Wheels

Trail wheels often fall into two categories—they’re either heavy and durable or light and flexy. And because of this, a lightweight, wide-profile, and enduro-ready carbon wheel seems like something only found in a fairytale, but lucky for you, we made it a reality. The Traverse SL Fattie 27.5 puts all the flick'able, nimble features you need in an all-mountain wheel into one package, and it has the results to prove it. Along with light overall weight, stiffness, and durability, another top priority for the Traverse SL was ease of use. First off, we got rid of the creaky straight-pull spokes and corrosion-prone alloy nipples. Next up, we landed on 28 J-bend spokes, for both the front and rear wheels, that are all the same length—making it easy to find replacements if needed. And finally, we engineered a new hub design, with a wider profile and higher flange to aid in overall stiffness. What's with the big-boned name, you ask? The Traverse SL Fatties may be wide, but with a 30mm inner rim width, they’re far from the girth of a fat bike rim. But let's talk width. You've probably noticed that mountain bike rim widths have hovered between 19 and 23 millimeters for decades, and they've been long overdue for a change. In the search for a better wheel design, our engineers began testing 2.3- to 2.5-inch tires on 45-millimeter-wide fat bike rims to see what, if any, benefits could be found. It only took them a few rides to realize that the wider rims offered a variety of advantages, like adding additional tire volume, which better supports the tires in hard cornering, greatly improves traction because of the ability to run lower pressures, and noticeably increases rim stiffness. They did note that there is an occurrence of diminishing returns with increasing width, however, and after testing everything from 25 to 45mm, determined that a 30mm inner width is optimal. After determining the width, we began designing the rim using the knowledge that we gained when developing the Control SL. With this, we started with our Zero Bead Hook technology that gets rid of the weak spot found in a traditional wheel, and combined it with the wider profile to make a carbon rim that effectively dissipates forces. This way, you can take abuse from rocks without the worry of cracks or dents. Ok, so they’re strong, impact-resistant, and tire supporting—they must be heavy, right? Wrong. Even though “fattie” is in their name, they're far from fat. To achieve this weight, we hand-build our rims to our own alloy hubs, using only the highest quality DT Swiss Competition Race spokes. Inside our hubs, you'll find DT Swiss 240 internals with a quick engaging 54t DT Swiss star ratchet system in the rear that allows you to power over rocks and roots without delay. And while machines do a pretty good job of building wheels, we choose professionally trained humans because they do so with an artistic touch that makes for minimal flaws. Whether you need a carbon wheelset to get you through an enduro stage or one to shred your local rock garden, the Traverse SL Fattie has you covered.

• Rim Type: Carbon clincher, 2Bliss Ready, Zero Bead Hook design. Black graphic under clear coat.
• Rim Material: Carbon fiber
• Rim Width: 30mm internal
• Rear Spoke Pattern: Two-cross
• Spoke Count: 28h Rear
• Spoke Type: DT Swiss Competition Race J-bend
• Nipple Type: DT Swiss Brass Pro Lock hexagonal
• Rear Hub: CNC-machined alloy body, high-quality DT 240 internals and 54t quick engagement ratchet system cassette, includes SRAM XX1 11-speed freehub and 148 end caps.
• Roval Engineered J-bend hubshells have a single spoke length for each wheelset.
• Bearing Type: Sealed cartridge

• Casing: 60 TPI
• Bead: Foldable
• Butyl wrapped bead = 2Bliss Ready
• Compound: GRIPTON®
• 29 x 2.1", psi 25-50, approximate weight 560g
• 29 x 2.3", psi 25-50, approximate weight 600g

• Rim Type: Carbon Clincher, tubeless-first
• Rim Material: Advanced Carbon Composite
• Rim Width (internal): 25mm
• Rim Depth: 32mm
• Rear Spoke Pattern: One-cross/Two-cross (2:1)
• Spoke Count: 24
• Spoke Type: DT Swiss Aerolite T-head
• Nipple Type: DT Swiss Pro Lock Alloy hexagonal
• Spoke Length: Drive-Side/Non-Drive: 272mm/277mm
• Rear Hub: Roval AFD2, Centerlock, DT Swiss EXP internals, Shimano HG, 142x12mm thru-axle end cap

When we set out to create a lightweight wheelset, we didn’t want it to be “just another climbing wheel." We wanted to provide the lightest wheelset out there with the aerodynamic attributes of something twice its depth. One wheel that'll get you to the base of a climb quickly and up it as efficiently as possible, yet still be strong enough for day-to-day abuse. It was a tall order, but in the end, the CLX 32 gave us more than what we asked for.

