Ksyrium SL or Elite?

Depends on how much you have to pay for the upgrade. I have Elites and have been satisfied.

Sven Graham said:

I'm in the process of getting the new Giant Composite TCR 1 (05 model) which comes with the Elite. Is it worth the upgrade to SL or not

What does everyone think of the Elite

I want one set of wheels for both training and racing. Racing is triathlons from 20km to 90km.

Thanks for the help

I am very satisfied with the Elites. I test rode both the Elites and the SLs on the same bike, and I couldn't really detect much difference in ride quality. The Elites seem to be very suitable for racing.

The SLs have two features that concern me, the aluminum spokes and the shaved rims. I have the impression that the Elites will last longer than the SLs, but I have nothing scientific to back that up, just a hunch.

I would rather get a pair of cosmic elite, which are better suited for tri's. Mavic had decided to stop selling them but the demand as been so strong that they decided to get them back for the 2005 line-up. I have been using them for training and racing for the past year and have been very satisfied.

I had the opportunity to buy either the Elites or the SL's at near cost from the LBS. They overstocked on wheels while getting the race team they sponsor equipped. After checking on roadbikereview.com and a few other places, I bought the Elites and have not been dissappointed.

The Elites have a reputation for durability that the SL's lack. I race very little if at all so picking up that last tenth or two of a mph from the SL's just wasn't important to me. If I had bought the SL's, I would be doing 85% of my riding on my Cosmos and pulling out the SL's for special occasions. As things stand, I split time about 55/45 and get to have more fun on fast wheels.

The Elites have Hutchinson Carbon Comps for speed. The Cosmos are usually setup with 700x25 Michelin Carbons for bad roads, multi-day supported tours, and getting a better workout when riding/training with slower friends. I also use the Cosmos with Michelin Pro Race 700x23 for really hilly centuries, in between road conditions, or rides where I expect a lot of crosswinds.

why not look for something else than f****** mavics, there are plenty of better wheels out there I believe

My 2 cents - if your budget allows you to have an SL, go for it. There's not much difference in terms of quality and rideability for both these wheelsets, just the price.

I put about 3,000 miles on my old Elites before I upgraded to the SLs. I currently have about 4,000 miles on my SLs this year. The SLs are definitely lighter, and in my opinion, stiffer than the Elites. Not that it's critical, but the SLs are machine milled between the spokes and weigh a little less (and look much cooler). I've read in many places that the SLs have been know to crack or break but I go 178 lbs and have never had a problem. In fact, when I first got the SLs I was pushing 195. I'm a short guy at 5 8 1/2" but I've got some serious leg muscle. l feel that the SLs give me more power on the road. It's just my opinion but the SLs just feel quicker and stronger. If the difference in cash won't kill you, go for the SLs.