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Before carbon hoops became mainstream racing fare, start lines across the world were peppered with Mavic's fast spinning and nearly bombproof Ksyrium aluminum hoops. With metal now more often relegated to training wheel status, generations of Ksyriums still find use grinding out epic base miles and waiting patiently in the wheel pit while the carbon Cosmics get the nod on race day. The Mavic Ksyrium Pro Carbon SL T Tubular Wheelset brings the Ksyrium name right back to the pointy end of the racing game with an all new hub design and a full carbon rim that's backed by Mavic's trademark reliability and clocks in as the lightest of the entire Ksyrium line. Mavic launching a full carbon rim is a big deal in the bike industry. The company is nothing if not a stickler for safety and has long been a lone standout with aluminum bedded rims in its carbon wheels, citing concerns over safety and braking performance with full carbon rims. Mavic claims to have finally cracked the braking power and heat buildup puzzle with its iTgMAX rim construction, which uses a proprietary resin to resist heat buildup and reduce chances of tire blowout or rim failure. Paired with Mavic's laser etched braking surface, this technology results in exceptional braking reliability across wet and dry conditions for a claimed 48% reduction in stopping distances compared to other carbon rims. We haven't been able to test this out, but Mavic revolutionized aluminum braking surfaces with its Exalith design, and we see no reason why they wouldn't do the same with carbon. Mavic uses 3K carbon fibers to shape the rims in a bullet nose profile. While this wheelset isn't specifically called out as aero, Mavic constructed it specifically with climbing and endurance riding in mind, so the 25mm deep sections are dependably stable while riding in crosswinds and tackling twisty, long descents, and they'll provide a touch more radial flex to dissipate bumps. Mavic also paid close attention to the wheels' imp...
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