Mavic

Aksium S Road Wheelset - Clincher

We all know that less is more, or more specifically, that in the world of cycling, you pay more for components that weigh less. So while you probably guessed that the Mavic Aksium S Clincher Wheelset won't win any weight contests, it would be foolish to sleep on these perennial favorites. You see, while they forgo some of the costly weight savings of their higher-end counterparts, they still benefit from Mavic's extensive knowledge of all things wheel-related. So whether you want a durable training wheelset, or you're looking for a cost-effective way to breathe new life into an older steed, the Aksium wheelset is built to put in the miles.

The Aksium rims are constructed from black anodized 6106 aluminum. As in the rest of its aluminum wheel line, Mavic uses UB Control technology to mill the braking surfaces of the rim. The result is improved brake friction and shudder-free stops in most any weather conditions.

The Aksium wheels feature 20 (front and rear) bladed, straight-pull, steel spokes with brass nipples. Each spoke is equipped with Mavic's Self Lock technology that uses a special shape on the spoke end to make it impossible to loosen when it's on the thread. The design eliminates tension loss, and the wheels stay truer, longer.

The wheels aren't as light as some costlier counterparts, but Mavic's early and broad dedication to aerodynamics helps to compensate for the extra grams. The 21mm rim profile, low spoke count, and use of bladed stainless steel spokes manage to mitigate much of their beefiness.

The Aksium is substantially less expensive than the Ksyrium Elite and Equipe thanks to a combination of small details. Rather than having FORE drilled rims and thread-in spoke grommets, the Aksium rim is a more traditional single-eyelet-style, with the spoke holes penetrating the outer wall of the rim. And, while the Aksium uses the identical lightweight FTS-L steel freehub body as the Ksyrium Elite and SL wheels, its sealed bearing hubs lack the on-bike adjustability, although they are fully serviceable and adjustable otherwise.

Further enhancing the value of this package, Mavic includes its Aksion tires with the Aksium wheelset. Built in conjunction with the Aksium rim, the Aksion tires are both hard wearing, and highly grippy. After all, training wheels aren't much good if you can't ride as aggressively as you would on your race-day hoops.

The Mavic Aksium S Clincher Wheelset is available in the color Black, and with a Campagnolo or Shimano/SRAM 11-speed-compatible freehub body. The wheels also come with Mavic aluminum quick-release skewers, rim tape, and the user guide.