The purpose behind the extraordinarily light-weight new Roval Management SL Group wheels was to present their XC riders the quickest attainable wheels for the 2024 Olympics.
The undertaking began in 2021 with 8 samples of wheels, ranging in stiffness and weights. That they had their professionals experience them on the identical loop over 5 hours. They measured each subjective suggestions from the riders, and precise suggestions coming vibration and different sensors on the bike and wheels.
They machined a number of hubs in-house and examined an assortment of carbon fiber (stiff) and glass fiber (flexy) spokes. In all, they examined 36 totally different variations to reach at a wheel that simply the correct amount of stiff, compliant, mild, and quick.
Proven above, the silver hubs are one of many prototype designs. Notice the smaller brake mounting flange and small mounting nubs created by machining much more materials away. The idea was (at the least partially) to cut back warmth switch to the hubs along with saving weight, however finally they went with a barely extra strong design.
What’s spectacular is that they’ve achieved this weight with a 6-bolt rotor design…most manufacturers use Heart Lock to supply a lighter hub shell, however then we find yourself with heavier rotors.
The end result? The brand new Management SL Group wheels are 70g lighter than the present SL with a claimed weight of simply 1,180g.
They really use the identical rim because the Management SL wheels, so the load financial savings comes from the spokes and hub. That rim has been good to them, in order that they didn’t wish to mess with that.
In comparison with XC rims on the whole, they are saying it’s 33% extra impression resistant, on par with some rivals’ path wheels, and that their racers haven’t damaged in a wheel in years. Thick 4mm bead hooks have 40% higher pinch flat resistance, so it’ll assist save your tires, too.
A be aware about these wheels’ compliance & stiffness: Specialised did level out that different model’s wheels, significantly these with companion bike manufacturers (Syncros & Scott, Reserve & Santa Cruz), could rank in a different way in stiffness, wind-up, and so forth., as a result of these are the specs that labored nicely for these manufacturers’ bikes.
Specialised designed theirs for the brand new Epic 8 to be optimized as a system. So, whilst you and I are nonetheless more likely to be very impressed with their efficiency, their efficiency is likely to be even higher on the brand new Epic 8.
The carbon spokes are custom-made for Specialised, they’re not a inventory merchandise. And so they’re solely utilizing 20 spokes, not 24 like on the usual SL mannequin.
Even with the decrease spoke rely, they’re examined to carry out with a lack of as much as two spokes, so you may experience residence within the unlikely occasion you break a spoke. It’s unlikely, as a result of they are saying they’re a lot stronger than the metal spokes they use on different wheels. With these, you’re extra more likely to break the spoke than the rim. With the carbon spokes, the rim will break (additionally unlikely) earlier than the spokes do.
Whereas these wheels had been made for his or her athletes, they’ll have 400 units obtainable globally in black-on-black.
They’re yours for simply $3,300 and are available a particular field with the next:
- Ti Rotor Bolts
- Finish Caps and Finish Cap Software
- Microspline Freehub Physique (inventory with XD)
- SINC Bearings
- Roval Branded Dynaplug Racer Professional + further set of plugs
- Spoke Package (20 whole)
- Premium Double Wheel Bag
- 1 S-Works Quick Trak 29 x 2.35 & 1 S-Works Renegade Tire 29 x 2.35
- 2 Customized Roval Water Bottles
- Customized letters from S-Racing Riders
Desire a set? Act now, they’re obtainable instantly and solely whereas these 400 client units final.
