Mavic

Crossroc 29 WTS Wheelset

The way we see it, the brute speed of 29ers only come with one real drawback: a little bit of extra weight. The 29er enthusiasts at Mavic see it that way, too, or at least we assume they do based on the super fast, super light Mavic Crossroc 29 WTS Wheelset. By stripping two millimeters of rim width off of the Crossroc WTS XL, the regular ol' Crossroc WTS manages to lose a cool 50 grams. That's weight that you won't have to worry about spinning up during accelerations or climbs.

The Crossroc 29 WTSs' S6000 aluminum is the same used in the burlier XL model. It's slightly heavier than the Maxtal aluminum used in Mavic's top-end wheels, but it still makes for more than enough low-weight 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 — especially considering the weight lost compared to the XLs.

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 29 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. They're also Mavic's lightest tire, which complements the rim's already low weight.