Roval is going deeper into gravel, literally and figuratively, with some fresh Terra kit.
Why, you ask? Well, if you haven’t heard, Specialized just released a new Crux V5 design that went all in on aero-gravel. We’re talking a Tar-crux…or a Crux-Mac (yeah, that’s the one), and nothing goes better with a new chassis than new components. That means the Terra integrated Cockpit got a makeover, now tuned for aero gravel, and the new Terra CL/C wheels get to greet the buying public.
Roval Gravel Update – What’s New?
If you’ve read our news piece on the new Specialized Crux 5, you’ll notice some new gravel bits that are just hitting the shelves. Some are not only new but not top-of-the-line either. Those are the new Terra Aero CL, Terra CL III, Terra C III wheels. All taking cues from the top-tier Roval Terra CLX wheelset but with a more palatable price point.
The other update is to the Roval Terra Cockpit. Now reworked as a svelte 298g purely gravel-focused design. Built specifically for rough roads, aero hand positioning, and fast gravel racing. I liked it so much, I’m thinking it would be a better road cockpit than the Rapide I’m currently using.
But I digress…there’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s start with the biggest update: the new Roval Terra CL and C line of wheels.
Roval Terra Gravel Wheels
If you’re not familiar with the Roval naming convention, let me catch you up. CLX is the top: the big-money wheels, ceramic bearings, carbon spokes, free wheel bags, and all the trimmings. These are the wheels you’ll see on the Specialized Factory Off Road Team bikes, the ones that come on the S-Works builds, and on your dentist’s gravel bike. They are all about performance.
The next in line (and my personal favorite) is the CL range. This range uses the same rim as the CLX but with a slightly heavier hub (most often the DT-Swiss 350) and traditional spokes. I’ve found the Roval CL range to be an excellent mix of value and reliability.
After that is the Roval C range, the base lever for the Roval carbon lineup. This line draws heavily on the CLX and CL designs. There are slight changes that lower the price. The hubset moves from DT 350 to a DT-370, and the build is slightly different from the CLX and CL. We’ll break down each wheelset individually next.
All Systems Gravel
Wheels aren’t sets anymore. For most riders (especially on the road), we see front-and-back designs, and teams mix and match sets for the day ahead. There are advantages and disadvantages for each depth and design. So we let the course and (to take something from the Specialized venacualr) “Time to Finish” dictate what will be the fastest and most competent setup for the day.
The same can be said about the new Terra Gravel wheels from Roval.
The wheels come individually; yes, you can purchase a set, but Roval encourages mixing and matching the new wheels. That would also mean that you would have to stock a three-wheel set of Roval Terras in the garage to master it perfectly (but not really). So, what we’re saying is that the wheels are fast for their conditions. Yes, there are wheels that perform better “all around” than others, but for the most part, (and in the new world of fast gravel) there are specialists.
Terra Aero CL
The headline wheel here is the new Terra Aero CL. It’s the workhorse aero gravel wheel. The Terra Aero CL uses a staggered rim profile with a 50mm-deep front rim and a 45mm-deep rear rim, both featuring Roval’s Chopped Aero shaping. This chopped shape was first brought to our attention with the Terra Aero CLX wheels, and the shape is trickling down to the Terra CL. The idea is to bring actual aerodynamic efficiency to gravel without making the bike a handful when crosswinds start ripping across open farm roads.
That front/rear split matters. A deeper front wheel can be fast, but on gravel, it also has to behave. You are not just holding a line on smooth pavement. You are dealing with washboard, blown-out corners, loose marbles, holes, ruts, mud, and maybe scarfing down a gel before the next attack happens. A 50/45mm setup gives Roval room to chase speed while keeping the handling from getting too nervous.
The rim is also properly wide, but not as wide as the ENVE or Zipp XPLR wheels. The Terra Aero CL has an external width of 38.5 mm and an internal width of 27 mm, making it stout enough to withstand sudden rim hits and wide enough to fit gravel tires ranging from 35 mm to 60mm. That puts it right in the current sweet spot for modern gravel race tires, where 40mm used to feel huge and now looks like the conservative choice.
Big Bead Hooks, Big Tire Confidence
Aero is one-half of the Terra Aero CL story. The other half is flat protection. I’m sure we’ve all been told, “You can’t win a race on the side of the road fixing a flat,” and that’s true in every sense.
To combat the sudden smash-to-flat that we’ve all received at the hands of the gravel gods, the Terra Aero CL uses beefy 5.38mm bead hooks for flat protection. The larger bead hook is designed to give the tire more support and help reduce impact damage. It’s not a new idea, but something that, when executed correctly, will save you from flatting out of the group. Because in the new pack-style of gravel racing, it’s not the stuff that you can see that will give you flats, it’s the stuff that you can’t see while riding the wheel in front of you.
The hubs are the DT-Swiss 350 workhorse with straight-pull spokes. The DT-350 is a bombproof hub, one that might be slightly heavier than the flagship DT-180 and the popular race DT-240, but it’s one that will not let you down. If you’re rough on your wheels, the DT-350 is a great hub to have; it’s easily serviceable, and replacement parts are very reasonable.
What about the weight? The claimed weight of the Terra Aero CL wheelset is 1,608g. Not ultralight in the pure climbing-wheel sense, but that is not really the job here. The Terra Aero CL is the speed wheel: deep, wide, aero-focused, and built around tire support and confidence.
