new Roval CL50 wheels asymmetric- any info?
#1
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new Roval CL50 wheels asymmetric- any info?
I believe there has been a change in the ROVAL CL50 wheel sets- I believe they will be asymmetric. Meaning the front wheel is a little wider than the rear wheel for aerodynamic reasons. At this point, these wheels are certified for tube only. A salesman showed me this on a new Tarmac they had in the store. There is very little info on this- the salesman believes:
1) Price will still be $1750
2) There are no other significant differences
3) When Roval has a chance to complete testing, they will be certified for tubeless use- there will not be different models marketed for tube or tubeless.
4) If I order a set of CL50s now, they will arrive asymmetric.
5) The weights are the same.
I have a chance to buy some dealer new "take-off" CL50s that have Specialized Turbo Gripton 26c tube tires- and the rear wheel already has the SRAM freehub adapter (which I need) for $1750. Before I buy, I'm trying to find out more about the asymmetric wheels- assuming they're available at all. If there is significant difference, improvement, model upgrade, etc. No info on Roval site about this- or anywhere else I could find.
Anyone know anything about this? I want to move my build along- but don't want to find out later that I bought "last year's model" missing new improvements.
Thanks......
1) Price will still be $1750
2) There are no other significant differences
3) When Roval has a chance to complete testing, they will be certified for tubeless use- there will not be different models marketed for tube or tubeless.
4) If I order a set of CL50s now, they will arrive asymmetric.
5) The weights are the same.
I have a chance to buy some dealer new "take-off" CL50s that have Specialized Turbo Gripton 26c tube tires- and the rear wheel already has the SRAM freehub adapter (which I need) for $1750. Before I buy, I'm trying to find out more about the asymmetric wheels- assuming they're available at all. If there is significant difference, improvement, model upgrade, etc. No info on Roval site about this- or anywhere else I could find.
Anyone know anything about this? I want to move my build along- but don't want to find out later that I bought "last year's model" missing new improvements.
Thanks......
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So you're saying that this is a new wheelset that's arriving on the new Tarmacs but they're not the CL or CLX Rapide? Because they've been pretty adamant that those are tube-only and that making them tubeless would have required more rim material.
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Sounds like a confused or bull****ting salesman.
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I soo want to joke that Spesh pulled an about face after Alaphilippe punctured 5 times at Milan San-Remo last Saturday, but he was probably running tubulars.
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I should add that that thread also had a bunch of people surprised that he set them up tubeless, so there is definitely confusion all over about this.
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Yeah, I remember seeing the rim profile previously and thinking that it looked like a typical tubeless rim bed, but Specialized has said that they're not tubeless and that they don't have the material to support it. If that's truly the case, they may have to furlough some of their IP attack dog lawyers in favor of some litigation defense attorneys, 'cause people are going to try it.
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Even if there is a difference it won't be "significant".
The only thing worth clarifying is if they are going to be tubeless compatible, if that is important to you.
The only thing worth clarifying is if they are going to be tubeless compatible, if that is important to you.
#10
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And, yes- he did say that at this point they are considered tube only. As I mention elsewhere in this thread, this brings up the issue of whether there will be tube and tubeless versions.
Last edited by kip.duff; 08-03-20 at 07:52 PM.
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"Confused" probably. And understandably so- he's got a lot goin on- and apparently getting to the bottom of this question would/will take serious research. Looks like this issue is quite confusing- and I see additional evidence of that in this thread. I did email Specialized/Roval with the same question I posted here. No response yet.
#12
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Yeah, I remember seeing the rim profile previously and thinking that it looked like a typical tubeless rim bed, but Specialized has said that they're not tubeless and that they don't have the material to support it. If that's truly the case, they may have to furlough some of their IP attack dog lawyers in favor of some litigation defense attorneys, 'cause people are going to try it.
