If you click on some of the close-up pictures of Pettachi’s and Cipollini’s bikes in Cycling News’ “Bikes at the 2004 Milan-San Remo” (http://www.cyclingnews.com/teamtech04.php?id=tech/2004/features/sanremo) it looks like their “Mavic Cosmic Carbones” are now actually made of carbon, and not a plastic fairing on an aluminum rim. Is that a new Mavic wheel, or is it a re-labeled wheel made by someone else?
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It looks like a Mavic hub, I wonder if they are Mavic rims, or some other brand? Doesnt look like a Zipp, as it is too shallow. It might be a lightness rim, but given the popularity of the deep V all carbon rims I bet that Mavic are in the development process.
One of three possibilities:
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Corima rim with Mavic hub. I would say it is HIGHLY unlikely.
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Mavic hub on some other rim. Again, unlikely.
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Prototype Mavic carbon rim. Hmm, it is the most likely of the three possibilities, but nothing will surprise me.
I would surmise that if two riders have the same wheel like this, it could very well be prototypical in nature.
I would also not go so far to call the Cosmic Carbone “plastic”, just a very flimsy cosmetic fairing made of carbon fibre or a carbon “thermoplastic”. Think of a very overpriced Hed Jet.
They’re prototypes: http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2004/news/mar30
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Think of a very overpriced Hed Jet??
The old alu/plastic Cosmic is deeply under-rated here. It has one disadvantage - weight, but are much better than “real” carbon wheels if looking at other issues:
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100% true, not the typical “true within Xmm” as the standard (Hed/Zipp) carbon wheels.
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Durable, durable: Used by the pro’s in road races, and still 100% true.
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The alu rim gives 100% breaking power without overheating problems.
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Perfect handling, stiff, no problems in high speed, decents etc.
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Very good hub.
I have no problems with Mavic hubs or rims, I just had problems of the price point of the Mavic Cosmic Carbone. Given a choice, if the Carbone was only a little more expensive than a Jet, I would easily buy the Carbon over a Jet any day of the week.
There are major advantages, particularly with the rim being true. Carbon rims are at the mercy of their mould, and when that mould starts to age, the truness starts to go out QUITE a bit, unless it is an ultra-expensive stainless steel mould. Even then, it still is at the mercy of the mould and the people laying the fabric, etc. An aluminium rim, if properly bonded, is far superior to a carbon rim as far as braking, overheating from braking, and truness is concerned.
I only compare it to the Jet as the construction technique is nearly dead-on identical. And the Carbone is overpriced. That wheelset, especially with it’s age, should be $200-400 cheaper, in my opinion.
Perhaps the UCI is finally stepping up their enforcement of the rules. The Cosmic Carbone is illegal under their rules, and while the wheel is somewhat aero, the purpose of the deep section sidewall of the rim is so that a big MAVC sticker can be applied.
The all carbon fiber Cosmic Carbone has had help from another French carbon rim manufacturer. Same with Campagnolo, while the wheels are “Made in Italy”, Corima makes the Hyperon and Bora rims for them.
If it aint broke…
-SD