Conventional wheel design has followed a simple rule for decades: deeper rear rim, shallower front. The logic seemed sound—reduce crosswind instability up front while adding aerodynamic depth where steering inputs matter less. Roval's engineering team questioned that assumption and arrived at a different conclusion. The Rapide Sprint CLX Rear Wheel runs 58mm deep while its partner front wheel sits at 63mm, an inversion of traditional depth distribution that Roval claims puts riders 18 centimeters ahead over a 250-meter sprint. The reasoning centers on where aerodynamic gains actually originate: roughly 90 percent come from the front wheel cutting through undisturbed air.

The shallower rear depth serves acceleration rather than pure aero. Sprint finishes demand explosive power delivery, and rotational mass at the rear wheel directly affects how quickly a rider can wind up speed out of a corner or launch a finishing kick. Carbon composite spokes developed with Arris replace traditional steel, saving 2.3 grams per spoke while delivering 63 percent more strength. Across the full spoke count, that translates to 96.6 grams of system weight reduction concentrated where it matters most for acceleration response. Titanium spoke fittings complete the weight savings without sacrificing durability under sprint loads.

The hub internals come from DT Swiss, with Ratchet EXP 36-tooth engagement ensuring instant power transfer when the sprint begins. DT Sinc ceramic bearings reduce friction at the freehub and hub shell, contributing marginal efficiency gains that compound over race distances. The rear wheel ships with an SRAM XD-R freehub body installed, but a Shimano HG 11/12-speed freehub with steel bearings is included for drivetrain flexibility.... Read More