Cosine 45mm Full Carbon Clincher wheelset

We've asked in the past whether an upgrade to carbon fibre wheels is worth it. Well, if these Cosine 45mm carbon clinchers are anything to go by then the answer is a resounding yes, and not just for performance – comfort also receives a boost.

Cosine is the new component wing of online retailer Wiggle. It started off with a range of wheels, two alloy and three carbon fibre, and by the looks of the pricing structure, value for money is the main drive.

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For example, these 45s in for testing are priced at £600 – not bad for a set of full-carbon clinchers – and that price is the same for both the 30mm and 50mm-deep rim wheelsets. There aren't many on the market that can compete with that. In fact the only set we've tested recently that can match the Cosine is the Club Roost FCR50.

It's no point being cheap if you can't back it up with some kind of performance, though, and thankfully the Cosines aren't found lacking here.

At 1710g they aren't in the superlight category, but then again not many deep-section carbon wheels are because of the extra material. The acceleration of the Cosines is impressive and certainly belies what you'd expect from wheels of this weight.

The freewheel engagement of the Cosine branded hub is instant and the wheels really whip up to speed. I tested these on a bike that had been running the Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheelset that we reviewed a couple of months back and the extra 130g wasn't noticeable at all.

Comfort is the biggest surprise, though. Going from a relatively shallow alloy rim to a mid-depth carbon one with the same tyres was like letting 20-30psi of pressure out. It's not because they lack stiffness either; under hard acceleration and climbing there is no flex at the rim at all.

The rims are made by Gigantex, a company based in Taiwan which specialises in carbon fibre components and wheels for a lot of the big bike brands. They follow the latest style of wide rims with an internal width of 19mm (23.4mm external), which gives you a more rounded profile if you are using a wider tyre, 25 or 28mm, rather than a 'lightbulb' shape. It's much better for aerodynamics in terms of frontal area as the transition from tyre to rim is much smoother.

Trying out some 23mm tyres saw them stretched out to 25.5mm, with the wider profile increasing grip thanks to a larger surface area.

The shape of the 45mm deep rim is also more bulbous, with a rounded trailing edge that a lot of wheel manufacturers have claimed is more aerodynamic than a more traditional V-shape profile seen on earlier carbon wheels.

Whatever the science says, the Cosine wheels are quick and certainly roll well over undulating terrain. You get the odd bit of buffering from crosswinds, which might affect you a bit if you're a light rider, but I've certainly ridden much, much worse.

The hub bodies are 7075 alloy and come with sealed bearings. It's been a mild, wet winter so far in the south-west and these wheels have seen plenty of rain and standing water with no ill effects.

The only issue I did find was with the rear freehub body; the coating added to reduce wear and tear on the splines had been laid on a couple of microns too thick, making the fitment of the cassette hard work. After an initial fitting, the cassette body removed the coating from between the splines. It shouldn't be an issue long-term, though, as it's not in a position where the cassette body tends to 'bite'.

The rest of the build is completed with Sapim CX Delta spokes, 20 front and 24 rear, which are secured to the rim with brass nipples.

> Check out our buyer's guide to road bike wheels here

The braking surface has markings on it to make sure the pads sit below the actual lip where the clincher tyre locates – a good idea for long-term use. In terms of braking power, the included pads are very good. They feel like soft rubber and really grab hold of the rim, with a fair amount of modulation, even in the wet. It's one of the best carbon rim/pad compound combinations I've used.

Overall I rate the Cosine wheels very highly indeed. They offer a very quick, comfortable ride and are excellent value for money. The 45mm-deep rims make for a very usable wheelset for the majority of road and weather conditions. A rider weight limit of 90kg might limit their appeal to some, though.

Verdict

Brilliant value for money carbon clinchers – they're fast, stiff and comfortable