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Mavic Crossmax SL Carbon mountain bike wheels coming this summer at Leadville 100

2016 mavic crossmax sl carbon fiber mountain bike wheels coming to the leadville 100 in august
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2016 mavic crossmax sl carbon fiber mountain bike wheels coming to the leadville 100 in august

Mavic has just announced their first neutral support offering for mountain bike events with a sponsorship of the Leadville 100. During that and two other events this summer, they’ll provide wheel swaps and basic tech support at strategic points along the course and, since those yellow cars won’t fit on the singletrack, via roaming motorcycles.

Alongside the neutral support, they’re using the mega-event in August to launch all-new Crossmax Carbon SL/XL wheel tire systems. Will they be hookless? Wider than the alloy versions? The current Crossmax SL measures 19mm inside, and the XL at 23mm, both with available tires designed specifically for that rim width and shape. Despite those narrower-than-is-fashionable-these-days measurements, Mavic’s wheels have proven stiff and strong for their intended use, so the switch to what we presume will be a full carbon rim should only make them stiffer and more durable, but doubtfully any lighter.

Full PR below…

PRESS RELEASE: Mavic, a leading manufacturer of bike systems and riders’ equipment, has partnered with the Blueprint for Athletes Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike (MTB) race series produced by Life TimeSM, The Healthy Way of Life Company, to provide the first-ever mobile neutral support to the biggest and most influential cross country mountain bike race in North America. The partnership is multi-year and Mavic will also be the official wheel supplier and sponsor of the entire Blueprint for Athletes Leadville MTB Series.

Since 1972, Mavic’s neutral support has provided mechanical assistance to road bike races throughout the world. Regardless of team, riders entrust Mavic’s famous yellow car to assist them when in need. In order to adapt to the variable nature of mountain bike racing, Mavic will provide on-course support via multiple motorcycles, wagons, with designated Special Service Course tents along the trail, all stocked with experienced mechanics to keep the racers pedaling forward. Mavic will use this opportunity to expand its efforts in neutral support for mountain bike races as well as launching the new Carbon Crossmax SL/XL WTS.

“We look forward to becoming part of the legendary “Race Across the Sky,” assisting riders to complete something they have been training for and dreaming of,” says Mike Wilson, North American brand manager for Mavic. “The logistical difficulties of supporting a 100-mile mountain biking event will be great but our expanding team is up for the challenge. We were the first ones to provide neutral support in road racing so it’s only fitting that we are the ones that will help pave the trail too.”

First rode in 1994, the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race is one of the oldest and best-known 100-mile mountain bike races in the world. Due to growing popularity, a race entry is only secured by completing one of the races in the Leadville Qualifying Series (25-100 qualifying slots) or entering a drawing, which opened December 1. The course runs throughout the Colorado Rockies above Leadville, Colorado. Riders must be physically prepared for the distance while also being acclimated to the high altitude as the race reaches 12,424 feet above sea level. The mountain biking series began as an addition to the historic Leadville Trail 100 Run, both of which were started by Ken Chlouber in an effort to boost the economy in Leadville.

“It’s a real thrill for our Leadville team to have Mavic on board for the 2016 Blueprint for Athletes Leadville Trail 100 MTB,” says race director, Josh Colley. “Our riders will now receive the best on-course support available to make the race more competitive than ever.”

Prior to Leadville on August 13, 2016, Mavic will provide neutral support during at least two additional mountain biking events within the Leadville Trail MTB series.

Mavic.com

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Myke
Myke
8 years ago

These are going to cost arm and a leg! Anyway good luck Mavic the party has ended and your just walking in the door. There is some stall pizza crust…..

thesteve4761
thesteve4761
8 years ago

Glad to hear they are helping push Leadville over the top into a full on road event. Aero helmet? Check! Narrow tires? Check! Neutral Support? Check!

Kernel Flickitov
Kernel Flickitov
8 years ago

This Leadville thing is a perfect example of jumping the shark. Mavic knows they’re losing in the NA market so they plan grandiose marketing events like these.

Seraph
8 years ago

Little late to the carbon MTB wheel game, huh Mavic? Starting to think you guys are just a bunch of old French farts. I bet you still make 26″ wheels too lol

bearCol
bearCol
8 years ago

Mavic said for years they felt carbon didn’t offer enough advantages over metal to justify price increase and durability compromises. Just like many companies before them, they are capitulating to market trends/demands. It’s like specialized saying 650b was unnecessary then going all in when the industry decided to dump 26″, and santa cruz saying 142×12 wasn’t better than 135×10 so what’s the point just before switching over. The moral of the story kids is there isn’t a company alive with a backbone, and we are all feed marketing propaganda to get us to spend money. At least Mavic is sticking to rim widths they believe in. Probably won’t be long before they capitulate on that one too. I just wish companies would show some sack and build what they feel is best rather than going with the flow.

Flatbiller
Flatbiller
8 years ago

@bearCol: Your post is so full of contradictions and circular arguments that I don’t even know where to begin.

So you want Mavic to stick to their guns. But sticking to their guns means low/no sales because they’re sticking to a standard/format nobody wants. But they need to keep their backbone. But that backbone can only be buttressed by sales. But they can’t sell the rim widths they believe in because marketing by other companies forced consumers (at gunpoint, apparently!) to buy something they didn’t want.

I guess the world runs, not on money, but unicorn farts.

stiingya
8 years ago

just that by far wider rims are WAY better. So sometimes they also need to admit they are wrong and CHANGE!!! 🙂

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