Fast wheelsets: Mavic Comete 85 and Road Disc for triathlons and time trials

Wind tunnel tests show that the Comete 85 has an aerodynamic drag of 65.15 watts, which is 2.9 per cent less than that of comparable wheels. According to the manufacturer, the Aero carbon spokes are said to generate 18 per cent less rotational drag than conventional flat carbon spokes.

Wheels for time trials and triathlons

Mavic developed the Comete wheelsets for triathlon and time trials. The 85-millimetre-high rim utilises Aero Wide technology, with an internal width of 23 millimetres and an external width of 31 millimetres. These dimensions are designed to accommodate modern 28-millimetre tyres. The Comete 85 front wheel weighs 820 grams, whilst the rear wheel weighs 930 grams. The complete pair of wheels weighs 1,750 grams.

For races where full-disc wheels are permitted, Mavic offers the Comete Road Disc rear wheel. It weighs 965 grams and features asymmetrical carbon rims. The combination of the Comete 85 front wheel and the Road Disc rear wheel has a total weight of 1,895 grams.

Wheel rim design and material

The rims are made from T700, T1000 and 3K carbon using an Adaptive Layup construction. According to the manufacturer, this design is intended to improve the balance between stiffness, weight and vibration damping. The rims are designed as clinchers with a hooked rim and are compatible with tubeless, tubeless-ready and conventional tyres. Mavic recommends 28-millimetre tyres.

The rim shape was developed through wind tunnel tests and computer simulations. Mavic carried out over 250 hours of testing in the wind tunnel in Geneva. The tests were conducted at 50 kilometres per hour with 28-millimetre tyres fitted. The development centre in Chavanod in the French Alps employs 15 engineers.

Spoke configuration and hubs

The Comete 85 uses 21 aero carbon spokes per wheel. 14 spokes are laced in a cross pattern, whilst 7 are laced radially. This configuration is designed to balance power transfer, weight and aerodynamics. Spoke tension reaches 99.7 per cent. Locked-In Spoke Heads secure the spoke heads and stabilise the tension over the long term.

The front and rear wheels use 12-millimetre thru-axles and Centre Lock brake mounts. The ID360 freehub system features 40-tooth pawls. An optimised spring is designed to reduce friction in the freehub. The rear hub is 22 grams lighter than the previous model, whilst the front hub is 5 grams lighter.

Mavic Ceramic bearings are designed to minimise friction. The hubs are compatible with Shimano HG-R 11/12-speed, SRAM XDR 12/13-speed and Campagnolo N3W cassettes.

Testing and Quality Assurance

Mavic carries out 57 different tests on each component. Once assembled, a second series of tests is carried out on the complete wheel. The tests cover lateral stiffness, vertical load and endurance. In the laboratory, the tests simulate a load of 120 kilograms at 70 kilometres per hour over 2,312 kilometres of lateral loading and 2,500 kilometres of vertical loading. According to Mavic, this is equivalent to 700,000 kilometres of real-world use.

The wheels undergo impact tests to simulate various road surface irregularities. Each wheel is assembled, centred and balanced by hand at the laboratory in Chavanod. The wheels comply with ASTM Classification Level 1 and are approved for a maximum load of 120 kilograms.

Use by professionals

The St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93 team uses Comete wheels in competition. Heidi Gaugain came second in the French Time Trial Championships. Dylan Magnien uses the wheels in long-distance triathlon races. The professionals test the wheels under race conditions after they have passed 57 laboratory tests.

Contents of the package and prices

The package includes tubeless valves, valve extensions for the 85-millimetre wheel, an inflation extension for the disc, pre-fitted tubeless tape on the 85-millimetre wheel, and Mavic wheel bags. The Comete 85 front wheel costs €1,149, whilst the pair of Comete 85 wheels costs €2,499. The Comete Road Disc rear wheel costs €2,599.

Technical specifications:

• Front rim height: 85 millimetres Aero Wide Rim
• Rear rim height: 85 millimetres Aero Wide Rim (Comete 85/85) / Full Disc Aero Wide Rim (Comete 85/Road Disc)
• Rim width: 23 millimetres (internal) / 31 millimetres (external)
• Material: T700, T1000, 3K carbon, Adaptive Layup
• Front wheel weight: 820 grams
• Rear wheel weight: 930 grams (Comete 85) / 965 grams (Road Disc)
• Weight of wheel set: 1,750 grams (Comete 85/85) / 1,895 grams (Comete 85/Road Disc)
• Spokes: 21 Mavic Aero Carbon
• Spoke pattern: 14 crossed + 7 radial
• Hub width: 100 millimetres at the front / 142 millimetres at the rear
• Axle type: 12-millimetre thru-axle
• Bearings: Mavic Ceramic
• Brake mount: Centre Lock
• Freewheel: ID360 40T
• Compatibility: Shimano HG-R 11/12-speed, SRAM XDR 12/13-speed, Campagnolo N3W
• Tyre compatibility: Tubeless / Tubeless-Ready / Clincher
• Recommended tyre size: 28 millimetres
• Maximum load: 120 kilograms
• Price of the Comete 85 front wheel: 1,149 euros
• Price of the Comete 85 wheelset: 2,499 euros
• Price of the Comete Road Disc rear wheel: 2,599 euros