Mavic is Back!

For as long as I can remember, Mavic has been synonymous with rims and wheels. My first serious wheelset back in 1984 was Campy Record with Mavic G40 rims, and for years the combo I rode was either Record or Dura Ace hubs with Mavic MA40s. And of course I had my Mavic GP4 tubular wheelset for race day. In the world of professional bicycle racing, the neutral Mavic support vehicle was ever-present. Here's a famous pic of the Mavic guys rushing to Laurent Fignon at the 1982 Blois-Chaville after his Campy Ti BB spindle snapped (video of the epic crash here).



Mavic continued to innovate in the 1990s. They launched the first electronic group in 1992. Their SUP rims with machined sidewalls made wheelbuilding much easier (which I appreciated greatly as a shop rat wheelbuilder). And they changed the wheel industry forever when they launched the Helium pre-built wheels in 1996.



But Mavic fell on hard times in recent years. Three years ago they filed for bankruptcy and exited the US market altogether. And for a little while there, the future of the brand was in doubt. But now they are back with a new owner and a new facility in Waterbury, Vermont. In addition to re-establishing sales and support services in North America, Mavic will unveil new products in the next few months. Read the full story at Bicycle Retailer.

I wish them nothing but success!