Cross-country racing has entered an era where the rear wheel is asked to survive rock strikes that would have destroyed a race hoop a decade ago, and Roval built the Control SL VI Solix Rear Wheel around that reality. The proprietary asymmetric carbon rim lay-up boosts front impact strength by 14% and rear by 21% , a deliberate asymmetry that acknowledges how much more punishment the driven wheel absorbs on modern World Cup courses. The engineering brief was to keep the wheelset at elite weight targets while giving the back end the reinforcement it actually needs.

The Control SL VI Carbon rim measures 29mm internal width, 37mm external width, and 25mm deep, with a hookless carbon clincher construction that is tubeless ready and insert compatible . A 4mm FlatStop bead hook minimizes pinch flats, and an asymmetric rim profile boosts longevity by keeping spoke tension more even across the two flanges. Approved tire widths run from 1.9" to 2.6", with a maximum pressure of 40 psi tubeless or tubed , covering everything from race-day Fast Trak rubber to more aggressive down-country casings.

At the hub, an Industry Nine Solix straight pull design features a continuously-phased five pawl freehub and hardened steel 121 tooth drive ring to offer 605 points of contact, which translates to 0.59° of engagement . That figure is functionally instantaneous, and it matters most on techy climbs where a half-pedal-stroke recovery can be the difference between cleaning a move and dabbing. The rear hub runs 12x148mm Boost spacing with a SRAM XD freehub body and stainless steel bearings , matching current XC frame and 12-speed drivetrain standards.... Read More