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Fun & games at the Wachovia Cycling Series
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By Anthony Tan
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In between the four races that comprise the Wachovia Cycling Series, sponsors were doing their best to keep the crowd entertained during bouts of inclement weather. Cyclingnews correspondent Kristy Scrymgeour's penchant for the curious led her to some very curious goings-on indeed - where she stumbled across the Mavic wheel change competition and took a peek at Mavic's special edition Ksyrium SSC SL Tour de France wheel set.
The Ksyrium wheel set has been the must-have accompaniment for serious (and not so serious) roadies ever since Lance Armstrong's first Tour de France victory four years ago, and is virtually as common as the Reynolds 531 frame was in the days of Pedro Delgado and Greg Lemond. To mark the centenary edition of the Tour and 30 years of Mavic neutral assistance during the world's greatest bicycle race, Mavic released a limited edition model of their ubiquitous Ksyrium wheels at Wachovia.
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While the wheels may look markedly different with their bright silver anodised finish throughout, from a technological and engineering perspective, the Ksyrium SSC SL Tour de France is virtually the same as its predecessor.
Three-quarters of the 40 gram weight saving is a result of an extra light front hub; the ISM-lightened Maxtal rim with SUP welded joins, the UB control braking surface and the straight pull, bladed Zicral spokes (18 front, 20 rear) remain unchanged. Although not included in the weight comparison, around 20 more grams are saved through the use of titanium axled skewers.
Now if the silver-anodised finish isn't enough to make you the envy of your cycling buddies, the painted TdF yellow spoke should turn their faces greener than Shrek.
Photos
Images by Kristy Scrymgeour
- The wheel change race begins.
- C'mon my son, we're nearly there!
- The semi-finals of the wheel change race.
- The winners trophy... ummm, I mean bottle - the Victory Brewing mechanic receives his bottle of milk and his triangular-shaped mavic trophy.
- Thanks for that - but what on earth is it?
- But that's not all - this lucky guy also walks away a set of Mavic's limited edition Ksyrium SSC SL Tour de France wheels.
- Geez, they look wheely wheely nice...
- Mmmm… anodised silver... mmmm.
- The TdF yellow spoke - to make your friends turn greener than Shrek.
Images by Jonathan Devich/www.wachoviacycling.com
- Mavic marketing magic.
- Good thing those wheels fit in the bag.
- This wheel could be a contender for Cyclingnews' 10 most sexiest tech items for 2003.
- The same lacing pattern is used on the Ksyrium Tour de France as its predecessor.
- Up close and personal with the wheel.
Images by Mavic
- The rear wheel of the Mavic Ksyrium SSC SL Tour de France.
- The front wheel.
- The pair.
- Individually numbered.
- A carry bag to die for.
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