Our design process started with a low overall weight at the forefront, as we knew what weight we could hit with the information and technology we had available. With that weight in mind, we then turned our focus to aerodynamics and began an iterative process of designing and testing over 150 individual rims to find the optimal shape. These innumerable Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models, Win Tunnel hours, and shots of espresso left us with a 32mm-deep shape that boasts more logged wind tunnel time than any other wheel in its category.

For the CLX 32 tubular rear, we mated the rim to our Aero Flange (AF) series hub with DT Swiss Aero spokes to create the best overall system. This results in a 665-gram, front wheel with an extremely low inertia value. In cycling, inertia relates to the amount of force it takes to accelerate or decelerate, so wheels that are built with lightweight rims, like the CLX 32, result in a lower inertia value that creates a lively wheel that allows you to accelerate, decelerate, and change direction with less effort. But why so wide? Well, additional width does three primary things for a rim—it provides additional structural strength, it allows for a clean rim and tire interface when using wide tires (resulting in enhanced aerodynamics and faster rolling properties), and it better supports the tire in hard cornering. This boosts both predictable grip and confidence when things get twisty on the descents.

Each CLX 32 tubular front wheel also employs the legendary CeramicSpeed bearings and comes with our padded wheelbag, quick-release, tubeless plugs, tubeless valve, and SwissStop Black Prince brake pads.

• Rim Type: Carbon tubular
• Rim Material: Carbon
• Braking Surface: Carbon fiber
• Brake Track Height: 12mm
• Rim Depth: 64mm
• Rim Width: 27.1mm external
• Spoke Pattern: Radial/Two-cross (2:1)
• Spoke Count: 24
• Spoke Type: DT Swiss Aerolite T-head
• Nipple Type: DT Swiss Pro Lock hexagonal

When you think of lightweight XC wheels, aluminum probably doesn't come to mind. In reality, though, high-grade alloy wheels have all of the tremendous performance properties found in carbon, like light overall weight, durability, and resilience to impact. And when made with the right hands, they're perfect for competitive racers and everyday trail riders alike. The problem is that, while many carbon wheels can check these boxes with ease, most alloy wheels don't live up to these expectations. In the case of the Control 29 wheels, however, there’s finally an aluminum wheelset that's truly ready to race.

What sets the Control 29 wheels apart is that they share many of the same advanced technologies as our carbon version, the Control SL. They adopt the same rim shape with a 25-millimeter inner width, extensive on-trail testing, and our Zero Bead Hook technology.

Our Zero Bead Hook rim takes away the dated mountain wheel design known as a bead hook. This hook is the part of the rim that crests at the top, sitting several millimeters inward from the rim’s sidewall, and it catches the tire’s bead under its hook. We know this may not sound too bad, but the hook establishes a weak spot in the rim that's easily crushed or bent. Without a hook, a rim can be manufactured to much tighter tolerances and can be made lighter due to the hook not needing to be reinforced. For these wheels, this means that we're able to nearly equal the strength of carbon, while also making them lighter than many carbon wheels. More importantly, a Zero Bead Hook all but gets rid of the aforementioned weak spot in the rim that's plagued riders with flat spots and dents for decades. If you happen to be one of those riders that enjoys riding your four-inch travel XC bike like it’s a six-inch trail bike, you’re in luck.

Our objective of low weight and reliability, at an accessible price, also carries into the Control 29 build. We hand-build each rim to our alloy hubs, which feature DT Swiss internals at the rear and a design that allows for the same spoke lengths at both front and rear, via perfectly tensioned DT Swiss Revolution J-Bend spokes and Pro Lock nipples. We fully support the art of hand-building and do so with our wheels, knowing that real people can catch things that a machine simply cannot.

