Review of 2013 Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLR WTS

Mavic's top clinchers look amazing and give outstanding precision, cornering and braking control. But cutting-edge performance doesn’t come cheap. Mavic have stayed with an alloy outer rim so they can use their unique new ‘Exalith’ roughened coating. This gives exceptional braking power once you’ve bedded them in, but that can take 500km of deafening braking squeal and a couple of sets of Exalith-specific pads.

Flat carbon sheet Rim 2 Rim spokes give very tight tracking and power transfer and, as they’re fixed to the rim rather than the fairing, they can be straightened conventionally if necessary. The adjustable bearings are excellent and, despite the alloy rim, this is one of the lightest clincher wheelsets available.