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When I first started racing mountain bikes, I knew little about technique and even less about equipment. My desire to compete was the only thing fueling me and it didn’t matter much what bike I was sitting on in order to accomplish that goal.

But as the years passed and my interest in bicycle technology progressed, I began learning a few things: first, a lighter bike was more responsive; second, a lighter bike began with a lighter wheelset since rotational weight affected a bicycle’s ride more than inert weight. But a fine line existed between simply lightweight wheels and lightweight, functional wheels. It wasn’t long before I learned a word that seasoned racers had known for years upon years, not just because of their light and strong wheelsets, but also because of their unbeatable components and impeccable track record. That word was Mavic.


Nowadays, it’s not difficult to find a high-end bicycle sporting Mavic wheels, and for good reason. Throughout its existence, the company — whose name is an acronym for Manufacture d’Articles Velocipediques Idoux et Chanel — has produced some of the most innovative and trustworthy wheels ever marketed. In fact, their very first wheel design was a lightweight innovation that would eventually revolutionize the industry; however, a strange fluke at the patent office threw a bit of a wrench in the works.

Mavic had developed what was called a Duralumin dished rim using eyelets to distribute the stress of spokes on both the upper and lower walls of the rim. It was a new concept that was both lighter and stronger than typical steel rims, but a mere two hours before Mavic could patent the design, an Italian man named Mario Longhi beat them to it. He’d developed an identical design and was quicker to the patent office than Mavic – a fluke occurrence for sure, but one that could have ultimately jeopardized Mavic’s future.

Luckily, Longhi was more than willing to allow Mavic to use the design under license and produce the new wheels. The rims were tested in the 1934 Tour de France — they were banned by Tour rules, so according to the Mavic website, they were painted to look like wood — and Antonin Magne, Mavic’s test rider, ended up in the yellow jersey. Mavic considered this a sign of impending success, and the rims hit the market not too long after.

Founded by a group of Frenchmen in the late 19th and early twentieth century—Leon and Laurent Vielle, Charles Idoux, and Lucien Chanel—Mavic concerned itself with building durable, light wheels that would give racers an aerodynamic edge. But the company – later bought by a businessman named Henri Gormand – also had an eye on all things rollable or pedal-worthy.

For example, in 1976, cinder-track horse racing star “The Bellino II” Sulky’s cart was fitted with Mavic hubs and Module 3 hook rims, helping the racer, Jean Rene Gougeon, to the America Prize over three consecutive years. In 1933, Mavic produced two models of pedal cars for children, complete with spoked wheels and chain drive to the rear axle. According to the Mavic website, the models are extremely rare today because the line existed for such a brief period of time. Later, in the 1980’s, Mavic introduced a line of ultralight motorized planes (ULM) that came in kits for the recreational aviator. Though many of these endeavors were brief, they demonstrated Mavic’s interest in all areas of marketability — from children’s toys to lightweight bicycle components and wheels, from recreationalist to racer.

But as any racer will tell you, Mavic’s real successes came on the race course. The name is synonymous with quality in any serious rider’s mind, and for good reason. Bryce Wright, Co-Owner of AZ Bikes in Flagstaff, Arizona, has been in the bike business for fifteen years, which is plenty of time to watch Mavic progress as a company. “They’ve been all over the industry,” says Wright. “It’s a brand most people know because of the Tour de France — Mavic is Tour de France everything — and it’s been around a while. It’s high-end stuff, so customers in that market often ask for it by name.”

The association of quality with Mavic’s name was no accident. In 1973, wheels became Mavic’s top priority, and the company began studying aerodynamics as a practical application to bicycle wheel design. It would be in this year that the first wheel bearing Mavic’s name hit the market. Although the wheels themselves were illegal, they began Mavic’s pursuit of faster, stronger designs for bike wheels and started their development as an authoritative name in cycling. In that same year, at the Paris-Nice race, Mavic furthered its name as a race authority when it offered “neutral and free assistance” to all racers in the form of a car fully-equipped with mechanics and doctors on board, as well as radio communication to aid in emergencies and journalistic pursuits.

The seventies ushered in a new line of components for Mavic, including cartridge bearing hubs and “monobloc” one-piece bottom bracket in 1975, as well as a complete gruppo called Tout Mavic in 1979. “I had a Mavic rear derailleur,” says Wright with a chuckle, speaking of Mavic’s foray into components. “Probably still do.” When asked how the derailleur performed, Wright smiles and says, “Well, it shifted.”

Though mediocrity may have been the case with the most infant models, Mavic certainly wasted no time in enhancing the quality and performance of their gruppo. According to the Mavic website, the components met with success at the 1984 Paris-Roubaix as Sean Kelly took the top podium spot. Mavic’s name as a company with its mind on strength and efficiency grew more and more, and no racer could deny Mavic had a winning product. Even Wright admits, “Their Ksyrium wheels are some of the strongest I’ve ever encountered. They’re so hard to destroy.”

