Originally posted by Xandre
Hey guys, just wondering if Mavic Cosmic Elites are strong and reliable enough for daily use in the city? Any suggestions from anyone as to a good set of wheels for overall use in the city and for long distance riding? The most that I'll probably want to spend is $400. I really like the look of medium profile wheels though.
The Cosmic Elites aren't a bad choice for general use, everyday-ish riding; they're certainly tough, from what I understand. In fact, that's probably the best use for them -- training or commuting for the enthusiast who wants cool training or enthusaist wheels. They're a bit heavy for racing or for use in hilly-territory (just under 1800g); that doesn't mean they're no good for those purposes, only that there are better choices out there for your buck.
Given that, I think there are lots of choices in the $300-$500 category for everyday training/casual riding use, some of which are maybe a bit better. You can find
Cane Creek Volos for about that much; they're sturdy, sleek, comfortable (I hear), and weigh 1556g. Ritchey's
Pro Z Deep Section wheels are also reliable and smooth riding, and they go for under $350; I know guys who race on the WCS Z Deep Sections (which go for around $500); they're a bit deeper and a touch lighter. My everyday wheels are the no-longer-being-made
Shimano 6500 Ultegra set; they're only a hair lighter than the Cosmic Elites, but I can definitely vouch for a lively, stiff yet comfy ride. I bought them used (for only $200 - a steal!) and added a couple thousand miles recently, and have yet to have a problem. They've got a nice semi-deep rim. You can still find them out there if you look around.
Good luck!
