Hot off the release of the amazingly light Roval Control Team mountain bike wheelset comes their counterpart for the road. The team at Roval claims the Roval Rapide CLX II Team wheels are the fastest in the world. That is a pretty hefty claim.
This uber-cool wheelset has a lot going on, so let’s start by explaining why it came to be.
Roval Rapide CLX II Team wheels – What is it?
Companies are scrambling to get their finest gear to the finish line before the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Undoubtedly, these will be under the Olympic hopefuls for 2024. Most World Tour teams sponsored by Roval have already been experimenting with the wheels. Ensuring they know the riding characteristics inside and out and prepping for the year’s biggest races.
We’ve seen spy shots from the classics and all seasons of the “Secret wheel Remco is riding.” Now we know…
How are they different from the Roval Rapide CLX II?
Well, first off, only 1,500 wheelsets are available for purchase globally, making these a super limited offering. Weight wise, the new Rapide CLX II Team wheels are 130g lighter than the non-team version with the same rim shape.
When the Roval team set out to create an ultra-race wheelset, the goal was to shave off more than 100g from the wheels while maintaining the aerodynamic rim shape and durability (remember these are hooked rims). The hub and carbon rim layups are the prime places to get this weight reduction.
Call in the B.O.B.s
Specialized raised the bat-signal (or S-signal, I guess?) and put together a team of ‘Specialized Science Club’ (elite engineers) and World Tour riders and dubbed them B.O.B. (Best of the Best).
The team shaved 40 grams per rim while hitting durability targets after only ten layup iterations, but that’s not good enough for the B.O.B.s.
After an additional 47 iterations with varying resin systems and carbon grades and hundreds of rims tested, the team matched the Rapide CLX II in durability while shedding weight. Resulting in a wheel that will help retain the tire under extreme impact so the rider can stop safely if/when a flat at speed occurs — a hot topic lately, especially for those riding hookless on the World Tour.
Hub Re-design
Silver hubs are one of the most notable features of the Roval Team Wheels. The XC version boasts the signatures of Specialized Factory Team athletes. The road version chose to stay plain, but they couldn’t cram all those signatures on the hub anyway.
The hub is an all-new low-flange design built around DT Swiss EXP internals. Roval crafts the hubs in-house. These hubs are 50 grams lighter than the DT Swiss EXP.
Why the silver? Eliminating the powder coating and paint needed to make it black saved 2g of weight, and for this wheelset, everything counts.
So what’s the weight?
They weigh about 1,360g without tape and valves. This weight is not groundbreaking for the road, but it’s not all about weight. Compared to the Rapide CLX II wheels, they are 130g lighter and maintain the same Roval durability standards; thats progress for sure.
Aero is everything
Weight isn’t everything, though it’s cool to have the lightest gear IMO. The best wheels always have balanced weight, aerodynamics, and hold speed for all-around use. To make the Rapide CLX II Team a tick faster, the Roval team entered the Wintunnel.
The Rapide CLX II rim’s differing shapes are already fast, but there was more to gain. The B.O.B. team hit the tunnel and experimented with carbon spokes and different designs. While carbon spokes help save weight, the DT Swiss Aerolite II spokes give the wheel the necessary aerodynamic gain to make it lighter (than the previous) and faster.
The combination of DT Swiss Aerolite II spokes with the new silver Roval Hub resulted in a 0.5-watt drag savings compared to the previous Rapide CLX II wheels, making them 1 second faster over 40k.
Specialized claims the Rapide CLX II Team wheels are the fastest in the peloton. They might be, but one thing they do offer is the same aerodynamic performance across various tire sizes. Whether racing Paris Roubaix with 30mm tires or riding on the smooth, glassy tarmac with 26mm tires, the aerodynamic advantage remains the same.
Why not hookless?
It appears that Roval isn’t 100% sold on hookless for road applications just yet. Considering how far the team went to control the tire staying on the rim when a flat occurs, and considering these wheels are under the best in the world in the World Tour, Roval apparently feels hooked rims aren’t ready for prime time.
Limited Edition WorldWide
If these sound like your dream wheels, start saving now, because Roval only made 1,500 to supply worldwide. Naturally, that means they’re quite expensive.
Roval Rapide CLX II Wheelset Pricing
Pricing: $3,800, € 3,700, £3,000, $ 6,000 AUS
First Impressions Roval Rapide CLX II
When the Roval Rapide CLX II Wheelset box arrived, I thought it was a bike frame. It’s a larger-than-normal wheelbox. Why not use a larger square design? Well, thats because Roval wants you to have the “WOW” moment when you open the box.
You get wheels and basically everything you need to get rolling, plus some. Unveiling the Roval Rapide CLX II Wheelset, you find a piece of paper welcoming you to the team. With this welcome, you get all the gear needed to maintain the wheels’ performance and some extras to keep rolling happily.
Whats In the Box?
- Roval Alloy Centerlock Ring (2)
- Additional SRAM XDR Freehub Body (Wheels come with H.G. installed)
- SINC Bearings
- Roval Branded Dynaplug Racer Pro + extra set of plug
- Spoke / Nipple Kit
- Premium Double Wheel Bag (Embroidered)
- S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2Bliss Ready T2/T5 x2 (26mm)
- Custom Roval Water Bottles (2)
I’ve had many wheels come through testing, and this is the best presentation I’ve experienced. The price is high for these wheels, but this extra bit of maintenance kit, high-quality wheel bag, and other goodies take a bit of the edge off.
After sorting through the extras in the box, I mounted the tires and seated them with my floor pump. The only thing the kit doesn’t supply is a sealant. I’m sure there is a good reason, but it would have been helpful.
The S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2Bliss seated just as well as they were on my non-team version of the Rapide CLX II, and it didn’t leak any air overnight.
Weights
Weight-wise, the wheels are not only lighter in hand (and on the scale) but also a pleasure to look at. The decals are soft with a slight metallic edge. The silver hubs accent that bit of metallic and play nicely with the matte carbon rims.
- Wheelset Weight : 1393g
- Wheels Individual: 648g (front) , 745g (rear)
- Tires: 261g (each)
- Lockrings: 8g (each)
Ride Impressions
My first rides were on the roads near my house, on a mix of climbs, super smooth pavement, and some Pittsburgh Pave’. I pumped the S-Works Turbo RapidAir 2Bliss to 75 PSI front and 76 PSI rear. The rims are hooked for the Roval Rapide CLX II and can go tp higher pressures if thats your way.
The Roval Rapide CLX II Team Wheels replaced a set of similar depth CADEX wheels, and the ride sensation from the beginning wasn’t too different. In the wind, however, I remember why I liked the Roval Rapide CLX II. There is no slight jerk to the wheels or hesitation in the wind; they track very clearly and smoothly.
An All-Around Fast Wheel
Rolling and climbing, the wheels propel you, especially on the “sprinter hill” style rolling bits. Extra lightweight wheels are excellent on the pitchy stuff, but it’s nice to have a mix of aero and weight on rolling hills. The Roval Rapide CLX II Team wheels feel like deeper rim wheels without the weight penalty and climb way better than those similar.
I’ve had limited time on the Roval Rapide CLX II Team Wheelset, but my intuition suggests it is a super fast all-around wheel.
Are they “the fastest wheel in the world”? That depends on where you’re riding. Suppose you’re climbing straight up a mountain. If your course is a mix of rolling hills, flats, and descents… well, only time will tell.
We’ll follow up with a full review in the next few weeks. Make sure and check back. If you’d like to know more, check out: Roval.com