Roval has split its gravel range in two: a 1,340g 'Chopped Aero' speed wheel that tests like a 70mm rim, and a 1,079g featherweight tuned for compliance, both built around modern 35-60mm gravel tyres.
Two new wheels, one 'fastest family ever'
Roval, Specialized's in-house wheel brand, has rebuilt its gravel range from the ground up with two designs it bills as "the fastest gravel wheel family ever built". Rather than one do-everything hoop, you pick your priority: the deep, aero-optimised Terra Aero CLX, or the sub-1,100g, compliance-tuned Terra CLX III.
Both ditch steel for Roval's flat-top carbon "Arris" spokes, grow the internal rim width to a tyre-friendly 27mm, and run proven DT Swiss 180 EXP hub internals with a 36-tooth ratchet. Tyre support spans 35-60mm, squarely modern gravel. As BikeRadar notes, the new shaping also hints at where Specialized's Crux race bike is heading.
By the numbers
Terra Aero CLX: the 'Chopped Aero' bet
The headline trick is the 'Chopped Aero' rim. A truncated, heavily cambered profile is claimed to give the front wheel the airflow of a 70mm-deep rim while measuring just 50mm (45mm at the rear), cheating depth without the full weight or crosswind handful. Roval says the gains are strongest between 5 and 12 degrees of yaw, where gravel riders spend most of their time, and that the set is 5.84 watts faster than the outgoing 30mm-deep Terra CLX II at 40km/h on a 45mm tyre.
The flat-top carbon spokes are claimed 20% stronger and roughly 97g lighter than steel, and Roval reckons it now takes 91% more energy to cause a puncture than the old CLX II. At 1,340g it is heavier than the climber's wheel below, but light for something this aero.
Terra CLX III: featherweight with give
The Terra CLX III goes the other way: a shallow 27mm rim and a claimed 1,079g (489g front / 590g rear), which Roval calls its lightest gravel wheelset yet. The party piece is engineered flex, a 21.52% improvement in lateral compliance over the Terra CLX II, to keep a loaded tyre tracking on chattery, rooty ground.
It is the wheel for climbers and technical descenders who value snap and grip over a wind-tunnel number. It keeps the same 27mm internal width, the same 35-60mm tyre range and the same DT Swiss 180 EXP internals as the Aero.
View data table
| Front wheel | Rear wheel | |
|---|---|---|
| Terra Aero CLX | 640 g | 700 g |
| Terra CLX III | 489 g | 590 g |
Terra Aero CLX vs Terra CLX III
| Terra Aero CLX | Terra CLX III | |
|---|---|---|
| Rim depth (front / rear) | 50 / 45 mm | 27 mm |
| External rim width | 38.5 mm | 38 mm |
| Internal rim width | 27 mm | 27 mm |
| Claimed weight | 1,340 g | 1,079 g |
| Tyre range | 35-60 mm | 35-60 mm |
| Spoke lacing (f / r) | 18 / 24 | 21 / 24 |
| Bead-hook width | 5.38 mm | 4.86 mm |
| Hub internals | DT Swiss 180 EXP, 36t | DT Swiss 180 EXP, 36t |
| Price (US set) | $3,400 (~R56 100) | $3,200 (~R52 800) |
What the reviewers say
Three early takes
Independent verdicts from across the cycling press — follow each link for the full review.
Hands-on: two distinct personalities
“Both are impressive in our review and set different priorities.”
Read the full reviewNow the top gravel wheel in-game
“The Roval Terra Aero CLX is Zwift's new top gravel wheelset.”
Read the full reviewOn the engineering trade-offs
“Several shapes that looked fast in isolation produced turbulence at the tyre-rim junction that erased gains.”
Read the full reviewAn editorial impression from the published specs and first-ride reviews, not our own testing. The aero-versus-weight engineering is genuinely clever; only the flagship price drags the score down.
