kiwashere

So just out of curiosity--
What makes the mavic ellipse wheels so much better than a velocity deep v or fusion rim laced up to some novatechs? Other than the bladed spokes i can't see what justifies the $300 price difference. Wouldnt they both weigh in around 2000grams?

Enlighten me!

homebrewk

Mavic Ellipses are probably lighter.

Scrodzilla

This would probably be a good question for Carleton.

EpicSchwinn

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post12997637

mihlbach

It says Mavic on them....

Yes

zx108

mavics are straight pull + bladed spokes... if that justifies it any more

Scrodzilla

I had a set of Ellipses for a hot minute. FWIW, I hated them.

crackrocksteady

i know its not one of the options but, go with the open pro's!

max5480

price is relative
speed is too

kiwashere

Yep-- I'm a sucker for those mavic decals.

any particular reason, scrod?

mihlbach

This just makes then more difficult to adjust and/or repair...more money for more inconvenience....no thank you.

mihlbach

Why do people on this subforum continue to insist on OPs, when you can now buy much better (lighter, stiffer, more aero, more durable, less noisy, etc.) rims for less money?

Sherblock

+1

velocity makes some stellar wheels that aren't deep v's. Aerohead, razor, etc.

kiwashere

I think theyre quality rims!

But the fact is, one open pro rim is like 75 bucks. You can buy a velocity wheelset on velomine for 150.

Or fusion rims for 15 from iro.

Scrodzilla

Aero spokes are unecessary, they felt clunky/cheap and as mihlbach said, the straight pull spokes make truing more of a pin in the ass than it's worth.

I'd much rather have a well-built Velocity wheelset using quality spokes any day - which is why that's what I ride.

hairnet

I bought into it while I was still rather new and it didnt really pay off. My front wheel is nice but the rear hasn't proven to be all that durable and now the eyelets rattle

crackrocksteady

didnt know that was the trend, just rode open pros for awhile and loved them...

mihlbach

From what I have read about Sapim cx rays, aero spokes can withstand more load cycles than round spokes. Maybe its marketing hype or maybe its real, or maybe it only applies to cx rays and not other aero spokes...I dunno. I have two wheelsets with cx rays and a few others with other aero spokes, and none of the have ever broken. I have busted round spokes, so maybe there's something to it.

But no, $3 per cx ray is not worth it, over a round butted spoke, unless you are building a low spoke count wheel meant for speed.

I still like to use them though. You can hold the spoke in place while you tighten it. They take longer to build with but allow you to fine tune the tension more easily.

Dannihilator

Hope their spokes are better than their spoke nipples. Had gotten a bag of 100 sapim polyax brass self lock in 14g/14m. Worst spoke nipples that I have ever used in my life.

TejanoTrackie 

I have raced with wheels that had various types of bladed and ovalized spokes, and I can attest to their being far more aerodynamic than regular round spokes at racing speeds. At normal riding speeds under 20 mph there is little tangible benefit. I can also attest to the fact that butted spokes like Sapim Lasers that cost much less than C X-Rays provide a substantial reduction in drag over regular straight 14 gage spokes, while giving up nothing in strength. It's been over 20 years since I've broken any quality stainless steel spokes, although I have destroyed numerous lightweight rims due to wrecks, potholes and railroad tracks. I honestly can't understand why someone weighing north of 220 lbs would worry about saving 50 grams on rim weight (difference between XR-200 and XR-270), when a deeper section rim would be much stronger and stiffer.

TejanoTrackie 

I've built two wheels with Sapim Polyax brass nipples and they were fine ? What is this "self-lock" you speak of ?

Dannihilator

If they are used on a disc brake wheelset, you can't get proper spoke tension without stripping the plastic liner that self locks the spoke to the spoke nipple.

I have 99 of them left, not sure if I will build a 700c wheelset with them or get rid of them.

carleton

+1

The Mavic Ellipse aren't significantly lighter than many off-the-shelf fixed gear wheels. Plus, if you build custom, you can choose spoke counts and guages that are appropriate for your intended use and weight.

Dannihilator

Well, to answer the thread, between the two, I would probably go the velocity route, but use aeroheads or a23's instead of the deepv or fusion.

thirdgenbird

mavic quality seems to have gone downhill. ive heard and seen enough failures that i wouldnt bother anymore. dt swiss and velocity both have some very good alternatives. im tempted to use hed belgium rims (tubular) on my next wheels, i hear good things form them as well.