components: Competition test: Roval CLX 50 – wider equals better?

The German Team Herrmann thoroughly tested the new Roval CLX 50 wheelset under race conditions for Velomotion at the Istria Spring Trophy (UCI EuropeTour). Previously, the US manufacturer offered the lightweight CLX 32 and the aerodynamic CLX 64 wheelset; with the Roval CLX 50, they have now launched an all-round wheelset to meet all needs.

After the technical data of the 50mm newcomer seemed extremely promising, we were very excited to be able to test the CLX 50 in comparison to the CLX 32 and 64. Especially the professionals, who are supported by Roval, had spoken out in favor of a middle piece between the two previous models. With Bora - Hansgrohe and Quick - Step Floors, there are again two teams in the 2017 WorldTour that are on Roval wheels.

At the beginning we noticed that Roval is also following the trend towards wider tires and less air pressure and has accordingly brought wider rims onto the market. According to the manufacturer, an additional advantage is the improved aerodynamics compared to narrower rims, which is particularly noticeable with wide tires. We tested the clincher version of the Roval CLX 50 for rim brakes with a Specialized Cotton Turbo tire, the tire width was 24 mm at the front and 26 mm at the rear.

Roval CLX 50 clinchers

Roval CLX 50 – light-footed all-rounder ?

If you look at the facts alone, you would have to answer the question with a clear "yes", because with a rim height of around 50mm and a weight below the magical 1.400g mark, everything seems to be in place to drive a real all-rounder in the field of wheels. On the four very varied stages through Croatia, the guys from Team Herrmann were able to test the wheels on a wide variety of terrain.

The driving experience was very pleasant right from the start, as you could feel the extra comfort directly thanks to the wide tires. Especially on bad roads or pavements you were always on the right track and could absorb the impacts better. We were a bit surprised by the rather poor braking performance in the rain, although you were driving with the brake pads intended for this purpose, you had to drive much more carefully than with other carbon rims. Another reason that would also speak for disc brakes in road racing. On the bumpy stages, the Roval CLX 50 was able to fully demonstrate its strengths, especially on the mountain. The combination of impressive aerodynamics and low weight is worth its weight in gold, especially on climbs that are not too steep. You can also compete with the aero specialist CLX 64 on the level and don't have to hide. Due to the low weight, the wheels can be accelerated quickly and maintain momentum for an extremely long time, which is particularly beneficial on slightly sloping passages. However, you could clearly feel the wind here despite the lower rim. The same applies to fast descents, here the wind picks up very quickly and makes the whole thing a bit uneasy. The stiffness of the wheel is just as impressive as the aerodynamics, be it in a sprint or when pedaling uphill, we couldn't find anything negative.

There really isn't much to say about the hubs. They still rely on the aerodynamically optimized Roval AF hubs and the proven DT Swiss 240 inner workings. In the standing state, something with the bearings did not appear to be quite right at first, as one had a high feeling of friction when turning slightly. However, if you clamp the wheels and give them a small impulse, they turn a lot longer than comparable wheels. Admittedly, this test is by no means highly scientific, but it served its purpose for us. The external spoke nipples were particularly pleasant for the team mechanics, as they enable easy re-centering without much effort, even with the tire mounted and without special tools. According to the manufacturer, there is no aerodynamic disadvantage.