• Rim: Control Alloy Clincher, 29, Disc Brake, Tubeless Ready, Zero Bead Hook design
• Rim Details: 18.15mm Depth, 30mm External Width, 25mm Internal Width
• Hub: Roval JFM02, DT Swiss 360 3 pawl internals, 24t (15deg), XD Freehub, 110x15mm & 142x12mm thru-axle compatible, (Convertible freehub and endcaps)
• Bearing Type: Sealed Steel Cartridge
• Spokes: DT Swiss Competition Race J-Bend, F: Two-Cross 28 count, L: 287mm, R: Two-cross 28 count, L: DS 287mm NDS 287mm
• Nipple: DT Swiss Hex Prolock Al 2.0x14mm
• Tire Size: 1.95" - 2.6"; Max Pressure: XX psi
• Weight: Wheelset 1690g
• Assembly Method: Hand built at every step.
• Extras: 19 and 31mm OD end cap options included, Roval tubeless plugs and tubeless valve, System Weight Limit: 240lbs / 109kg;

The trails in our neck of the woods get pretty hairy pretty fast, so we've found them to be the perfect testing ground for tough, nimble wheels like our Traverse 27.5 Carbon. The steep climbs and descents helped inspire some pretty radical designs, and most importantly, left us with no doubt that these wheels will exceed your expectations.

Let's talk about those expectations. They include everything from the ability to stay true after launching off drops to being light enough to efficiently pedal to the top of a climb—and they all begin with the rim. Our engineers knew they wanted carbon fiber, and with the inclusion of our Zero Bead Hook design, they were able to implement a continuous fiber layup across the sidewall and rim bed. And when paired with a whopping 30-millimeter internal rim width, they made a wheel that's super resilient to impact with low rolling resistance and incredible traction. You'll also find that it helps prevent "burping" during hard cornering, while making tubeless set up quick and easy.

Along with light overall weight, stiffness, and durability, another top priority for the Traverse was ease of use. First off, we got rid of the creaky straight-pull spokes and corrosion-prone alloy nipples. Next up, we landed on 28 J-bend spokes, for front and rear wheels, that are all the same length—making it easy to find replacements if needed. And finally, we engineered a new hub design with a wider profile and higher flange to aid in overall stiffness.

A wider rim does a variety of things for ride performance—it better supports the tire for increased confidence and grip, and it affords you the ability to run lower pressures that help spread impact out over a larger surface area to reduce the risk of damage. And when you combine this girth with the notoriously nimble and playful 27.5 platform, you’re left with an incredibly stiff, quick-to-accelerate wheelset that climbs just as well as it shreds descents.

After designing the perfect trail rim, we kept our lightweight and durable design properties in mind with the wheel build, hand-lacing the rims DT Swiss 350 Classic hubs via 28 DT Swiss Competition Race spokes and brass Pro Lock nipples. Inside, you'll find sealed cartridge bearings and a 36t quick engagement ratchet system for quick accelerations. We also wanted to ensure that each wheel was built correctly, and we found that this could only be achieved by hand. Machines, we found, have a tendency to miss little mistakes that humans catch.

Each wheelset comes packaged with a SRAM XD driver, 11-speed freehub, and a tubeless valve stem in order to make tubeless set-up a touch easier. *Please note that Shimano freehubs are sold separately.

