Mavic | Back
Some happy news today and some interesting but ultimately annoying news to go with it.
My current, favourite wheelset maker, Mavic, looked to be teetering on the edge of permanently fading into history earlier this year when they went into receivership. There were suggestions of some financial shenanigans but everything seemed to turn out for the best when several companies ended up bidding to take the company out of receivership including a consortium lead by Hinault. The winner is the investment group, . And that was that.
At the start of this month, I noticed that some of the links on my site back to Mavic no longer existed and I thought the worst. Perhaps they had simply packed up shop? I didn’t check as I’d already got my job-lot of Mavic wheels and had no intention of changing them for a few years.
It turns out my thoughts of doom and gloom were wrong and, in the last few days, MBR magazine reports that Mavic ARE well and truly back in business. They have rationalised their product range and cut back on staff number. Let’s hope a leaner Mavic is here to stay.
That’s the good news.
Slowtwitch & Your Wheels
Then comes a well-written, detailed and interesting Slowtwitch article on wheels and tyres by Dan Empfield. No, I never thought the future of wheels and tyres would be that interesting either, but it was/is
We, kind of, all know that disc-brake road bikes, hydraulics and tubeless tech are here to stay despite some people (me) putting their heads in the sand, ignoring it and, indeed, investing in the contrarian position that is antiquated rim brakes. In my case, that’s Exalith rims from Mavic on my SLR/CXR wheelsets.
Anyway, Dan’s article presents a slightly bleaker picture for my future than I’d imagined. It seems that hookless, tubless is the future as the hookless design can give us a stronger, lighter wheel that’s also easier to make and in a competitive market, those cost-savings are important. That future naturally gives us wider road wheels but the hookless beads also give us a slightly more aero future and ‘slightly’ means it will happen.
Luckily my investment in old tech was in Mavic CXR aero wheels that have a cool-looking ‘blade’ which fills the gap between tyre and wheel – great for long course. They do seem fast but make a very strange whistling noise which I’m sure I won’t notice in a few years time. Maybe.
Last Updated on 30 August 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red light therapy for niggles. It works.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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Written by real people, with AI assistance. Fact-checked and verified for originality. See the Editorial Policy. FTC: Affiliate Disclosure — some links pay commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
