Anyone with a eager eye on biking tech might have noticed that Demi Vollering, Tim Merlier and a handful of different Specialized-sponsored professionals have been profitable races aboard a brand new model of the model’s Roval Rapide CLX wheels not too long ago. Subscribers to Cyclingnews could have additionally seen them in our latest Giro d’Italia tech gallery, and know that they are set to be referred to as the Rapide CLX II Team.
Today, we will carry you all the main points, as Specialized has lifted the covers, confirming the wheelset’s title, what makes them completely different, and most pressingly, why it made the swap to silver hubs.
The headline figures are a weight of 1,390g (a lack of 130 grams when in comparison with the CLX II), an aerodynamic enhance of 0.5 watts (settle down now), and higher wind-up stiffness, which basically interprets to quicker acceleration and higher braking response.
Specialized is launching with the tagline “The quickest race wheels. Period” however even when that’s true, it is probably not the story right here.
These are a restricted version wheelset, totalling 1500 in quantity worldwide, with a unique building technique to the CLX II wheels. They’re made in the identical manufacturing unit, however utilizing the “greatest craftspeople” that they had, utilizing completely different resin, smaller layup overlaps, and a redesigned hub.
Where they actually stand other than the CLX II, nevertheless, is that they arrive in a primo presentation field full with a complete host of equipment.
This contains silver stitched Roval wheel baggage, a full complement of substitute DT Swiss Sinc bearings, each Shimano HG and SRAM XDR freehub our bodies, a hoard of spare DT Aerolight II spokes and nipples, a pair of silver alloy centre-lock disc rotor lockrings, an S-Works branded Dynaplug Racer Pro tyre plug instrument, spare plugs, two Specialized Turbo RapidAir tyres, a pair of S-Works water bottles, and even a construct card for every wheel exhibiting the spoke tensions, trueness and extra.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, critiques and professional shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
More than only a marginally higher wheelset, the Rapide CLX II Team wheels are a ticket to an unique membership, a premium expertise, and a greater product with a extra full service. It’s an all-inclusive vacation, an ad-free expertise, a business-class ticket with speedy boarding.
The unhealthy information is that to hitch the CLX II Team workforce, you may must fork out £3,000 / $3,800 / €3,700 / AU$6,000. This is a £500 / $1,000 / €1,000 / AU$1,600 premium over and above the CLX II wheels.
We’ve spent the previous week placing them by means of their paces, so learn our Roval Rapide CLX II Team assessment to see whether or not we expect they’re value that premium.
The design
According to Roval, there have been initially solely ever set to be 50 of those wheelsets, they usually had been designed particularly for Specialized professional riders. With such a small quantity to make, the model says it was capable of assault the method with a unique mindset to the Rapide CLX II, which is constrained by the capabilities of a manufacturing line tasked with making tens of 1000’s.
The course of began with rethinking the carbon layup of the rim, with smaller overlaps between every layup. This was extra time-consuming, however it resulted in 40 grams saved per rim.
With the rim designed, consideration turned to the hub, and beginning with the DT Swiss EXP internals, the model designed its personal low-flange hub shell. Roval claims the brand new hubs enhance spoke wind-up stiffness for quicker acceleration and braking response, and save 50 grams throughout the pair. Two grams of that saving comes courtesy of the swap from black to silver, eradicating the powder coating from the equation and easily clear-coating the hub.
Interestingly, whereas manufacturers like Cadex and Hunt have not too long ago switched to carbon spokes, Roval determined to stay with DT Swiss Aerolight II spokes. I requested the Roval product supervisor why, and his response was an attention-grabbing perception into the whole-bike-system method that Specialized and Roval takes, one which impartial wheel manufacturers are much less capable of make.
Roval examined the burden and aerodynamic efficiency of seven completely different spoke fashions, and though carbon fibre spokes would have been lighter, Specialized concluded they’d have been round 1.5 watts much less aerodynamic. Given the S-Works Tarmac would not want any assist hitting the UCI’s minimal restrict of 6.8kg, the model was completely happy to take the burden acquire and retain the aero profit.
Is this S-Works meets Roval?
The Rapide CLX II wheelset will proceed in line, and it’ll proceed to be specced on the S-Works Tarmac SL8, so though there are parallels to be drawn, this is not Roval’s S-Works equal.
Instead, the CLX Team wheelset will likely be a restricted version aftermarket improve whereas shares final. With that stated, in Specialized’s advertising and marketing materials for the brand new wheels, it says “This is just the start,” so we’ll have to observe this area.
They are that can be purchased at chosen sellers and at Specialized’s personal web site immediately.