Mavic Cosmos

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Green 1971 Schwinn Super Sport, Kickstand, OEM shifters/deraileurs, 90s Biopace cranks

Summary:
Picked these up for $100 on craigslist. I put them on my ancient 1971 fillet-brazed Schwinn Super Sport. Lightened it up to below 30 lbs, with kickstand, brooks and saddle bag etc. and they are pretty nice and fast. Running 32mm Conti Contacts, the ride is very smooth and I can drop off the occasional curb if I need to. They take a beating, but I'm worried I won't be able to true them up because the straight-pull spokes spin on the hub slots, but so far they're holding true.

Strengths:
Super light commuter, strong enough for an urban beating (although I must admit the payload is only around 150 lbs+bike).

Weaknesses:
Straight-pull spokes make truing difficult.

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Aksium Race (hungarian built 20 spoke light, racey crap)

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Trek madone sl 5.2 (2006)

Summary:
I have ride a Cosmos pair wheels from 2004. 13.000 km. They are not expensive wheels but not light.

Strengths:
Mavic not expensive.

Weaknesses:
My Cosmos freehub broke when they have riden 13.000 km.

Price Paid:  $300.00 at ?

Favorite Ride:
San Jose to Mt. Hamilton

Bike Setup:
Surly frame with mostly Ultegra components. Aero bars, DuraAce bar end shifters, inverted brake levers.

Summary:
This is my second set of Cosmos wheels on commuter bikes. They're amazing in how well they handle the rough roadways in Boston. I'm really frustrated, though, with how the spokes have come loose, apparently due to exposure to salted winter roads. Taking the tire, tube and rim strip off, I find that each spoke recess is wet and filled with what appears to be corroded metal - it is like mud.

Strengths:
Overall strength and mechanical durability

Weaknesses:
Can't take even one year of commuting in Boston's winters!

Price Paid:  $17.00 at friend

Favorite Ride:
sweet water springs, atlas peak, muir woods.

Bike Setup:
Aegis Victory, Dura Ace 9, fsa slk, fizik aliante.

Summary:
the first set i put on (price paid: beer) were 3rd maybe 4th hand. the front wheel is still with us. the rear wheel tacoed while sprinting; it locked the wheel in the chain stay and i skidded to a stop. the front is a little chunky and the braking surface is nearly through.

the second set i bought was for 50$ and the rear had been crashed. The front has the smoothest bearings, better than my dura ace track hub (in my opinion). over all: front is real nice and i would buy both f+r again.

Strengths:
the blue ones look cool with the gp4000 red/blue tire
controllable skids

Weaknesses:
they last too long and keep getting recycled

Similar Products Used:
aksium, hed alps, 105/cpx21, alex s*** wheels.

Price Paid:  $250.00 at local bike shop

Favorite Ride:
Drum Valley

Bike Setup:
Dura Ace/ Ultegra mix on a Quattro Assi frame.

Summary:
Bought these wheels based on the mavic reputation. The wheels are very strong but I lost patience with the rear hub. The rear hub would get very stiff from time to time and would be as hard to turn in the small ring as the big ring.

Strengths:
Strength and price.

Weaknesses:
Rear hub quality.