1983 ushered in a major advancement in tire/wheel design, piloted by Mavic and Michelin. Mavic designed the first double-hook rim, which allowed use of Michelin’s Elan tire; the combination made mounting and dismounting tires much easier, sending the old method of glued, tubular tires into the realm of racing’s high-end or old-school connoisseur’s favorite “I remember when” stories. The hook-type rims not only made changing tires and tubes extremely easier, but it also eliminated the risk of accidents by faulty gluing jobs or tires simply loosening from the rim. For recreational riders and racers alike, this advancement was revolutionary, convenient, and time-saving.

Other advancements on the road soon followed. Rear disc wheels, such as the ones commonly seen on time trial or track bikes, were introduced in 1985, bringing to the public eye a relatively new material: carbon fiber. The Comete carbon fiber wheel was adjustable according to the event, allowing racers to add more or less ballast to the wheel depending on their needs. Later, the 3G was introduced. It was a three-spoked, profiled wheel that was designed to be lightweight and strong; it saw action at the Barcelona Olympic Games and no doubt turned heads, as it was one of the first of its kind. With innovation and reliability on its side, Mavic’s name once again proved to be pinnacle in 1980 when the first professional team adopted all Mavic components. Two years later, the first French team did the same.

Today, road wheels come built for such specific purposes that Mavic’s line has expanded immensely. From the solid-disc wheel Comete to the pure climber Ksyrium ES, specialty wheels have immersed Mavic’s product line and for good reason. But the trustworthy, all-around wheels still remain the staple of Mavic’s offerings, with models such as the wildly popular Ksyrium SL wheelset. A strong and light wheelset with aerodynamic bladed spokes, the Ksyrium SL also offers an aesthetically pleasing design that enhances the look and feel of any roadie’s rig. A trustworthy rim model, the Open Pro, is a great choice for aftermarket wheel building; its simple appearance won’t fool experienced mechanics who know it to be a lightweight, strong, and adaptable rim for the everyday rider. This double-wall rim now comes available with a ceramic brake track to enhance stopping power in all conditions.

The early to mid eighties also saw the birth of mountain biking, allowing an entirely new breed of rider to demand quality components that would stand up to the rigors of the trail. Today, Mavic offers an array of mountain rims and wheel systems, but the most popular would certainly be the Crossmax series. Designed for the professional racer, the highest end Crossmax wheels — the SL — feature several strength-enhancing features, such as straight pull spokes, which eliminate a major breakage area in spokes and, according to Wright at AZ Bikes, “take stress off the spokes since there’s no j-bend. I’ve seen a Mavic spoke pop out and the wheel stayed completely true—even after a car hit it.”

Mavic was also one of the first companies to hit the market with a tubeless wheel system, called UST (Universal Standard for Tubeless). The system eliminated the need for an inner tube, thereby eliminating pinch flats—an occurrence where enough force strikes the tire to pinch it against the rim, catching the tube in between and causing a snakebite tear—and allowing for lower tire pressures. This aided in cornering and climbing, giving racers an entirely new advantage over the tire-and-tube system. Click to see Mavic’s interactive explanation of the Crossmax technology.

Make no mistake, however: most contemporary Mavic products are no entry-level fodder. They are high-technology and high-price. For the recreational rider or the budget-conscious consumer, Mavic may not be the prime choice for their ride. But for racers and riders who depend on strength, quality, and reliability regardless of the price tag, Mavic can’t be beat. “The [Crossmax SL and XC 717] rims have always had the best ease of use and durability of anything I’ve seen,” says Matt Swett, a mountain bike racer from Bangor, Maine. “[Tires] seat up well on the tubeless systems, and the Crossmax SL’s — as well as the Ksyriums — are both very stiff laterally.” Swett went on to mention he could have saved a bit of cash with a different wheelset, but Mavic’s reputation as well as his previous experiences with Mavic wheels made him stick with his choice.

Though weight is always a concern for racers, a mountain biker relies on a tough wheelset that will take hard hits when necessary and keep on rolling. Mavic’s straight-pull spoke design, as well as their exclusive Maxtal alloy — which is, according to the manufacturer, 30% stronger than 6106 aluminum alloy – make for a wheel that will stand up to abuse. Said Swett of his Crossmax SL wheels: “[They] lasted an entire race season without needing to be trued, and I took some pretty gnarly tumbles with them.” His story certainly isn’t an uncommon one in regards to Mavic wheels, and any racer or rider who has owned a pair is sure to have a similar statement to share. Even Mavic’s entry-level priced Crossland wheels have several key strength and weight features to boast about — such as the Force Transfer System Light, which allows for a lighter and stronger sealed-bearing hub — ensuring even the beginner racer will have the benefits the pros enjoy without the hindrance of price.

Why is this so? In the world of bicycle wheels, research and development combined with innovation wins the war, and Mavic has spent an immense amount of time on both since the early 1930’s. With the component end of their business still a strong part of their innovative spirit – witness their electronically controlled rear derailleur developed and tested in 1999 – and their wheel sales and innovation still thriving, Mavic hasn’t forgotten its roots as a racer’s companion. They are present at countless races each year offering support to any and all participants, regardless of brand allegiance.

That’s what makes Mavic a winning company: its unyielding willingness to stand by cyclists everywhere and desire to enhance every athlete’s performance through reliable componentry. A company standing behind its product is a company worth investing in, and Mavic has proven to an extreme degree their products are worthy of this distinction. That’s why I ride Mavics.