Roval

Frequently Asked Questions

• What makes Roval wheels different from other high-performance wheel brands?

  Roval is Specialized’s in-house wheel program that pairs full-carbon construction with race-tuned hub and spoke systems (often co-developed with DT Swiss) and front/rear-specific rim shaping to optimize aerodynamics, stiffness, and handling. The brand emphasizes wide, tubeless-ready rims and model-specific engineering that balances lightweight performance with day-to-day durability.
• How do the Rapide and Alpinist series compare for road racing?

  Rapide (CLX/series) is an aero-focused line with deeper front/rear-specific rims (examples include 51mm front/60mm rear and ~35mm rim width) designed for high-speed stability and sprinting, whereas the Alpinist series targets ultralight performance with very shallow rim profiles for climbing and minimizing rotating mass. Choose Rapide when aero efficiency and top-end speed matter, and Alpinist when every gram saved on climbs is the priority.
• What materials and construction techniques does Roval use to balance weight, stiffness, and durability?

  Roval primarily uses full-carbon rims combined with precision hubs and DT Swiss spokes to achieve high stiffness-to-weight ratios, plus front/rear-specific shapes to tune aero and handling. Off-road models add impact-resistant profiles—Control SL, for example, features a flat-top 4mm design and claims noticeably improved impact resistance and pinch-flat protection versus prior generations—to boost durability where it matters.