sawyer wrote:
My point is they are overpriced, likely not very aero, not very light, have the same old Mavic hubs.
As a number of other posters have said: second rate/vanity wheels etc. etc.
And so on first look they don't appear great value at all
Which is all entirely legitimate commentary for a topic on a new wheelset on WWs
OK let's look at this in detail
Claimed weight 1545g (Zipp 303 cc 1475g -actual 1579g)
Price €2000 (Zipp 303 cc €2528)
Aero? Nothing to back up your statement yet both Zipp and Enve did poorly in last year's Tour tests - the only independent source of data that we have.
Hubs? Mavic hubs feel sticky to you. To me, they last years without attention and I do not notice any watts being lost due to their subjective stickiness. I have Mavics still running smoothly on their original bearings that are seven to ten years old.
You did leave off stiffness which is undoubtedly where Mavic will trounce the likes of Zipp and Enve. The French company would not release a wheel with the figures attributed to the American hoops. They never have AFAIK.
So it strikes me that you are incorrect on two counts, just guessing on one, and offering up a subjective opinion on another.
Does that seem a "legitimate commentary" to you?
I'd agree about vanity wheels though. Anyone riding carbon clinchers does so for vanity reasons IME, certainly in the mountains they do.
PS. Say Zipp backwards and it's the sound your innertubes make briefly as you descend an Alpine col in high season
I'd rather ride tubs in the mountains.
Come on airwise, you don't accept Mavic's claimed weights They'll probably weigh 1700g?
There's enough data on Zipp wheels aero performance from various sources and on the importance of smooth tyre/rim profile (which the narrow Mavic rim will not give with a 23mm tyre). Perhaps Mavic has used their Ksyrium experience to inform the new rim shape?
On the hubs - Mavics don't spin well. Agree this area is necessarily a bit subjective as there's little data, but I'd trust my experience and the experience of others that loose cup and cone type wheels tend to spin better than the cartridge/bushing type arrangement Mavic specializes in. I always felt like I mysteriously had the brakes on with Mavics.
Stiffness I will grant you the Mavics might do well on. If they are really stiff then a lot of the rest can be forgiven (putting aside the vanity wheel point).
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