Mavic vs Easton

I'm going to attempt road racing next year and I'm currently looking at upgrading my wheels (I managed to jack both my front and rear wheels on a training ride a few weeks back after taking a quick trip over the handlebars ). I was wondering if anyone had any experience with Easton or Mavic? Which company makes better products? What's going to be the best bang for the buck? If I go with Easton I'm thinking of getting the EA70's, if Mavic, I'd probably go with the Ksyrium Elite or Cosmic Elite. I've always been a better sprinter than a climber and I've heard that a wheel with a deeper dish will help me maintain a higher speed, but it will take longer to accelerate. I live in Michigan as well, so there's not a real threat of long steep climbs either.

Since I'm new to road racing I get to start off as a Cat 5, so I don't see the need in spending $1000+ at the moment... or should I think twice on that?

How about neither.

Got a bike shop around that can design a wheelset specifically for you and your needs?

The wheels you mentioned use poor by comparison hubs to shimano or Campagnolo or DT. Use unique to these wheels spokes and rims. Are not that light, not that well built and cost more than a nice handbuilt set.

Weight at the rim is a teeny, tiny percentage of what it takes to accelerate a bicycle. There really isn't any 'flywheel effect' in bicycle wheels for all practical purposes. What you need is a wheelset that is of a reasonable weight, that is reliable. Wheels are there to get you there, concentrate on the engine(you).

There are so many wheel options out there I would look further than Mavic and Easton.

My current favorite for racing/training is the American Classic hurricane. The wider rim is the format of the future, Hed and Zipp have both followed down this road for good reason.

Detail review here: Glory Cycles Product Reviews: American Classic Hurricane

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I looked into wheels for a LONG time to upgrade from my Mavic Equipe's on my Tarmac. The Equipes were just killing me in crosswinds. Its very windy most of the time where I ride and I needed something that would cut thru them much better and I also wanted something bang for the buck. Like I said, I looked alot but wasn't in a hurry. I realize that the Equipe wheel isn't a great wheel but it was a bombproof wheel while I had it. After looking and researching I narrowed it down to some mentioned above also along with Rol wheels. I saw a set listed on this site used for $400 with 300 miles on them so I picked them up. These were the Rol Race SL set. When I received them a couple spokes were damaged in shipping and it had a campy freehub on it which I needed a shimano which I already knew. I called Sean at Rol and he said just send me the wheels and I'll take care of it for you and send me your rear wheel and I'll put your cassette on it ready for you for just the cost of the freehub and spoke. I agreed to it and I received the wheels back as agreed with the wheels reworked ready for my tires and he didn't even charge me. I was eager to take them for a spin and there was night and day difference between them and the Equipes. If I would have known if was that big of difference I would've paid full new price for them no doubt. I weight 200lbs by the way and they are a great set of wheels, they cut thru wind better, they ride better, they are much quicker, faster, they are just a better wheel all around.

Thanks for the advice