MAVIC COSMIC S42

Entry-level carbon road wheel is a solid, great-value option that covers all bases well

- Tim Russon

The Cosmic S 42 is the least-expensive set of road wheels in Mavic's carbon lineup, which now features nearly a dozen models. It is intended as a trickle-down product, with some of the features and tech of the high-end wheels at a fraction of the cost. Furthermore, as a more recent model, it actually improves on the pricier Cosmics in some areas. For instance, it is wider internally than the range-topping Cosmic Ultimate 45, which costs over £4,000.

Construction

The carbon rims are 42mm deep, with a fairly conservative 21mm internal width. They are a hooked design, so can be used with tubeless tyres or with tubes. The profile, like all modern aero wheels, is a blunt U-shape.