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 weve come to expect from Mavic over the last few years. At the time, it felt like a hint that something had changed.(Photo/Jordan Villella)Now its official. The new Mavic Comete 50 is here, and its pretty clear this isnt just a routine update. Its 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. Its 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.(All Studio Photos/Bergoend-Aymeric Lassak/Outdoor Perspective/Pierre Maullet/3SO)More Than A 50mm WheelOn paper, the Comete 50 lands right where youd 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 isnt meant to be a niche aero option. Its supposed to be the wheel you leave on the bike all the time, well, like 85% of the races. Were seeing this all-around-aero wheel becoming a common feature, and its 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, its light enough that youre not making a big compromise (about 55g) to get that aero benefit.That balance is really the story here. Riders dont want a garage full of wheels. Well, we do, but wed also like a team mechanic to service them and put them on for the days 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 RimOne 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.(Photo/Jordan Villella)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 youre 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 its something Mavic had been slow to fully commit to, until now.(Photo/Jordan Villella)Carbon Spokes With a Very Mavic ApproachThe 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 theyre used. Each wheel runs 21 spokes, split between 14 crossed and 7 radial. Its a very deliberate layout. Mavic says this specific layout balances power transfer, tension stability, and aerodynamics, plus it looks pretty great.(Photo/Jordan Villella)Because this is Mavic were talking about, theres 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 theyre 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 dont 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. Thats 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 FeelMavic is also leaning into what they call Adaptive Layup, blending different carbon fibers (T700, T1000, 3K) to tune stiffness, weight, and vibration.Thats 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 theyre adding additional stiffness with an aero focus.Hubs: Small ChangesThe hub updates dont scream for attention, but theyll make for a better ride overall. The updates include; 40-tooth ratchet systemUpdated spring for reduced dragCeramic bearingsLighter hub shells (-22g rear / -5g front)Individually, none of that is groundbreaking. But together, its all about reducing friction and improving efficiency, especially once youre up to speed. Its very much a marginal gains approach, but one that fits the overall direction of the wheel.Built For Riding HardWhat 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. Its not a race-day-only wheel, unlike the 4,399.00 Cosmic 45 Ultimates. Comete 50 Tech SpecsRim Depth: 50mmInternal Width: 23mmExternal Width: 30mmRim Construction: Hooked carbon clincherCarbon Layup: T700 / T1000 / 3K Adaptive LayupSpokes: 21 Mavic Aero Carbon spokes front & rearSpoke Pattern: 14 crossed / 7 radialHub System: ID360 with 40T ratchetBearings: Mavic CeramicAxles: 12mm thru-axleBrake Interface: Center LockFreehub Compatibility: Shimano HG-R 11/12-speed, SRAM XDR 12/13-speed, Campagnolo N3WFront Weight: 600g, Rear Weight: 715gClaimed Wheelset Weight: 1315gRecommended Tire Size: 28mmTire Compatibility: 2865mmTubeless Ready: YesMaximum System Weight: 120kgIncluded: Tubeless tape installed, tubeless valves, wheel bagsWarranty: Lifetime warranty + 7-year spare parts supportPrice: 2,299 Mavic.comThe post New Mavic Comete 50 Now Lighter, Wider, & Finally Feels Current appeared first on Bikerumor.

Stage 1 Portlaoise to Kilmallock As it happenedRs Tailteann 2026 Stage 1 ReportStage 1 of the 2026 Rs Tailteann opened with an aggressive and nervous day of racing from Portlaoise to Kilmallock, as riders battled for position from the very start of the race. Early attacks repeatedly tried to establish a breakaway while the peloton remained tightly organised, unwilling to let dangerous moves gain too much time. The stage featured rolling terrain and several Category 3 climbs that gradually increased the pressure on the field heading into Limerick. As the race approached Kilmallock, a breakaway of 4 riders had opened up a gap of over one minute following the final categorized ascent at Old Pallas after 120km of racing. Sprint teams took control and the pace intensified dramatically, but it was too little too late to catch the leading group of 4 riders.Rowen Baker of Isle of Man CC proved strongest in the final high-speed sprint for the first yellow jersey of the race. Ewan MacKie (Connaught Cycling) was second, followed by Danylo Riwnyj (Foran CT) all on the same time.Rs TailteannStage 1 Photos by Lorraine OSullivan [See image gallery at www.irishcyclingnews.com] Results Rs TailteannLoading results

On paper, the stage 11 of 2026 Giro d'Italia was made for a breakaway. Placed just a day after a key 42-kilometer time trial, there was no chance any of the GC favourites would be willing exert an excessive effort with little to gain, despite the undulating parcours.But if you expected the peloton...