• Rim Type: Traverse Carbon, 27.5, Disc Brake, Tubeless Ready, Zero Bead Hook design
• Rim Details: XXmm Depth, XXmm External Width, 30mm Internal Width
• Hub: DT Swiss 350 J-bend, 6-bolt, 36T (10deg) Star Ratchet, XD Freehub, 110x15mm & 142x12mm thru-axle compatible, (Convertible freehub and endcaps)
• Bearing Type: DT Swiss Sealed Steel Cartridge
• Spokes: DT Swiss Competition Race J-Bend, Front: Two-Cross 28 count, L: 260mm, R: 264mm; Rear: Two-cross 28 count, L: DS 261mm NDS 262mm
• Nipple: DT Swiss Brass Pro Lock hexagonal
• Tire Size: 1.95" - 2.6"; Max Pressure: XX psi
• Weight: Wheelset 1700g
• Assembly Method: Hand built at every step.
• Extras: 19 and 31mm OD end cap options included, Roval tubeless plugs and tubeless valve, System Weight Limit: 240lbs / 109kg;

The Control SL Team wheels are the lightest and fastest XC wheels in the world. Through a delicate balance of light weight development, top-notch ride quality, and surpassed durability targets, the Roval team was able to build our elite XC team a wheelset like never before.

WORLD’S LIGHTEST: At 1,190 grams, it’s the lightest production XC wheel. The biggest weight savings came from our revolutionary carbon spokes. After a three-year process involving exhaustive material research and extensive testing in the field and lab, we landed on 20 optimized carbon fiber spokes that are not only 29% lighter than their steel counterparts, they’re also stronger and more durable.

SPEED OF CONTROL: Control SL Team earns its name by hitting optimal stiffness targets that provide World Cup winning steering precision and traction. The rims and carbon spokes are optimized for lateral stiffness creating predictable steering so the rider hits the line they intend to. This, combined with just right torsional compliance, allows the rider to track the terrain faithfully and maximize traction.

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION: With 33% more force to fail than our closest competitors, they deliver the durability you need for speed on modern, aggressive courses. The engineered, flat-top bead shape almost entirely removes the threat of pinch flats, requiring 40% more force to pinch flat over our toughest competitors—allowing riders to run their preferred air-pressure with 100% confidence.

LIMITED EDITION: For riders looking for the absolute fastest wheelset in the world through the highest level of control, durability, and ultra-light performance in an XC race wheel, Control SL Team is the one. This hand-built wheelset is only available once and in extremely limited quantities.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX: Inside Control SL Team is more than just a wheelset. You’ll also get, Ti bolts, end caps with tools, a Dynaplug kit, a premium wheel bag, 2 premium Specialized tires, extra carbon spokes, and a few other surprises.

• Rim: Control SL 29, 4mm FlatTop Bead Hooks, Front: 29’’ - Rear: 29’’, Disc Brake, Tubeless Compatible, Tire Insert Compatible.
• Rim Details: 25mm Depth, 37mm External Width, 29mm Internal Width, 4mm Bead Width.
• Hub: Roval Low Flange Hub (LFM21/LFM22), 20H, Straightpull, 6-bolt disc, DT Swiss 180 Ratchet EXP 36t internals (10 degs), 15mm x 110mm thru-axle (Boost) & 12mm x 148mm (Boost), SRAM XD Freehub (convertible freehub), Silver TEAM Edition. Max Rotor Size <200mm.
• Bearing Type: DT Swiss Ceramic SINC Bearing.
• Spokes: Roval Carbon Round Straightpull: Front: Two-cross (1:1) 20 count, 306mm (DS/NDS): Rear: Two-cross (1:1) 20 count, 306mm (DS/NDS).
• Nipple: Roval, Alloy, 8.1mm.
• Tire Size: 1.9’’ - 2.6’’. Max PSI: 1.9” – 2.3” = 40psi: 2.35”-2.5” = 35psi: 2.5”-2.6” = 30psi.
• Weight: Wheelset 1,190g, Front 548g, Rear 642g (includes 15g per wheel of tubeless rim tape and tubeless valve).
• Extras: Fast Trak S-Works 29 x 2.35, Renegade S-Works 29 x 2.35, Titanium Rotor Bolts (x12), LTD Roval Double Wheel Bag, LTD Roval Water Bottle (x2), Custom Roval Dynaplug® Racer Pro w/ Spare Plugs, DT Swiss Microspline FHB, 19 & 31mm OD End Caps w/ Tool, DT Swiss Ceramic SINC Bearings, Spare Spoke & Nipple Kit w/ Hand Built Tension Card, LTD Personalized S-Racing Packet, Lifetime Warranty, System Weight Limit: 275lbs/125kg.
• Assembly Method: Hand-built.

