MAVIC CROSSMAX XL S 29 £690
Mavic released its first mtb wheelset back in 1996. Called Crossmax it was super light, used a square rim profile, thin ceramic braking surfaces and cool chrome-coloured stickers. In 1999 it added the first ever tubeless system to the design, UST, making it arguably the world’s most desirable wheel brand. Twenty five years later, Mavic hopes to return to the top, with this new lightweight alloy build.
The new XL S here has been designed not for the big hits that come with enduro racing, or the weight saving design required by XC, but something in the middle. Trail riding. To do this Mavic has made the rim width 30mm – pretty much the standard now for trail wheels, as a compromise between strength and weight. Claimed weight is 1,790g, with the rim made from S6000 aluminium and the spokes steel. The Crossmax rim bridge is sealed, without spoke holes, meaning there’s no need for rim tape, and it also means you can replace those spokes without removing the tyre or disc. There’s even a couple of spares in the box, and they’re all the same length.
On the other side of that rim Mavic has machined the space between the spokes to reduce rotating weight, and to provide more responsiveness, it says. Tying it all together is Mavic’s own hub with ID360 dual ratchet freewheel, designed for reliability and to let you work on it all without specialist tools. mavic.com