The Terra line is Roval’s answer to the versatile lightweight 700C carbon gravel/all-road wheel, with a modern internal rim width, a proven list of simple features, and one of the most generous warranties.
This review focuses on the $1,400 mid-range Terra CL model, and this wheelset is so well-done that I included it among my favorites for 2021.
Meanwhile, CyclingTips’ global technical editor, James Huang, has ridden plenty of premium Terra CLXs and has a similar opinion of how these (extremely similar) wheels perform.This review details why James and I love these carbon hoops so much.
The Terra CL shares the same carbon rims (700C size only) as Roval’s top-of-the-line Terra CLX, a wheelset you’ll find on Specialized S-Works-class gravel bikes.Available for both front and rear wheels, this lightweight rim offers the popular 25mm inner width and 30.5mm outer width.While tubeless-only hookless rims are becoming more common, the Terra CL/CLX rim is still a tubeless crochet (aka crochet or TC) product that works with all (depending on size) tubeless of your choice and tube tires.
Officially, the rim is available for 28mm to 47mm rubber, but getting wider again certainly doesn’t hurt anyone.
Gravel may be the headliner, but the 25mm internal width and competitive weight make these wheels equally suitable for the new all-road category between road racing and flannel-clad gravel.It’s the same width as Zipp’s latest all-around road wheel, after all.While Zipp’s hookless wheels have a maximum pressure rating of 72.5 psi, you can go higher with these Rovals if you want (though you shouldn’t if you care about speed and/or comfort).
While they’re certainly more aerodynamic than the old boxy Mavic Open Pro, the 32mm deep U-shaped rims are clearly not designed to perform well in the wind tunnel.Instead, the Roval CL tries to perform in just about every other way you’d expect from a wheel of this kind, and there’s more to it than a widely compatible rim bed and internal width.The Terra CL balances competitive weight with proven durability, ease of service, open compatibility and simple tire handling.
The foundation for proven durability, ease of service and open compatibility comes from the standard DT Swiss 350 hub that sits at the center of these wheels.These Taiwan-made, sealed bearing hubs feature DT Swiss’ proven – now “old” – star ratchet system with 36 teeth (10º engagement) engagement points.Not only are these hubs easy to perform basic maintenance, but there is arguably no hub system in the world that better supports after sales service and spare parts availability.The hubs will almost certainly be able to handle any new drivetrain or even axle system you may have in the future (within reason).
The hubs are strung with straight-pull DT Swiss Competition Race double-butted spokes and DT Swiss Prolock aluminum nipples.There are 24 of these spokes front and rear, laced in a 2x pattern.Wheels come with detailed charts detailing spoke tension, tension balance and authenticity, showing a well-balanced and snug wheel.A diagram like this is sure to never be looked at, but the spare spokes and nipples provided are great to store in a safe place to forget about.
While these wheels can fit almost any drivetrain and bike configuration, it’s important to note that Roval currently only offers wheels with Shimano 11-speed hub bodies and 142×12 and 100×12mm axle end caps.If you want to run a SRAM XD/XDR or Campagnolo cassette, you’ll probably be out of pocket because of the freehub adapters required.
With an actual weight of 1,410 grams (including tubeless bead strips and tubeless valves provided), the Terra CL is only 104 grams heavier than the ultralight Terra CLX, which uses premium blade spokes and DT Swiss’s top-of-the-line 180 EXP hubs.The extra $1,100 for lighter (albeit noisier when coasting) wheels and better spokes doesn’t really add value to me, and it just makes the Terra CL more appealing.
By the way, there’s also the entry-level Terra Cs ($1,000), which use cheaper DT Swiss 370 hubs and have low-end carbon rims, which make up a big chunk of the measurable 210 g wheelset weight gain .These wheels are still a strong value proposition, but they’re certainly not Terra CL’s high-end competitors.
Scrolling with Terra CL is very simple.The wheels arrive already wrapped with tubeless rim tape (also suitable for use with tubes) and tubeless valves.
James and I both agree that the rims provide a good halfway fit, making mounting tires simple enough while still being tight enough to ease tubeless inflation.While it certainly depends on the tires used, I have no problem mounting all my tested tubeless tires with my thumb and then inflating them with a floor pump.
My only problem with inflating the tires is the flat shape of the tubeless valve and rubber gasket provided.I found these to leak easily, so I quickly replaced them with regular general purpose alloy valves from WTB (same as Stan’s).I’d like to see Roval make this change themselves so customers don’t have to.
It’s also probably worth mentioning that the Roval’s rim beads seem to fit fairly snugly against the tires.This is great for firm tire retention, but can require considerable thumb force to pop the bead off the rim.For some tires (Continental comes to mind), this struggle is worse, and it’s not a Roval-specific problem — it’s increasingly common with the latest wave of tubeless rims.I don’t have a real solution other than to suggest that you keep tubeless tire sealants topped up.
Once on the bike, I’m glad I didn’t hear any popping or popping spokes, which is a sign that the wheels were properly built and pre-stressed at the factory.James’ Terra CLX provides the same consistent experience.
There are few surprises in the Terra CL, and it’s in a good way.Despite the light weight, the ride quality is firm without being too harsh or too stiff.Loading the bike sideways (like coasting) or on the pedals shows welcome support, and the low mass makes the wheels feel competitive beyond what the asking price would suggest.They just work and they do it very well.
