63mm of rim depth on a front wheel would have seemed reckless a few years ago. Deep front rims meant crosswind instability, white-knuckle descents, and the constant mental tax of fighting steering inputs in gusty conditions. Roval's engineering team built the Rapide Sprint CLX Front Wheel to challenge that assumption, pairing aggressive depth with rim profiles optimized for stability rather than pure drag reduction alone. The reasoning starts with a simple observation: roughly 90 percent of a wheelset's aerodynamic benefit originates at the front wheel, where the rim encounters undisturbed air. Maximizing depth here yields disproportionate returns.

The Sprint designation signals intent. This wheel targets finishing kicks, town-line sprints, and the decisive moments when races compress into 250-meter efforts. Roval claims the depth advantage translates to 18 centimeters gained over that distance compared to shallower front wheels—a margin that decides photo finishes. The rim's 35mm external width creates a smooth aerodynamic transition to 28mm tires, the intended pairing that Roval optimized during wind tunnel development.

Composite spokes developed with Arris replace traditional steel, saving 2.3 grams per spoke while delivering 63 percent more strength. Titanium end fittings complete the connection to hub and rim. Across the 18-spoke front build, the weight savings accumulate to meaningful rotational mass reduction without sacrificing the stiffness that sprint efforts demand. The spokes lace in a two-cross/radial 2:1 pattern, balancing lateral rigidity with the compliance needed for real-world road surfaces.... Read More