Mavic IO Track Tubular Front Wheel

The Mavic IO Track Tubular Front Wheel has a record at the Olympics that no other track wheel can match. First introduced in 1996 and refined across multiple generations, the iO has been ridden by Olympic and world champion track racers for nearly three decades — not as a brand partnership exercise, but because it performs. The current generation, built around Mavic's wider elliptical rim and NACA-profiled spokes, is designed for riders competing at the highest level of velodrome racing, where every detail of the wheel's construction has a direct consequence on outcome.

The defining characteristic of the iO is its five-spoke carbon architecture. Each spoke is shaped to a NACA aerodynamic profile — the same cross-section geometry used in aircraft wing design — which reduces drag as air passes over the spoke's surface compared to a round or flat cross-section. The spokes are directional: Mavic marks the hub with an orientation indicator so the wheel is always installed with the spoke geometry aligned correctly relative to the wheel's rotation direction. The spokes vary in depth, starting at 50mm where they meet the rim and deepening to 60mm at the hub. This tapering creates a progressively stiffer structure toward the axle, which Mavic designed to maximize both lateral stiffness and the aerodynamic profile of the full wheel assembly. The construction is monobloc — the rim, spokes, and hub are integrated as a single carbon structure rather than separate components laced together — which eliminates flex points and reduces weight.

The rim itself uses a new wider elliptical shape with a flattened NACA profile. The width increase was driven by the trend toward slightly larger tubular tires among elite track racers: Mavic designed the rim geometry to better integrate 23mm tubulars, which they recommend as the optimal size for aerodynamic benefit on the current iO. The flattened profile improves crosswind stability compared to rounder rim cross-sections — relevant on a velodrome when a rider attacks out of a banked corner at speed. The rim material is woven 3K carbon fiber throughout, which provides the fiber orientation and density Mavic specifies for the stiffness requirements of elite track competition. There is no aluminum braking surface; the iO is a pure track wheel, built without provisions for rim braking because velodrome bikes don't use them.

The hub uses an aluminum body with a steel axle sized at 9x100mm — the standard quick-release track specification. Bearings are Mavic's QRM cartridge system with automatic setting, designed to minimize rolling resistance and maintain consistent preload without requiring manual adjustment. The cartridge design allows straightforward bearing replacement when service is needed. On a wheel at this price and purpose, bearing efficiency matters: the iO is designed for competition where the difference between a well-maintained and a worn bearing is measurable in the final sprint. Weight for the front wheel is 750g — a figure that reflects the tradeoffs Mavic made toward stiffness and aerodynamic profile in the 5-spoke design rather than chasing the lowest possible number.

The iO is tubular only and rated for ASTM category 1 use — road and track surfaces only, no rough terrain, no off-road. Maximum supported system weight is 120kg including the bike. This is a velodrome wheel: it is designed to perform on a smooth, controlled surface in competition conditions, and the design reflects that context without compromise. The front wheel ships with a wheel cover, a valve extender, and the M6 support washer and bolt hardware needed for installation.

At $5,100, the Mavic iO is not a purchase that requires justification to casual observers — it is the wheel a serious track racer reaches for when the competition warrants it. It has been on more Olympic podiums than any comparable product in the category, and the current generation updates the already-proven platform with the wider rim and NACA spoke profiles that the latest competitive demands require. For riders who race the velodrome at a level where equipment matters, there is a reason the iO has remained the reference point in track wheels for nearly thirty years.