First, if you saw a black set of R-SYS wheels in the TdF, if was most likely due to a someone wielding a black Sharpie. Mavic is only making them in silver for now, but no less than a dozen people spinning the wheels in the Mavic Interbike booth asked if the R-SYS would be available in black.
Next, the Mavic lineup of wheels has changed for 2008. The 2007 Ksyrium SL has gone away. The 2007 Ksyrium ES (the pricier anniversary edition one with the carbon front hubs and red spoke) is now the 2008 Ksyrium SL (red and black). Mavic has a new Kyrium Premium for 2008. And the R-SYS is the new 2008 carbon-spoked wheelset in clincher and tubular. (The rear has aluminum two-cross drive-side spokes.)
1 photo grabbed from web, 8 photos taken by wheelgirl at Interbike 2007
A cyclist who rides 15,000 miles per year emailed me and inquired as to the process for replacing the 3 carbon spokes he unintentionally cracked skimming a curb when he was distracted by a noise coming from the wheel. He could still ride the wheel, but as we know riding on cracked carbon is like rolling the dice. (Oh, yes, I made some pizza money in Vegas at the roulette table. But that means someone else lost their pizza money. Roulette means "small wheel" in French.)
Here is the scoop: One option is to ship the wheel to Mavic. Bill, Mavic's Wheel Service and Repair guy, said that he recently replaced 3 carbon spokes on an R-Sys, and the wheel was true and fine. Or you can contact a local Mavic dealer, and they can fix the wheel for you. But check to make sure that the shop has the spokes in stock. Waiting for Mavic to ship repair parts to you local bike shop means you may have to have the patience of a saint.
The cyclist also asked if he could remove the little silver sleeve on the front wheel that serves as a bike computer magnet, since regular magnets won't fit on the spokes. He has wheel sensor system that doesn't need the front magnet. The magnet looked to me like it was built into the spoke, so I will follow up on that one. Don't try to tear it off just yet.
In addition, when this guy took his hub apart, the red compression ring was loose, and inside the hub, the yellow spoke-holding collets that hold the red ring in place had worn down; therefore, they weren't pushing tightly against the ring anymore. Hum...
Send me your stories. First generation gear is exciting and scary. But if we never made or tried anything new, we'd still be walking everywhere talking on cell phones the size of toasters.
(Note: Before reading these instuctions, also check out a later post on the Mavic R-Sys wheels.)
Here is an overview of R-SYS spoke repair:
- Don't be a bad racer and take out the skewers and rim tape and then throw away the Mavic plastic bag with the tools and instructions. In the plastic bag, there is a black plastic plug (the (Tracomp ring tool) that looks like a shipping box throw away that you will need to remove and replace the red alloy retension ring that holds the spokes in place.
- If you look on the black plastic ring remover/replacer, there a tiny screwdriver icon on one side, and a hammer icon on the other.
- Put the black plug in the hub with the screwdriver icon facing up; place a screwdriver in the horizontal hole, and then gently and incrementally pry up the red ring, like the lid on a paint can.
- Find the valve hole, and make sure that if you are replacing a few spokes, the rim is oriented correctly. Mavic race wheel rims have a dot impression next to the first spoke to the right of the valve hole. When the dot is to the right of the valve hole, that is drive side of the rim. (Non-drive is when the dot appears to the left of the valve hole.)
- Replace the spoke. There are no fancy tricks. It slips into the gold collect.
- Then, true the wheel.
- To replace the red ring, make sure that the ring is oriented the right way up, so you can press it easily into the hub. There is a little lip in the hub that corresponds to one side of the ring.
- Put the black plastic plug back into the hub with the hammer icon facing up, and tap the ring back into place.
This post is not intended to be the repair guide to a $1400.00 set of wheels. Mavic has a tech instruction website for professional mechanics. Mavic dealer mechanics can contact Mavic for the URL and login info. When you are crusing down a mountain at 60 mph without a metal case filled with air bags around you, in my experience, you are better served by someone who works on race bikes professionally. Here is an R-SYS technical info. website: http://www.mavic.com/r-sys/
Weight: 1355g (pair); 570g (front); 785g (rear) clincher
The tubular version weights 1323 grams for the pair.
Size: 700c
Rear Hub Spacing: 130 mm
Front Hub Spacing: 100 mm
ETRTO Size: 622x15c
Recommended Tire Sizes: 19 to 28 mm
Tire: Clincher or tubular
Supplied With: Bearing adjustment tool (rear wheel), BR601 quick releases, Integrated wheel magnet (on front wheel), Spoke wrench (rear wheel), Spoke wrench for aerodynamic spokes (rear wheel), Tracomp ring tool, User guide, warranty card, and Wheel bags
