...about Mavic Cosmic Carbones being so heavy? From what I can tell, they weigh about the same as a standard custom wheelset (e.g., DA hubs w/ Open Pro rims) and are everybit as durable, but with the benefits of a full aero rim. Price and looks are another debate, but from a strict performance/durability standpoint what's the beef?

Let's face it dude,,, people love to complain... (myself included, big time)
Anywho,,, Say both comapny A and B make widgets... there will be those loyal to company A and complain about company B's widgets every chance they get,, and vice versa.....THen again, if there were no choice, people would complain about that to...

...about Mavic Cosmic Carbones being so heavy? From what I can tell, they weigh about the same as a standard custom wheelset (e.g., DA hubs w/ Open Pro rims) and are everybit as durable, but with the benefits of a full aero rim. Price and looks are another debate, but from a strict performance/durability standpoint what's the beef?

According to Weight Weenies they weigh more than 1800 grams per pair. The new SL model drops some weight - Competive Cyclest quotes 1765 grams.

I think the main beef is that they cost upwards of $1500. For that much coin they should be lighter.

Why pay that much when there are lighter wheels that are just as aero?

According to Weight Weenies they weigh more than 1800 grams per pair. The new SL model drops some weight - Competive Cyclest quotes 1765 grams.

I think the main beef is that they cost upwards of $1500. For that much coin they should be lighter.

Why pay that much when there are lighter wheels that are just as aero?

Agreed, with Zipps coming in at 1200 or now even less, Carbons are a lb and a half heavier. That's alot of weight.

The "<1200 g Zipps" you refer to are for the 303 tubulars, which are also 13mm lower profile rim. Zipp 404 clinchers are a better comparison and weigh 1715 g - only 50 g lighter but $150 more expensive (not counting skewers). I don't see how this is significantly "lighter and/or cheaper". Reynolds clinchers are certainly lighter, though not incredibly so (~250 g), but at almost $400 higher retail price and a carbon rim/braking surface I don't see the value advantage here either.

More importantly, I think the key word here is durable. My impression is the Mavics are a really tough wheelset that can be ridden everyday. Most people would be hesitant to use Zipps and other aero, lightweight wheelsets for anything but races.

I think folks have just gotten a "Oh man, they're too heavy" mindset about these wheels that obscures objective comparison. I could put these on the bike I'm currently building and come in with a total weight of 15.6 lbs (including pedals) - that can hardly be considered a "heavy" bike.

Bugman-also I think I've heard/read-that the CC wheels are also water-bucket prone when riding in the wet.

Heavy wheels will feel heavy regardless of the weight of your bike. They have a stabilizing effect and make handling feel slow or less agile. Not something that I enjoy.

the cosmic carbones are not made for a lightweight climbing wheelset,they are made for aerodynamics.
They use a regular alu rim then laminate a carbon extra for aerodynamics.

go ahead,squeeze the wheel right under the breaking surface,then right under that. you can bend the CF between your fingers in the second spot.

not sure wat that does for performance