22/05/2008

Road test: Mavic wheels R-SYS

Reading, rigid and reactive give the best of uphill, changes in rhythm and nerve pathways; just enough comfort for a pair of wheels with performance at the top of the class

The company

Mavic, the historic French company producing complete wheels, wheels, components and cyclo-computer cycling, begins its story in 1889. So, in fact, the founders did not expect the world of bicycles, starting a nickel plating company, but decided not long after entering the field of components for bicycles become established soon in the area. Many innovation made by Mavic in the world of cycling since "TraComp" to go to the first change in electroassisted circle for the first tubeless tyres. Today, Mavic is a major competitor in the sector with almost 300 employees divided among four production sites, and the design and marketing are made in Annecy, the Design Center, the circles are manufactured in the historical site of Saint-Trivier, near Lyon while machining and assembly are carried out in Rumilly and Romania. In addition, eight exclusive importers distribute the full range and have a specific Mavic Service Center to ensure the best possible post-sale in their respective countries. You add to this about 70 distributors and wholesalers who offer products Mavic Entire World.

The range Mavic

A Company as Mavic can not have a complete range of components for the cyclist, whether lover of bike racing, Mtb or trekking. For this Mavic catalog has a full range of products starting from the top range models comes cheaper, but always marked by a good quality of construction, materials and refined performance for the respective band market. In addition to complete wheels, racing, crono, triathlon, Mtb, trekking, is the wide range of circles, all-purpose and requirements, as well as a full range of accessories consisting brakes, ciclocomputer, chains and other products. For many of the 2008 proposals for bike racing have been renovated deeply, as has happened for Aksium, access to world Mavic, to switch to other products, over and over more efficient. The R-Sys is one of absolute novelty of Mavic for 2008 and the technology used is one of the greatest innovations in the field of wheels in recent years.

The R-Sys we tried

The wheels R-Sys have introduced a new technology called "TraComp", which surely leave its mark on the history of constructive wheels. The rays round carbon are one of the innovations of this concept, the most obvious but not the only and fundamental. In fact, the "revolution" of Mavic has been to work rays in traction (TRA) and in compression (COMP). This you could get through the adoption of carbon rays that compared to other materials such as aluminium or steel, used so far, not even a stretch when subjected to mechanical stress and yet have a lower weight compared with traditional ray. They are mounted on flange between rim and hub, so that can work both in traction in compression. While a traditional radius, when the circle suffers a lateral thrust, particularly as a result of the pedal, loses its ideal voltage leading to deformation of the circle, carbon-rays for both mechanical properties of the same material for the particular mounting system do not lose their characteristics allowing the circle to stay more in line with the hub. The mounting flange of rays, then, it has helped to reduce tension them, especially compared with a traditional wheel, leading to a less mechanical stress of the circle and the hub. For this, they have been redesigned with new parameters that have enabled the reduction of the weight, although it remained the same reliability and durability in the long term compared to other models of wheel. This technology has been applied to the entire front wheel which has 16 radial spokes carbon and partly on the rear wheel assembly adopting radial ray carbon on the opposite side of the wheel free (10 rays) and the "normal" rays in Zigral, crossed second, on the bodice free-wheeling (other 10 rays). The rims are made of Maxtal, an aluminum alloy developed by Mavic, 30% more resistant aluminium 6106 and which, therefore, make circles lighter and more resistant at the same time. The front circle has a height of 22 mm and a width of 19, while the rear circle has a height of 25 mm and a width of 20 mm, with an asymmetrical profile. The circle has a milling easing between rays and its junction through welding and subsequent milling, which associated with the correct sides of the circle braking allows a perfectly modulated, powerful and secure. Both circles can mount is that tubular tyres. In addition, to improve rigidity, have one wall pierced by the inclusion of rays. The hubs are aluminium, as well as axes, and take sealed cartridge bearings, and removable micro adjustment of the same. The wheel system is free steel structure designed by Mavic and called FTS-L, a bodice that allows the maximum transfer of power from the wheel chain with a minimum expenditure of energy and, also, to have a lighter hub. Proposed in a single colour, aluminium natural color, with blacks rays are sold complete with bags, locks rapid Mavic Br 601 composite material and magnet for ciclocomputer integrated with a ray earlier. Obviously both are available free Campagnolo wheel bodice that Shimano. The weight declared by Mavic, with bodice Campagnolo wheel is 570 grams for the front wheel and 785 grams for the rear wheel. We have found these weights, with bodice Campagnolo wheel: 585 grams front wheel, rear wheel 798 grams; locking front 52 grams, 56 grams locking rear. For jamming the weight reported is the same as that stated, for the wheels, instead, we have an upper weight of 15 grams for the front wheel and 13 grams for the rear; values compatible with the inevitable production. The actual weight noted, however, puts these wheels to the absolute summit of the category with aluminum wheels and absolute competitive than many carbon wheels.

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