I'm about to buy a road bike and I'm a bit confused about which wheel to get.
My options are CXP22/105, Mavic cosmos, Mavic Ksyrium Equipe or Elite.
I'm 5 11, 200 lbs and will be using the bike for training, not racing.
I've been told that the Cosmos, Equipe & Elite would be too fragile and require lot's of maintenance for my use.
I would like to get the Elite as they look awesome but I really don't want them to spend the summer in the shop.
Anyone currently using any of these ?
Thanks for you help,
Fred
Stay with the CXP22/105 combination. Have the spoke tension & alignment checked and adjusted as required. Make sure the spokes are stress releived. Have the bearings packed and cones precision adjusted. You will get good service, good value, and have serviceability from this combination that the others won't provide. Are they standard 36/32 spoke wheels built 3 cross? If they aren't already built, make sure they are built 3 cross with double butted spokes, and with best practices. I have ridden all those Mavic wheels. They look cool, but they don't hold up as well or provide the serviceability that well built wheels that use standard components.
Originally posted by daveornee Stay with the CXP22/105 combination. Have the spoke tension & alignment checked and adjusted as required. Make sure the spokes are stress releived. Have the bearings packed and cones precision adjusted. You will get good service, good value, and have serviceability from this combination that the others won't provide. Are they standard 36/32 spoke wheels built 3 cross? If they aren't already built, make sure they are built 3 cross with double butted spokes, and with best practices. I have ridden all those Mavic wheels. They look cool, but they don't hold up as well or provide the serviceability that well built wheels that use standard components.
if youre considering elites, which are something like $500? why not get d/a hubs and handbuilt open pros?
I'm liking my Elites. 1000 miles, no problems, nothing to due for maintenance except check the hubs. Got them for $350 on ebay. I weigh 175 and they are holding up well on good and poor road conditions. My winter weight with them was 185.
They are designed to be factory built and last untill they die.
The others are good options too. You can re-true them if needed.
To me, about 50-60% of the wheels I see are Ksyriums, and probably Elites. That being said, ask a couple of LBSs to see how oftem they come in for work.
I ride on Mavic Cosmos. I only have a few hundred miles on them so far, but FWIW I'm about 190lbs and ride on absolutely [censored] roads, and they're still in tip-top shape.
I currently have 2 sets of mavic, open pro's 3X for training and cosmic elite for racing (duathlons) .. and have been extreemely happy .. weight is important but not the only variable, its also a question of how hard you drive them and how bad your roads are? .. did you consider a CXP33-DA combination, those rims although on the heavy side have also a reputation of being bulletproof .. 3X is almost mandatory ..cheers
