The new Roubaix might have stolen the show at the launch, but the new Roval wheels are not to be missed. Specifically, the new CLX 32 wheels which were fitted to our test bikes for the duration of our time in Belgium and France. Considering that the new Roubaix is built around bigger tires with clearance for 32mm rubber and even a lower BB to accommodate them, a wheelset like Roval CLX 32s is right at home.
Claimed to be the lightest in their class, the wheels look like they check off a lot of boxes and could be the perfect big tire wheelset for you regardless of your ride…
Named the CLX 32 for their rim profile, the 32mm deep carbon rim boasts a 20.7mm inner rim width. That’s enough to make the 28mm S-Works tires we were riding measure out to 30mm. The rims are also 2Bliss tubeless compatible and use Roval plastic plugs for the spoke holes to seal the rim bed. Special attention was also paid to the aerodynamics of the rim as you would expect from a company that has their own wind tunnel on site, with the rims claiming an 8 second advantage over the CLX 40 on a 40k time trial.
Offered in disc or rim brake models, the CLX 32 disc is claimed to be the lightest in its class at 1,340g per set. The rim brake models are even lighter at 1,280g. On the disc brake models, the Roval AFD1 hubs use Centerlock rotors and include CeramicSpeed bearings and end caps to fit standard QR or 12×100 and 12x142mm thru axles. Built with 21 spokes in the front and 24 spokes in the rear, each using a 2:1 lacing pattern with DT Swiss Aerocomp/Aerolite spokes and Pro Lock nipples, the wheels include a Roval padded wheelbag, steel QR, both sets of end caps, and Roval tubeless plugs and tubeless vavles – all for $2,400 or the set.
Our time on the CLX 32s was quite enjoyable, and while the ride of the bulbous 28mm tires was certainly beneficial to the ride quality of the Roubaix, more impressive was the complete lack of flats in our group as we tried to push the bikes through the mine field of cobbles.
