Ksyrium Elites v Cosmic Carbone SL

pompy

Have the chance to spec my bike with either, but which should I go for? The Carbones have a small weight penalty but look amazing and are much more aero (ride on rolling terrain) Does the aero qualities make much difference?

smidsy

They have a deep carbon fairing stuck onto a normal aluminium rim, that does not make them aero.

Ultimately its probably down to what you like the look of but personally I would avoid the Comic Carbone (no typo).

At least the Elites are not pretending to be something they are not.

slowandsteady

How does a carbon fairing "not" make them more aero?

Bar Shaker

Slowandsteady wrote:

How does a carbon fairing "not" make them more aero?

I am also looking forward to hearing this one.

alan_sherman

The carbones are a great wheel, yes they are heavy but they are pretty aero, roll well, are quite stiff but also comfortable.

The elites are a bit so-so. In my opinion get the carbones and perhaps a hand built pair for really windy days.

Fredtheghost

Elites every time I have done over 2000 miles on mine hit potholes and still look and feel brand new, I run elite s with matching tyres krysium however the tyres although great don't last long.

denniskwok

smidsy wrote:

They have a deep carbon fairing stuck onto a normal aluminium rim, that does not make them aero.

F1 cars have carbon fairings and other bits stuck onto an aluminium engine. They are not very aero either apparently

ugo.santalucia

Sorry Smidsy... whether the carbon is glued or structural aerodynamically it's the same thing

http://paolocoppo.drupalgardens.com/con ... -they-work

smidsy

Ok you know my thoughts on comic carbones. Yes they offer some benefit over a 'non fairing' wheel but in the grand scheme of things there are more (better) aero options out there.

In Mavics own words they are not as aero as Zipps.

So yes you can say I am wrong, but the fact remains they are not VFM IMO.

ugo.santalucia

smidsy wrote:

So yes you can say I am wrong, but the fact remains they are not VFM IMO.

In the grand scheme of things... what is value for money in the bicycle world?

I can think of

1) A shimano square taper bottom bracket for 9.99... you get a lot of well machined and durable metal for less than a tenner

then?

gavbarron

smidsy wrote:

Ok you know my thoughts on comic carbones. Yes they offer some benefit over a 'non fairing' wheel but in the grand scheme of things there are more (better) aero options out there.

In Mavics own words they are not as aero as Zipps.

So yes you can say I am wrong, but the fact remains they are not VFM IMO.

But they aren't 'just' an aero/mid depth wheel for race day only, the thing with Cosmics is you can ride them day in day out on crappy British roads and not worry about it. Sure, Zipps are more aero, and more money but then I wouldn't want to ride Zipps like I ride Mavic, especially after all their reliability problems in the earlier days, once bitten and all that

dnwhite88

I have Carbone slr's and they're good fun on the downhills and flats but a pain going up hill especially out of the saddle, where they flex enough to rub your brake pads a bit wouldn't pay full price for them and wouldn't get them again if they broke tbh

sloppyschleckonds

Handbuilts

gavbarron

dnwhite88 wrote:

I have Carbone slr's and they're good fun on the downhills and flats but a pain going up hill especially out of the saddle, where they flex enough to rub your brake pads a bit wouldn't pay full price for them and wouldn't get them again if they broke tbh

Are you heavy because mine have never flexed at all, was one of the reasons I don't mind their weight

dnwhite88

I'm 75kgs, the flex isn't huge but enough to make it rub the brake pads which is irritating on long climbs every time you stand up (I'm in Surrey so lots of hills) how heavy are you?

gavbarron

Just under 70kg so not a huge difference and I'm quite aggressive on the climbs. I'm not disputing you might have some flex but are your spokes all tight?

gavbarron

Just under 70kg so not a huge difference and I'm quite aggressive on the climbs. I'm not disputing you might have some flex but are your spokes all tight?

dnwhite88

I believe so and the wheels are definitely true but will check them

CoutinhoRed

I've had both and can't fault the ksyriums. They appeared lighter and stiffer and actually look nicer too. That's just my opinion though, but the ksyriums for me performed much better.

jordan_217

I ride on Elites at the mo, on my training bike. Lovely wheels and I'm impressed with everything about them. I've owned Carbones and again, they are nice. They are smooth, spin up well and IME do hold higher speeds just that little better. (No I do not have diagnostic/windtunnel/powermeter/whatever evidence to back that up!).

I have some 50m Token carbon tubulars (proper carbon ones Smidsy!) now and they trump the Carbones hands down! They don't even have a weight disadvantage on the hills as they are 2kgs with tyres, cassette and skewers. They were much cheaper too!

I'm now hovering around 79kgs but even carrying 'Winter weight' (82kgs) I've never experienced flex from either one of the Mavic wheels, defo no brake rub.

paul_mck

Aksiums FTW.