The case for and against
- Aero shape claimed to test like a 70mm rim while keeping a manageable 50/45mm depth
- Terra CLX III dips under 1,100g, among the lightest gravel wheelsets going
- Wide 27mm internal rim built for modern 35-60mm gravel tyres
- Carbon Arris spokes claimed 20% stronger and ~97g lighter than steel
- Roval claims 91% more energy needed to puncture than the old CLX II
- Proven DT Swiss 180 EXP 36-tooth ratchet internals
- Flagship money: about US$3,400 (~R56 100) / US$3,200 (~R52 800) a set before SA import costs
- The headline 5.84W aero gain is measured on a specific 45mm tyre at 40km/h
- Proprietary carbon spokes are costlier and fiddlier to service than steel
- GRAN FONDO flagged visible spoke nipples spoiling the otherwise clean look
- You must choose aero (heavier) or featherweight (shallower), there is no single do-it-all
Price, availability and SA pricing
These are flagship-priced. The Terra Aero CLX is $3,400 (~R56 100) in the US (about £2,988 (~R65 000) / approx €3,200 (~R60 000)) and the Terra CLX III $3,200 (~R52 800) (about £2,748 (~R59 800) / approx €2,900 (~R54 400)). Both are also sold as individual wheels, handy if you only want to upgrade the rear.
South African RRP and stock vary by distributor and the rand, so we don't quote a ZAR figure in prose. The live prices below come straight from the BikeBuy catalogue.
Tap to vote — see how readers lean
Buyer's questions
What's the difference between the Terra Aero CLX and Terra CLX III? +
The Aero CLX is the deep, fast wheel (50/45mm 'Chopped Aero' rim, ~1,340g) built for speed and crosswind stability. The CLX III is the shallow, light wheel (27mm rim, ~1,079g) tuned for low weight, snappy acceleration and extra compliance.
How much do they cost? +
US$3,400 (~R56 100) (Aero CLX) and US$3,200 (~R52 800) (CLX III), roughly GBP 2,988 (~R65 000) / 2,748 and approx EUR 3,200 (~R60 000) / 2,900. South African pricing depends on the distributor and exchange rate, so check the live catalogue prices above.
What tyre widths fit? +
Both wheels take 35-60mm tyres on a 27mm internal rim. Roval optimises the Aero around ~45mm and the CLX III for 40mm-plus gravel rubber. Measure frame clearance, as a wide rim lets a tyre balloon beyond its label width.
Are the carbon spokes a durability risk for gravel? +
Roval claims the flat-top carbon 'Arris' spokes are 20% stronger than steel and that the rim needs 91% more energy to puncture than the old CLX II. The trade-off is that proprietary carbon spokes are pricier and harder to source and service than standard steel ones.
What hubs and freehub do they use? +
DT Swiss 180 EXP internals with a 36-tooth Ratchet EXP freehub (10-degree engagement) and Roval Sinc ceramic bearings, shared across both wheelsets.
Sources & further reading
- Roval launches new 1,340g Terra Aero CLX and 1,079g Terra CLX III gravel wheelsets — Cycling Weekly
- Roval's new 'Chopped Aero' gravel wheels hint at what's next for the Specialized Crux — BikeRadar
- 'The fastest gravel wheel family ever built': Roval launches Terra Aero CLX and Terra CLX III — off-road.cc / road.cc
- Roval Terra Aero CLX and Terra CLX III gravel wheels on review — GRAN FONDO Cycling
- The fastest gravel rims are flat, says Roval — Rouleur
- Roval Terra CLX gravel wheels get lighter or more aero — Bikerumor
- All about the new Roval Terra Aero CLX wheels in Zwift — Zwift Insider
Roval has done the unfashionable thing and built two gravel wheels instead of one compromise: a genuinely aero hoop that hides its depth, and a featherweight that flexes to soak up rough ground. The engineering is clever and the first-ride reviews are warm. The catch is the flagship price, and the fact that the marquee 5.84-watt number is tyre- and speed-specific. If you race gravel and have the budget, pick your poison; everyone else can watch the tech trickle down.
