is on the locking block that comes with the saris so that gives and inch or so
The reality is is I really have little to no desire nor ability schedule wise to do much more than an hour and a half indoors so not overly worried. Thanks for the tips though!
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Just got the S Works Romin on a new bike build. It’s like my favourite armchair. I’m totally converted. Other saddles I’ve used are the Selle Italia SLR superflow and whichever the Fizik one is that’s a similar shape but has the 3D printed cover. Nothing compares to that S Works. It’s like my sit bones just find the place where they’re supposed to be for the next couple of hours and I forget it’s even there. Perfect.
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Would you say that the Selle Italia SLR Superflow and Mirror Romin is the same fit, but just comfier?
Does your thighs touch the nose of the saddle on the Selle Italia (and on the Romin)?
I’d say broadly yes, it’s about the same ‘footprint’, although I’d say the nose of the Romin is perhaps a touch wider. So yes, there’s a little thigh rub, but not enough to bother me, and I’ve got quite big thighs. And it’s way comfier at the sit bones. When I’m back at base I can remind myself which sizes of each saddle I’ve got and I’ll update this post.
Generally I think there’s going to be a possible long-term issue with the large-thighed of us running through bib shorts a bit earlier with these 3D printed saddles as the noses have a bit of a rougher texture. Time will tell. In my view a price worth paying for a comfortable arse.
I’d also add that I took a look at Selle Italia’s 3D printed offering in my LBS and, in my opinion, it wasn’t very nice at all. I didn’t sit on it, but having felt it the surface was very hard and plasticky, and didn’t seem to have much give. It seemed a far less sophisticated offering than those of S-Works and Fizik. I’d have been mighty disappointed if I’d have bought it without seeing it first.
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