I also like that the top lip of the rim provides a smooth and rounded profile that doesn’t feel like a knife to the sidewall of the tire if you bottom out the tire.James commented that despite his knowledge of hookless rim technology, he still felt more comfortable with hooked rims, especially when using tires with softer casings such as Challenge open tubulars.
James and I also agree that a 25mm inner rim width is the best choice for modern gravel and wider road tires.Its width provides good tire support and healthy volume for tires in the common 32-45mm range.Using wider rims than that would really only benefit those using mountain bike width rubber, while narrower rims only seem to have an advantage in providing a more rounded shape for tires less than 32mm wide.
It’s worth noting that rims with an internal width of 25mm may be wider than what many tire manufacturers determine based on their stated dimensions, so you should expect the tires to be slightly fuller in their measured width.As an example, Continental Terra Trails with a width of 40mm are usually smaller than claimed, but here it is 40.8mm (at 35 psi).
After a few months of use, the wheels remain almost as good as new.The only visible sign of use is the rear rim, which is laterally offset by 1mm, which is a quick fix considering the external nipples.It’s also worth noting that at some point I installed tire inserts for these wheels and deliberately bumped into as many things as possible.I think it’s a win, they’ve stayed the same.Meanwhile, James’ CLX remains straightforward.
With this proven and simple approach, there aren’t too many negatives to speak of here.The leaky tubeless valve still tops the list, but my other complaints are fairly minor.
Aesthetically, I prefer to see more subtle grey or black decals mounted on DT Swiss hubs rather than white and red.There are a number of aftermarket decal makers that offer these decals in any color you like, but it would be nice to not need to make this change.
And then soon there will be complaints that straight-pull round spokes can be harder to trim or replace when needed.Round spokes tend to spin in the hub flange under tension, you may need a smooth pliers or a spoke holding tool to adjust.In contrast, J-bend spokes don’t have the same issues and are easier to find replacements for.There’s certainly a technical reason for the Roval to have straight-pull hubs, but I still prefer the old-fashioned approach.
Then on the topic of spokes, Roval’s use of aluminum nipples is sure to twist the apron straps of many wheel manufacturers.Many wheel manufacturers avoid alloy nipples because they are more prone to corrosion or stress cracking and will eventually need to be replaced.Personally, I’m a big fan of using alloy nipples on wheels designed to save weight.These may not be ideal for cyclists who ride in wet and salt water conditions every day, but they should prove to be reasonably durable for everyone else.
Obviously, my complaints are limited, and no single issue is enough to keep these wheels off my list of 10 favorites for 2021.
Riding on rough gravel roads, or on a full-rigid bike with a bit narrow tires can be a lot of fun, but it also exposes the wheels a bit to rocks you might not have spotted in time.So to me, a big part of the value proposition of these wheels is the inclusion of the warranty.
This lifetime warranty provides the usual coverage for product defects and similar products, but also applies to general use.If you break the product while riding within the first two years of ownership, Roval will replace or repair the wheel for free.If such damage occurs after two years, there is a crash replacement policy that will get you rolling again for a fraction of the price of a new wheel.
Now, Roval is far from the only company offering this type of warranty for its carbon wheels, but when you’re talking about a product whose lifespan is only a few millimeters away from potential damage, it’s still a selling point worth careful evaluation.Note that this generous warranty is not available in all countries.Check before buying.
Overall, I sell on Terra CL wheels and can easily recommend them to anyone looking for a modern road or gravel wheel looking for versatility, lightness and agility, as well as effortless tire compatibility and hassle-free ownership people.
That said, it’s important to mention the elephant in the room here.Terra CL wheels seem to be better value for money in the US than in many other markets.The same wheels sold in the UK and Australia are noticeably more expensive than direct currency exchange would suggest, and while there’s a reason for that, it does fundamentally change how competitive these wheels are.My appreciation for these wheels as high-value and high-performance wheels is based on US pricing and how it stacks up against competitors in that market.
Regardless of the market position, there are obviously plenty of alternatives at this price point, and your decision should be based on the features you want, the warranty offered (and the ease of using it), and your budget.Sure, Roval’s Terra CLs are a great option for those looking for a lightweight carbon wheelset, but they’re far from the only options you should consider.
Reserve’s 32 GR is a very similar option.On paper, these wheels are very similar to the Terra CL and come with similar dimensions, the same hubs and a similar warranty on hook rims.The Reserve wheels are a millimeter narrower and deeper (perhaps stiffer to ride), so carry the extra weight – otherwise you’d be hard-pressed to tell them apart.Reserve wheels do have better spokes, but they are also more expensive at $1,800.
Meanwhile, Bontrager’s 3V TLR Disc Road wheels are another very similar option for $1,500.It also offers a 25mm interior width, crochet hook edge and a generous warranty.However, it’s a bit heavy, and Bontrager’s own hubs (which are great though) don’t have full open compatibility or long-term proven access to spares like DT Swiss hubs.
As your budget increases, you’ll find more options from the likes of Zipp and Enve.Regardless, some elements of the Terra CL described above still make me choose them over many of the more expensive options.
Of course, there are many cheaper direct-to-consumer options on the internet that offer a similar list of specs.While some of these direct-to-consumer options are really good, I’m still confident in saying that Roval makes at least one competitive product — at least for an American product.
Roval is a parts company owned by Specialized Bicycles.Maybe you are wondering about our policy on potential conflicts of interest?This is our position.
Post time: Feb-17-2022