Feel your bike come alive on the open road with the new Alpinist CL II, featuring the lightest, best-handling clincher rims we have ever made, elevated with the performance of a tubeless system. The brand new Alpinist CL II now brings mountain-taming performance slightly closer to Earth with a carefully selected build designed to let riders take full advantage of the low rim and spoke mass.

The Alpinist CL II utilizes the same rim as the Alpinist CLX II. They react to even the slightest increase in power with immediate acceleration and carve the purest lines in the corners, yet they can also handle almost double the impact standards of every certifying body. The result is a 1375-gram tubeless wheelset with an otherworldly ride quality designed for real-world road pressures.

The Alpinist CL II utilizes components curated to keep you rolling and rolling fast. The DT Swiss 350 hubs, featuring their Star Ratchet drive system, are reliable and easy to service, while 24 DT Swiss CompRace Straightpull spokes front and rear, laced to the rims with their alloy Pro Lock nipples, are synonymous with reliability and can be obtained at any bike shop.

The reduced rolling resistance of a tubeless setup is undeniable, as are the benefits of improved handling and incredible puncture protection. It took the most extensive and demanding engineering and testing program we’ve ever undertaken. As a result of this extensive development, the Alpinist CL II features a hooked rim that can handle a huge range of pressures up to 110psi and offers an easier set up and mounting experience than ever.

• Rim: Alpinist CLX Cabon Clincher, 700c, Disc Brake, Tubeless
• Rim Details: 33mm Depth, 27mm External Width, 21mm Internal Width
• Hub: DT Swiss 350 Straighpull Center Lock, Star Ratchet 36t internals (10 degs), 100x12mm & 142x12mm, Shim. RD. 11SP HG freehub
• Bearing Type: DT Swiss Sealed Steel Cartridge Bearings
• Spokes: DT Swiss Competition Race Straightpull, Front: Radial/Two-cross (2:1) 21 count, DS: 276mm, NDS: 290mm; Rear: Two-cross (1:1) 24 count, DS: 283mm NDS: 287mm
• Nipple: DT Swiss Hex Prolock Al 2.0x14mm
• Tire Size: 24mm - 38mm; Max Pressure: 24mm-35mm: Tubeless (110psi) Tubed (130psi), 36mm-38mm: Tubeless (60psi) Tubed (60psi)
• Weight: Wheelset 1,375g, Front 606g, Rear 769g (including 15g, tubeless rim tape and tubeless valve)
• Assembly Method: Hand built at every step; from rim layup to the last nipple turn.
• Extras: Roval Rim Tape, Spare Spoke & Nipple Kit, System Weight Limit: 275lbs/125kg

• Rim: Terra C RTM Carbon Clincher, 700c, Disc Brake, Tubeless Compatible
• Rim Details:32mm Depth, 30mm External Width, 25mm Internal Width - ERD 577mm
• Hub: DT Swiss 370 J-bend Center Lock, Ratchet LN 18t internals (20 degs) , 100x12mm & 142x12mm, Shim. Rd. 11sp Freehub (Convertible freehub )
• Bearing Type: DT Swiss Sealed Steel Cartridge Bearings
• Spokes: DT Swiss Competition Race J-bend, Front: Radial/Two-cross 24 count, R: 268mm, L: 279mm - Rear: Two-cross 24 count, DS: 277mm NDS: 278mm
• Nipple: DT Swiss Hex Prolock Al 2.0x14mm
• Tire Size: 28mm - 47mm - Max Pressure: 28c-32c: 80psi, 33c – 36c: 65psi, 37c- 47c: 60psi
• Weight: Wheelset 1,610g, Front 719g, Rear 891g (including tubeless rim tape and tubeless valve)
• Assembly Method: Carbon Layup - Automated, Wheel Build - Hand built.
• Extras: Roval Tubeless Rim Tape and Tubeless Valve, Spare Spoke & Nipple Kit, System Weight Limit: 275lbs / 125kg