Mavic

Crossmax XL 26 Wheelset

Ever since mountain bikes went mainstream via mass-manufacturing in the 1970s, there's been a veritable deluge of new technologies vying for our patronage. But throughout it all, 26-inch wheels have proven themselves equal to the task of handling all the different innovations of suspension and geometry that industry engineers could dream up. Few manufacturers innovate like Mavic, and the Mavic Crossmax XL 26 Wheelset is yet another example of how the French company can improve our cycling experience through technology and the ever-present 26ers can handle it.

The Crossmax XL's 26-inch rims are made from Maxtal, an aluminum that's exclusive to Mavic and enjoys a higher claimed strength-to-weight ratio than plain old 6106. The spokes are Zicral, another variation on aluminum that Mavic claims is also lighter and stiffer than its sibling material at the other pole of the alphabet. They usher 26ers into the tubeless era with Mavic's pre-equipped Crossmax Quest tires. The Crossmax Quests are tubeless ready, include Guard+ to fight flats, and provide excellent grip in all conditions courtesy of their Contact Compound.

Since Mavic is the, well, Mavic of bike wheels, the Crossmax XLs are replete with proprietary technologies. Inner Spoke Milling (ISM) is the process that gives Mavic's road and mountain wheels that signature horst and graben look by machining the rim between spokes to remove excess weight without compromising the rim's structural integrity. Mavic's Fore process, which threads the rim's spoke holes rather than just drilling them, nets a claimed 20% increase in rigidity and makes the rims four times more fatigue-resistant. The Crossmax wheels also include four pawls instead of the usual two or three, which makes for a faster engagement when you go from coasting to pedaling. The drive side spokes are laced radially to accommodate the additional tension that they experience.

The Mavic Crossmax XL 26 Wheelset includes a pair of Crossmax Quest Tires, a computer magnet for the front wheel, and an adjustment wrench.