Back in April, we spotted what looked like (totally is) a new set of Mavic wheels quietly sitting on a beautiful LOOK road bike. The wheels in question had deep rims, carbon spokes, and (maybe more importantly) a noticeably wider rim than what we’ve come to expect from Mavic over the last few years. At the time, it felt like a hint that something had changed.
Now it’s official. The new Mavic Comete 50 is here, and it’s pretty clear this isn’t just a routine update. It’s more like Mavic resetting their aero road wheel. The French wheel powerhouse is fairly conservative when adopting new trends, but this new wheel is on a different tune. Hell, Mavic even has a 32″ carbon mountain bike race wheelset that is ready to hit the shelves. It’s a new modern Mavic. The new Comete 50 brings Mavis closer to where the rest of the market has been heading, and maybe pushing things a bit further in the process.
More Than A 50mm Wheel
On paper, the Comete 50 lands right where you’d expect when we say “modern”. The new carbon all-arounder is 50mm deep, 23mm internal width, with a 30mm external rim width – pretty daring for Mavic.
But the way Mavic is hyping it up, the info suggests this isn’t meant to be a niche aero option. It’s supposed to be the wheel you leave on the bike all the time, well, like 85% of the races. We’re seeing this “all-around-aero” wheel becoming a common feature, and it’s a welcome change.
Climbing, rolling terrain, fast group rides, racing, the Comete 50 is attempting to cover all of it. Yeah, there are lighter sets in the Mavic family (the Cosmic Ultimate 45 is 1260g), but at 1315 grams for the pair, it’s light enough that you’re not making a big compromise (about 55g) to get that aero benefit.
That balance is really the story here. Riders don’t want a garage full of wheels. Well, we do, but we’d also like a team mechanic to service them and put them on for the day’s terrain… Back to reality – one wheelset that does most of the work is an option that will keep your setup simple. And simplicity means less fuss and splitting hairs on equipment choices.
A System – Not Just a Rim
One of the more interesting shifts here is how Mavic approached the wheel as a whole.
Mavic developed the Comete 50 as a system, or more like an idea. That system includes: rim profile, carbon spokes, hub internals, and even tire pairing. Everything is designed to work together from the start.
The 23mm internal width is a big part of that story. It finally puts Mavic in line with modern tire trends (no longer playing catch-up), with the wheel clearly optimized around 28mm rubber as the baseline. Wider tires sit better, airflow is cleaner with most modern aeroframes, and you’re not fighting the rim to get real-world speed. I think most of the modern road world can agree – wider tires are pretty great.
It sounds obvious now, but it’s something Mavic had been slow to fully commit to, until now.
Carbon Spokes With a Very Mavic Approach
The spokes are the most obvious visual change. The spokes are full carbon, flat-profile, and shaped to reduce both frontal and rotational drag. Mavic claims around 18% less rotational drag than standard carbon-spoke designs.
More interesting is how they’re used. Each wheel runs 21 spokes, split between 14 crossed and 7 radial. It’s a very deliberate layout. Mavic says this specific layout balances power transfer, tension stability, and aerodynamics, plus it looks pretty great.
Because this is Mavic we’re talking about, there’s also a lot of attention on long-term reliability. The new “Locked-In Spoke Head” system is designed to stabilize spoke tension over time, something that matters more with carbon spokes than most realize.
Aero Gains
Mavic is putting numbers behind the aero claims, but they’re framing them in a way that feels a bit more grounded. Mavic claims the new Comete 50 saves up to 12 seconds over 50km compared to its previous Cosmic SLR 45, and delivers measurable wattage savings once crosswinds come into play.
Because wheel manufacturers don’t only test for straight-line speed, they spend over 250 hours in the Geneva wind tunnel refining how the wheel behaves once wind angles shift. That’s where most riders actually live, not in perfect headwinds, but in messy, real-world airflow. The result is a wheel designed to remain stable and efficient when things get unpredictable, which is arguably more important than pure tunnel numbers.
Adaptive Layup & Ride Feel
Mavic is also leaning into what they call “Adaptive Layup”, blending different carbon fibers (T700, T1000, 3K) to tune stiffness, weight, and vibration.
That’s not unique on its own, but paired with the carbon spokes, it gives Mavic a bit more control over how the wheel actually feels on the road.
Historically, Mavic wheels have leaned toward a slightly smoother, more forgiving ride. But with the Comete 50, it looks like they’re adding additional stiffness with an aero focus.
Hubs: Small Changes
The hub updates don’t scream for attention, but they’ll make for a better ride overall. The updates include;
- 40-tooth ratchet system
- Updated spring for reduced drag
- Ceramic bearings
- Lighter hub shells (-22g rear / -5g front)
Individually, none of that is groundbreaking. But together, it’s all about reducing friction and improving efficiency, especially once you’re up to speed. It’s very much a marginal gains approach, but one that fits the overall direction of the wheel.
Built For Riding Hard
What good is a wheel if it only lasts for a season? Mavic claims the new Comete 50 test 50% above UCI standards for impact resistance and fatigue testing equivalent to roughly 700,000km of riding. Marketing numbers aside, their intent is clear: the wheel is built for use. It’s not a race-day-only wheel, unlike the €4,399.00 Cosmic 45 Ultimates.
Comete 50 Tech Specs
- Rim Depth: 50mm
- Internal Width: 23mm
- External Width: 30mm
- Rim Construction: Hooked carbon clincher
- Carbon Layup: T700 / T1000 / 3K Adaptive Layup
- Spokes: 21 Mavic Aero Carbon spokes front & rear
- Spoke Pattern: 14 crossed / 7 radial
- Hub System: ID360 with 40T ratchet
- Bearings: Mavic Ceramic
- Axles: 12mm thru-axle
- Brake Interface: Center Lock
- Freehub Compatibility: Shimano HG-R 11/12-speed, SRAM XDR 12/13-speed, Campagnolo N3W
- Front Weight: 600g, Rear Weight: 715g
- Claimed Wheelset Weight: 1315g
- Recommended Tire Size: 28mm
- Tire Compatibility: 28–65mm
- Tubeless Ready: Yes
- Maximum System Weight: 120kg
- Included: Tubeless tape installed, tubeless valves, wheel bags
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty + 7-year spare parts support
- Price: £2,299
The post New Mavic Comete 50 – Now Lighter, Wider, & Finally Feels Current appeared first on Bikerumor.