Gravel wheels face a contradiction that road and mountain categories don't: they need climbing-weight acceleration for punchy terrain changes while surviving the relentless vibration and impacts that would crack a pure road rim. The Roval Terra CLX II rear wheel resolves this tension by pairing a race-proven carbon rim with hub technology borrowed from Roval's dedicated climbing line. Transplanting the Low Flange Disc hub design from the Alpinist CLX II shaved 50 grams from the previous Terra generation, dropping the rear wheel to 680 grams—territory typically reserved for road climbing hoops that would shatter on Kansas flint. For gravel racers chasing time gaps or bikepackers reducing rotating mass without sacrificing durability, this weight class opens options that didn't exist a few years ago.

The hub architecture centers on DT Swiss 180 Ratchet EXP internals with 36-tooth engagement, spinning on SINC ceramic bearings that reduce friction at the contact points where efficiency matters most. That ceramic bearing upgrade isn't cosmetic—it translates to measurable watts saved over the course of a 200-mile gravel race, the kind of marginal gain that compounds across hours in the saddle. The 36-tooth ratchet provides 10 degrees of engagement, which means near-instant power pickup when you stand to punch over a rise or accelerate out of a corner. This hub and bearing combination explains why Terra CLX wheels have rolled across the Unbound finish line ahead of the field multiple times.

Rim construction follows a hooked profile with 32mm depth and 25mm internal width, a combination that accommodates everything from 28mm slicks to 47mm knobby tires at pressures up to 80 PSI for narrower rubber. The hooked bead provides security for riders who want tubeless versatility without sacrificing the option to run higher pressures when surfaces smooth out. That flexibility matters on events that transition from pavement to singletrack to loose gravel within the same stage. The 30mm external width creates a smooth transition to modern tire profiles, reducing the sidewall bulge that can affect handling precision on high-speed descents.... Read More