MAVIC CROSSMAX XL S
£1,090 | www.mavic.com
While these Mavics are expensive for alloy rims, they’re also lightweight and plenty stiff enough for aggressive riders who want an accurate wheel they can trust. Despite having just 24 spokes per wheel, they’re well-built with a snappy, direct feel. Through rock gardens, they feel a little less composed than some here, but we were still able to hold our lines with confidence, and they feel great tearing round berms. The Crossmax XLs feature Mavic’s UST rim bed system, which means if you snap a spoke you need their specific spokes and nipples – two spare sets are supplied per wheel. Mavic also give you a special tool to access the hub bearings. Freehub engagement is slower than most here, making them feel a bit sluggish when you want to power out of corners. For the money, it should be better. It can be a bit tricky to get tyres on the rim, but inflation is easy. The wheels have a rating of 150kg for bike and rider.