Mavic

Crossroc 26 WTS Wheelset

Mavic designed the Crossroc 26 WTS to be the cross-country race wheel of the Crossroc line. By sacrificing just one millimeter of rim width, the WTS drops 70 grams of weight. That equals less rotational inertia that you have to fight against during mass starts, climbs, or accelerating out of switchbacks. But this isn't a child's toy; the Crossroc WTS features the same durable construction as the XL. There's just a little bit less of it.

The Crossroc WTSs' S6000 aluminum is slightly heavier than the Maxtal aluminum used in Mavic's top-end wheels, but it still makes for more than enough power transfer for those of us who are self-sponsored. The spokes are also a step down from the top-end models, using steel spokes with brass nipples instead of the Zicral aluminum found on Crossmax builds. These small differences result in the paltry weight addition of around 150 grams — hardly something to lose sleep over.

Mavic's Transfer System 2 (TS2) hubs are the main focus of the Crossroc WTS wheels. As opposed to the Crossmax's four pawl setup, the Crossroc's freehub uses two pawls that engage simultaneously. The hyperglide body that comes standard on the rear wheel is compatible with all Shimano mountain groups and SRAM's nine and ten-speed mountain groups. It can be converted for use with SRAM's 11-speed groups using an optional kit. The rims get Mavic's H2 treatment, which consists of hammer hardening the rim to reinforce the points where spoke tension is greatest.

The Crossroc 26 WTSs rock Mavic's UST system, so you can run them with tubes or you can take advantage of the smoothness, low-weight, and fewer flats associated with a tubeless ride. The included Crossroc Roam tires have a middle-of-the-road 60a compound for all-around functionality that's further buttressed with an additional layer to ward off flats.