Originally Posted by
RidingRev
When I picked up my Power Expert 155, I asked the salesman at the bike shop about the difference between the Power and the Arc. He said, “Everyone who likes the Power hates the Arc.”
I’ve been riding the Power for several months now, and it’s the best saddle I’ve ever ridden. But last week I got a great deal on a used Power Arc Elaston — the one with the “thousand pillows.” I thought I’d see if the Arc and the Elaston were better than my power Expert.
Neither was. The Arc is effectively narrower than the same size Power, because of . . . well, how the wings arc downward. All the lovely support my 140mm wide sit bones had on the Power was missing.
And, frankly, I don’t feel any difference, either with my fingers or my butt, between the Elaston and the regular saddle. When you press the non-Elaston part of the saddle and the nubbled Elaston section, there’s no difference in the feel. If there’s some marginal difference, it’s certainly not $ 100 difference, which is the premium you pay for this supposed miracle technology.
The Power Expert went back on the seatpost, and my tail is delighted. It’s taken years and a lot of saddles to get here. I’ve been through Fizik, SMP, Brooks, Bontrager, Fabric, Selle Italia, and Specialized Toupes and Romins. The Power is just brilliant for me.
If you’d like a Power Arc Pro Elaston 155 in like new condition for a good price, hit me up.
I think it all comes down to your muscular distribution. If you have large adductor muscles, then the Arc will likely suit you better. Luckily for me, I guessed at the standard Power saddle and all is good with the world. I read lots of stories about how great the Power saddle is. I'm blessed, in a sense, that it's my only experience. I think there could be better saddles out there for different types of riding, such as all day comfort. The Power seems to be designed for short rides, maintaining an anterior pelvic tilt for putting the "power" down.