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If you get flats regularly enough that changing tubes on the side of the road is a pain in your ass, that's the biggest (IMO) benefit to be had. If you're dedicated to chasing marginal gains, you might save a handful of watts, too. If neither of the above applies, I wouldn't bother.
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Lolwut. That makes sense to you? That Specialized would ship some wheels as tube-only, and then randomly switch to marketing them as tubeless compatible?
It seems like patience is an awful lot to ask for here, but a few weeks is probably going to make a big difference. The new SL7 Tarmac Pro is specced with Rapide CLs (not CL50s) that look to have different depths F/R, but the older CL50s are what's available standalone, where the new "asymmetrical" Rapide CLXs from the S-Works Tarmac are on their website as standalone wheels, with the "new" tag. Trying to put some logic to that- yeah, it seems like an updated CL50-tier wheelset is on the way, but if your shop puts in an order for the current CL50 part number...you're almost certainly getting CL50s.
It seems like patience is an awful lot to ask for here, but a few weeks is probably going to make a big difference. The new SL7 Tarmac Pro is specced with Rapide CLs (not CL50s) that look to have different depths F/R, but the older CL50s are what's available standalone, where the new "asymmetrical" Rapide CLXs from the S-Works Tarmac are on their website as standalone wheels, with the "new" tag. Trying to put some logic to that- yeah, it seems like an updated CL50-tier wheelset is on the way, but if your shop puts in an order for the current CL50 part number...you're almost certainly getting CL50s.
#18
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It seems like patience is an awful lot to ask for here, but a few weeks is probably going to make a big difference. The new SL7 Tarmac Pro is specced with Rapide CLs (not CL50s) that look to have different depths F/R, but the older CL50s are what's available standalone, where the new "asymmetrical" Rapide CLXs from the S-Works Tarmac are on their website as standalone wheels, with the "new" tag. Trying to put some logic to that- yeah, it seems like an updated CL50-tier wheelset is on the way, but if your shop puts in an order for the current CL50 part number...you're almost certainly getting CL50s.
In some threads, they post that the new CLXs have decals on them: "tubeless ready"- said you can see the decals in some of the product images on Roval or Specialized sites. Did not find that myself. Quite a runaround!
Last edited by kip.duff; 08-05-20 at 12:44 PM.
#19
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Though I'm not as expert as most of you, I think I see some wisdom to Roval's position. Maybe tubeless is not quite as cool as the market presents it. I've seen threads about severe difficulty in installing tubeless. And some photos of ridiculous dried up balls of sealant that were rumbling around inside the tire. And weight competition seems just about even.
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That's because people are dumb and/or inexperienced.
That's MTBs. I've never seen any worse than snake skin coating and cobwebs on road tires.
That's MTBs. I've never seen any worse than snake skin coating and cobwebs on road tires.
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#21
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Ya- I do 18-wheeler tubeless truck tires, including the *****y smaller 19.5" rim versions. I was wondering if this wasn't just someone that hadn't gotten the routine down yet.
#22
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Weight Weenies have a 44 page thread on these new asymmetrics at
https://weightweenies.starbike.com/f...f=113&t=160445
Going thru it now. Should have seen it earlier.
https://weightweenies.starbike.com/f...f=113&t=160445
Going thru it now. Should have seen it earlier.
#23
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I Bought some Conti GP5000TL 28cs and some Specialized Rapide sealant. I used some Schwalbe Easy Fit tire lube and mounted the tubeless Contis without sealant. The mounting was very anticlimactic and used a plastic lever to do the last bead. You were right- I don't know what all the horror stories were about. Used some compressed air and got the "pop pop". Holding pressure well and I'm gonna try without sealant. 60ml in each tire amounts to a quarter pound!
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The Rapide CLX are currently top of my list after researching. I don't want tubeless on my road bikes anyway and so they really appeal: good aero plus light. It's my Madone I want to upgrade so the 'natural' route is XXX6 but while good wheels, heavier and slow to accelerate compared to the competition from some reviewers.