Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbon Exalith v's Carbon Handbuilt Wheelsets

drewduncan
drewduncan Posts: 32
in Road buying advice
Wondering if anyone can pass on experience / thoughts. Looking at Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbon Exalith (2019) v's a handbuilt pair of 50mm carbon clinchers via Zed Bike Wheels (Elite rim brake range). Currently similar price. Any thoughts on why you would pick one over the other, or even if you have a preferred other wheelset in similar budget - around £800. Thanks smile:

Comments

  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,235
    This is asked a lot...
    I've noticed Zed use some proprietary materials, therefore negating some of the benefit of handbuilts, which is ready available generic spares.
    Obviously the Mavic have a metal/ceramic brake track as opposed to carbon, which might be something of interest to you, although even exalith requires special pads, as opposed to generic ones.
    In terms of performance, I think we have passed the point where we care about performance of wheels? Unless you race and seconds matter, now it's all about power, not speed, and carbon wheels won't make you more powerful...
    That said, the advantages are marginal and probably very similar
    left the forum March 2023
  • drewduncan
    drewduncan Posts: 32
    Thanks for the feedback. Presume the Mavic rim may last the test of time better than a carbon one? Appreciate the comment re performance and speed. I don't change wheelsets all that often so trying to get as 'new' a wheelset as I can in terms of tech for the budget mentioned earlier.
  • bianchi_dave
    bianchi_dave Posts: 847
    Someone like Spokesman could you build you a set of carbon wheels for a good bit less than £800. You would also be able to get arguably better hubs (Hope for example) and as alluded to by Ugo, spokes which are easy to replace (Sapim CXRay etc)
    Scott Addict RC
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  • drewduncan
    drewduncan Posts: 32
    Perfect Dave thank you. I'll have a look at Spokesman as well. Cheers.
  • arlowood
    arlowood Posts: 2,561
    Also for the same money Malcolm at Cycleclinic will build you a set of 50mm clinchers with Miche Primato hubs.

    https://thecycleclinic.co.uk/collections/road-rim-brake-wheelsets/products/borg50-carbon-clinchers-tubeless-ready-20f-24r-26-5mm-wide

    Well reviewed in Cycling Weekly

    https://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/wheels/borg-50-c-carbon-clincher-wheels
  • lincolndave
    lincolndave Posts: 9,441
    I have had a set off Lee (Zed wheels) cannot fault them at all, still running true 3 years later, although I only use them in spring / summer time
  • luv2ride
    luv2ride Posts: 2,367
    +1 for Spokesman wheels. I've been riding a couple of bikes in rotation over the past two weeks, and the one with my Carbonal 50mm rims and Bitex hubs (from Spokesman) seems to fly in comparison - same route, same conditions, though the Carbonals are a wider rim with 28mm tyres that come up at 30mm. Unless the hubs / bb on the other bike is overdue a service!
    Titus Silk Road Ti rigid 29er - Scott Solace 10 disc - Kinesis Crosslight Pro6 disc - Scott CR1 SL - Pinnacle Arkose X 650b - Pinnacle Arkose singlespeed - Specialized Singlecross...& an Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray 4 string...
  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    Have to say I hadn't heard of Zed wheels but looking at the range and prices, it's quite tempting to get a set.
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,612
    redvision said:

    Have to say I hadn't heard of Zed wheels but looking at the range and prices, it's quite tempting to get a set.

    Not much info on there about what components he's actually using, though no reason to think he wouldn't tell you if asked.
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,612
    Hubs look like Bitex which are decent performers for the money. Probably Pillar spokes at a guess
  • StillGoing
    StillGoing Posts: 5,211
    +1 for Spokesman Wheels.
    I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.
  • veitchy96
    veitchy96 Posts: 7
    Decided to try Zed Wheels after reading some online reviews and liking the idea of trying something new. Went for the top spec 50m versions with Berd Spokes.

    Unfortunately they were not true at all when arrived and had way too much flex in them.

    Zed Bike wheels then went from being the friendliest outfit to deal with to being really difficult. Hard to get a hold of and refusing to hear of any fault despite confirmation being provided by very reputable bike shop.

    Wheels were sent back. Zed denied any fault and sent them back. Bike shop again confirmed that same faults were there and said they were unsafe to ride.

    Almost a 8 months later and nothing has been resolved. All kinds of silliness and still £1,500 out of pocket. Currently taking legal action.

    I was excited to try a boutique UK wheel firm but in hind sight wish I had just stuck to one of the big brands with better customer service and more accountable approach. Lesson learned.
  • wombat-02-bowl
    wombat-02-bowl Posts: 1
    Hello

    I believe this was all resolved without any legal action. When highly specialist wheels are bought, it is essential that a qualified mechanic works on them. Sadly sometimes the customer doesn’t want to spend time returning them to ZED and believes their local bike shop will do. (Berd have very very few approved wheel builders)

    On this occasion we never actually had the opportunity to judge what had gone wrong with these wheels as the courier did misplace them.

    These were a custom special set with a long lead time, (approx 8 weeks) and the wheels were then lost. It certainly wasn’t an 8 month wait. Part of the wait was the delay from the cargo insurance confirming the wheels as “lost”.

    At ZED we try our best to keep customers happy and have many many delighted and returning customers.

    ZED
    Customer Service

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