Thymen Arensman turned Stage 10 of the Giro dItalia into a major personal breakthrough, climbing onto the provisional podium after a superb ride in the 42km individual time trial from Viareggio to Massa. The Dutchman finished second on the stage behind teammate Filippo Ganna, completing a dominant...

The new Portland Design Works Oxrack Front Rack is a utilitarian front rack designed for discerning basketpackers and commuters. It boasts a set of unique braces that hold baskets in place so users can forgo fumbling with zip ties. Find details hereThe post The Portland Design Works Oxrack Front Rack Features Built-In Basket Keepers appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

The Giro dItalia is not only shaped by attacks in the mountains and sprint finishes on the road, but also by the decisions made behind the scenes by the race commissaires. Across three weeks of racing between 8 May and 31 May, fines, time penalties, relegations, and other sanctions can quickly infl...

Jhonatan Narvez continues to dominate the Giro d'Italia. After already winning the fourth and eighth stages, the Ecuadorian rider added stage eleven to his growing collection on Wednesday, beating Enric Mas in a two-man sprint in the streets of Chiavari. Behind them, the general classification cont...

The Lime-commissioned survey found 29 percent of drivers either cycling more or seriously considering it, as the government extends the fuel duty freeze to the dismay of cycling organisations

Heres some MTB cockpit news outta San Carlos, California. Today, Ritchey launches three new lightweight carbon mountain bike handlebar options for their SuperLogic lineup. The bars come in three rises: 0mm, 20mm, and 40mm, helping to give cross-country and all-mountain riders more choices in setting up their cockpit position.Ritchey SuperLogic lightweight carbon mountain bike bars(Photos/Ritchey Logic)Riders can choose the zero-rise option for a lower, more forward climbing position and more weight on the front wheel. Or, if thats not your jam, a higher-rise bar for a more upright riding position for tackling longer, technical descents.Tech details0mm riseAll three of the new SuperLogic carbon bars measure 760mm wide. They also include cutting marks so riders can trim them to their preferred width (as much as 80mm shorter, as far as we can see). 20mm riseRitchey has adjusted the backsweep angle based on how the bars will actually be used.For instance, the zero-rise bar features 7 of backsweep, while both the 20mm and 40mm riser versions bump up to 8. This complements the more upright riding position that typically comes with higher bars.40mm riseRitchey designed the carbon construction to keep weight down while maintaining the structural requirements for the XC to trail mountain bike use each would see more carbon layers and more weight for the higher bars. So in the end, the different rise options can also aid riders in finding their perfect fit for dialing in comfort and control for their type of riding.0mm Rise20mm Rise40mm RiseRitchey SuperLogic MTB handlebars Retail & DetailRetail: $239.95 for the SuperLogic Flat bar (0mm rise) $251.95 for the SuperLogic Rizer 20 bar (20mm rise) $263.95 for the SuperLogic Rizer 40 bar (40mm rise)Weight: 155g (0mm), 170g (20mm), 175g (40mm)Width:760mm with cutting marksBacksweep:7 on 0mm rise, 8 on 20mm and 40mm riseUpsweep:5 for natural wrist alignmentClamp diameter:31.8mm for modern stem compatibilityThe new Ritchey Superlogic MTB bars are designed to work across different mountain bike disciplines from cross-country racing, where aerodynamics and climbing position matter, to trail and all-mountain riding, where rider comfort over longer distances becomes the priority. The choice is yours.The SuperLogic Mountain Bars are available globally direct from Ritchey, viaCertified Ritchey Assemblers,local bike shops, andonline retailers.RitcheyLogic.comThe post Ritchey Launches Three New Purpose-Built SuperLogic Carbon Mountain Bars appeared first on Bikerumor.

Stage 11 of the 2026 Giro d'Italia was another day for the breakaway and the winner is no stranger. Jhonatan Narvez has stormed to a third victory at this year's race, his second from a breakaway and UAE Team Emirates - XRG's fourth of the race. The stage was heavily hinted to be won by the breaka...