It’s something special when value and performance coincide. That looks to be the case with the new Cosmic S carbon wheels from Mavic. They are the first Mavic Cosmic Carbon wheels to enter the market under $1000 ($999), and they carry over the attributes of their pricy brethren.
Mavic Cosmic S Carbon Wheelset
Carbon wheels are becoming more “affordable” and also transferring some pretty high-tech gains. Mavic is looking to capitalize on the growing market for less pricey performance carbon wheels.
Some of the industry heavy hitters have already staked a claim in this growing market: Roval (Rapide 38 C), Trek (Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35 TLR), Hunt (40 Carbon), and Zipps (303s). Most, if not all, of these wheels are under $1000 and offer a solid build with a high-end “partner” for those looking to upgrade later. What separates those above is the quality of the wheel build, quality of materials, and warranty.
Cosmic S Carbon 42 Rim Details
The new Cosmic S Carbon 42 looks to be a solid all-arounder, with a conservative 21 mm rim width (compared to the newest breed). The wheels come fully tubeless-ready and ship with Mavic UST valves. The rim shape is also slightly conservative, but it uses a well-trusted Mavic design. It’s like a mix of the Cosmic SLR 45 and the SRL 40, but disc-specific.
Mavic Classic Hub with Instant Drive 360
The hubs are listed as “Mavic classic hubs” with the Instant Drive 360 (ID360). We’ve used the ID360 on the Mavic All-Road wheels and their mountain bike designs. The hubs are very easy to service and use an upgradeable tooth system similar to the DT-Ratchet drive. They also use Mavic’s Infinity hubs QRM auto-bearing preload technology, which is another bit of easy maintenance. The hubset is Centerlock, making for a clean look and overall presentation.
The hubs arrive with various spacing accommodations, including 135mm QR, making this wheelset a great option for those looking to upgrade an older QR disc road bike.
Cosmic S Carbon 42 Hub Compatability
- Freewheel: Shimano/Sram, convertible to Campagnolo ED11, N3W, and XD-R with optional driver bodies
- Front axle: 12×100 thru axle, easily convertible to quick release with included adapters. It is not compatible with 15mm through axles.
- Rear axle: 12mm thru axle, convertible to Quick Release with included adapters
What’s the weight?
Mavic lists the total weight of the Cosmic S 42 wheels as 1595g, 745g for the front, and 850g for the rear.
How does this compare with the models listed above?
- Roval Rapide C 38 Disc: Weight: 1,560g, Price: $1,100
- Trek Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35 TLR: Weight: 1,615g, Price: $1,049
- Hunt 40 Carbon Aero: Weight: 1,499g, Price: $1,199
- Zipp 303s Disc: Weight: 1,530g, Price: $1,327
The Cosmic S Carbon 42 Wheelset is directly in the thick of it, coming in slightly heavier than most, but certainly not by much. And we all know that not just the weight defines a great-performing wheelset.
Availability
The new Cosmic S Carbon 42 Wheelset is available worldwide starting today. Word is that Mavic USA will have stock starting early September, ready to ship. We look forward to seeing more affordable performance options from this iconic French brand.
