William
08-05-2005, 05:53 AM
Picking up from the "NOS Mavic Cosmics Cracking thread"
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=10095
This is the first ride report on a Mavic "K" from a 260 LBS rider with a history of destroying rear wheels....Or more appropriatly, a history with rear wheels that can't hold up.
First let me say that this wheel is definitely stiffer then the Cosmic. Running on a course that I do frequently, it is immediately apparent that this wheel is less forgiving. There are some rough sections on this route and I know how to snake through them to take some of the edge off. Running the same tubes & tires at the same psi that I always use made for a discernibly rougher run. The Cosmics seem to absorb more of the road shock where the "K" seems to transmit more to the rider.
Spin up:
Compared to the Cosmics the "K" requires more energy to spin up to speed. That is to say that I can feel a difference between the two. The "K" reminds me of the Old School Aerospoke wheel in the sense that due to the stout build it requires slightly more energy to be expended to spin them up to speed. Once there, maintaining momentum seems easier. Now, before one of our beloved forum engineering types pipe up about how a little difference between X & Y speeds multiplied by repeated accelerations makes little to no difference in the grand ;) ..........My point is I can feel a difference. The "K" is heavier and I can feel it.
Climbing:
There aren't any big climbs on this particular loop. A number of smaller climbs and a lot of rolling terrain. Refer to "Spin Up". I didn't feel like I would get dropped compared to running the Cosmics over this loop, but I did feel like I was expending a little more to keep on top of the gear.
Sprinting:
I haven't done sprint intervals on it yet, but a few out of the saddle wind-ups tells me that this wheel isn't getting flexed as much. No sounds are emanating from the rim like spokes are going to start launching themselves like their being shot out of a blow gun so that's a good thing so far. :D
Descending:
Again, there aren't any big descents on this loop. There is a section where I can drop the gear and hammer it to about 50 mph through a snakey section of road. To me the Cosmic always felt a little wobbly when hammering hard on a decent. The "K" felt solid all the way through (Like riding on a rail.....heh, heh, heh...but I digress). The same build quality that enables the Cosmic to absorb more of the road shock is likely the same quality that makes it feel snakey/wobbly when hammering hard on the descents. The only problem with the "K" was that the wheel spontaneously burst in flames at the bottom of the hill. :rolleyes:
So far it's still true. The above is just my interpretation, feelings, adjectives, and adverbs about the first ride on a Mavic K. The real test is going to be on how it holds up over the long haul. That will depend solely on Mavic customer service and turn around times so there may or may not be a follow up.
Coming soon to a theater near you:
A Clydesdales Report on DA wheels: Velo Godzilla No?
Brought to you by the good folk at Climb1742 Productions.
William
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=10095
This is the first ride report on a Mavic "K" from a 260 LBS rider with a history of destroying rear wheels....Or more appropriatly, a history with rear wheels that can't hold up.
First let me say that this wheel is definitely stiffer then the Cosmic. Running on a course that I do frequently, it is immediately apparent that this wheel is less forgiving. There are some rough sections on this route and I know how to snake through them to take some of the edge off. Running the same tubes & tires at the same psi that I always use made for a discernibly rougher run. The Cosmics seem to absorb more of the road shock where the "K" seems to transmit more to the rider.
Spin up:
Compared to the Cosmics the "K" requires more energy to spin up to speed. That is to say that I can feel a difference between the two. The "K" reminds me of the Old School Aerospoke wheel in the sense that due to the stout build it requires slightly more energy to be expended to spin them up to speed. Once there, maintaining momentum seems easier. Now, before one of our beloved forum engineering types pipe up about how a little difference between X & Y speeds multiplied by repeated accelerations makes little to no difference in the grand ;) ..........My point is I can feel a difference. The "K" is heavier and I can feel it.
Climbing:
There aren't any big climbs on this particular loop. A number of smaller climbs and a lot of rolling terrain. Refer to "Spin Up". I didn't feel like I would get dropped compared to running the Cosmics over this loop, but I did feel like I was expending a little more to keep on top of the gear.
Sprinting:
I haven't done sprint intervals on it yet, but a few out of the saddle wind-ups tells me that this wheel isn't getting flexed as much. No sounds are emanating from the rim like spokes are going to start launching themselves like their being shot out of a blow gun so that's a good thing so far. :D
Descending:
Again, there aren't any big descents on this loop. There is a section where I can drop the gear and hammer it to about 50 mph through a snakey section of road. To me the Cosmic always felt a little wobbly when hammering hard on a decent. The "K" felt solid all the way through (Like riding on a rail.....heh, heh, heh...but I digress). The same build quality that enables the Cosmic to absorb more of the road shock is likely the same quality that makes it feel snakey/wobbly when hammering hard on the descents. The only problem with the "K" was that the wheel spontaneously burst in flames at the bottom of the hill. :rolleyes:
So far it's still true. The above is just my interpretation, feelings, adjectives, and adverbs about the first ride on a Mavic K. The real test is going to be on how it holds up over the long haul. That will depend solely on Mavic customer service and turn around times so there may or may not be a follow up.
Coming soon to a theater near you:
A Clydesdales Report on DA wheels: Velo Godzilla No?
Brought to you by the good folk at Climb1742 Productions.
William