Pricing is $800 front / $1,100 rear, which puts the full wheelset at $1,900 USD. €849 front / €949 rear, and $1,100 AUD front / $1,500 AUD rear.
Terra CL III: The Workhorse Classic
The new Terra CL III is the more traditional gravel wheelset. The one thats mirrors the Terra CLX III in looks and style, with a shallow, forgiving rim and lightweight climbing prowess. If the Terra Aero CL is too forward-thinking for you, the CL III will be in the sweet spot.
The Terra CL III uses a shallow 25.5mm rim depth front and rear, with a 38mm external width and 27mm internal width, nearly the same as the Terra Aero. Roval says the shape is ideal for a 45mm tire. It also gets FlatStop protection, with 4.9mm bead hooks designed for flat-mitigation and tire-pressure flexibility. The shallow rim gives the tire a stable profile while also providing some compliance over rough roads.
Classic Gravel
This is the classic gravel setup, in my opinion. A rim that can take the abuse of rocks and some roots (like a mountain bike rim) but take the torque of a sprint and push to the line. The shallower rim also means less weight, and the CLIII comes in at a claimed 1,263g for the wheelset. Which is 345g lighter than the Terra CL aero version and only 179g heavier than the Terra CLX version.
The hubs are DT 350 hubs just like the Terra CL Aero above (do you see a trend here?).
Pricing for Terra CL III is $700 front / $1,000 rear, or $1,700 USD for the pair. European pricing is €799 front / €899 rear, and Australian pricing is $1,100 AUD front / $1,500 AUD rear.
Terra C III: The More Attainable Carbon Option
The new Terra C III is the most accessible wheel in the lineup, but Roval did not make it weirdly narrow, outdated, or overly basic. It still uses the same key gravel dimensions as the Terra CL III: 25.5mm rim depth, 38mm external width, and 27mm internal width.
That means the C III still gets the modern tire footprint for tires from 35mm to 60mm, and some extra comfort support.
The C III also uses 4.9mm bead hooks for added durability and greater tire pressure tuning. This is aimed at racers and riders of all levels who want predictable handling and confidence without jumping all the way into the higher-end CL or CLX-level pricing.
The hubs are DT Swiss, but not the DT-350; they are the DT-370. The DT-370 hubset is a bit stouter than the DT-350, but still performs and is super easy to service. Again, that matters. Gravel parts live a hard life. Easy-to-find, easy-to-service parts are a very good thing when you are building a bike that actually gets ridden.
Claimed weight for the Terra C III wheelset is 1,594g. That makes it close to the Terra Aero CL in weight, but the purpose is different. The C III is not chasing deep-section aero speed. It is chasing durability, predictable handling, tire support, and everyday reliability. Plus, at $1,200 for the set, it’s a killer deal.
Pricing is $500 front / $700 rear, or $1,200 USD for the set. European pricing is €649 front / €749 rear, and Australian pricing is $700 AUD front / $900 AUD rear.
Updated Roval Terra Cockpit
Wheels are only part of the update. Roval also updated the Terra Cockpit. It’s now a lean, mean (one-piece integrated carbon bar/stem specifically designed for gravel racing) machine.
But what the hell does that actually mean? The Terra Cockpit borrows carbon-layup techniques and high-end materials from Roval’s Alpinist cockpit, but they didn’t just add flared drops and a gravel sticker. Roval says the Terra Cockpit was designed around speed, compliance, and long-haul comfort over rough terrain. Plus, it weighs a claimed 298g, which Roval says makes it the lightest gravel cockpit on the market.
That number will get attention, but the more interesting part is the ride tuning. Roval says the Terra Cockpit 78% more compliant than the Rapide Cockpit. That is a huge shift in intent. The Rapide is a road race cockpit. The Terra is meant to take the edge off chatter and all the little hits that wear you down over a long gravel race.
Like all the touchpoints offered by Roval, the Terra Cockpit shape was refined through more than 100,000 Body Geometry fits. The Human Performance Lab used these scans and what they learned by talking with Specialized athletes to tune the fit and shape of the new Roval Terra cockpit.
It’s All About the Shape
The new Terra cockpit is all about shape and feeling good in the hands. The tops use an updated 5-degree backsweep. This sweep gives a little confidence but is also designed to promote a more aerodynamic arm position. It’s much easier to get your palms on the levers and elbows in. That matters because gravel racers spend a ton of time on the tops. Not just casually spinning, either. They are tucked, chasing wheels, trying to stay narrow, and looking for any body position that saves watts without making their neck and shoulders give up.
The Terra Cockpit also uses a shallow 107mm drop and 12-degree flare. That combination should make the drops easier to use when the terrain gets rough, but not so deep that they overextend the rider’s range of motion. The flare adds leverage and stability when hitting tricky descents or when you need a new hand position after a long day out.
The flare is also reasonable. Not cartoon-wide, sensible, and comfortable.
The Terra Cockpit is aimed at gravel racers who already know their fit and want a clean, light, integrated setup. That is the catch with any one-piece cockpit: you need to know your position. That said, this is one comfortable bar, and it’s not limited to gravel.
Pricing is $700 USD, €579.99, or $850 AUD.
Look for the new Roval Terra family of gravel goods on the newly announced Specialized Crux and at Roval retailers worldwide.
Roval.com
