Roval Terra CLX III wheelset

With a verified weight of just 1070g, the Roval Terra CLX III wheelset immediately stands out. However, the headline figure is only part of the story, as performance is faultless across the board. Outstanding comfort, impressive stiffness and easy tyre setup leave very little to criticise. At £2750, though, that level of performance is exactly what buyers should expect.

Roval Terra CLX III wheelset – Technical details

It’s difficult to overlook the headline weight figure, and impressively, it has proven to be even better than claimed. Roval quotes a weight of 1079g, but on my scales, complete with tubeless tape and valves installed, the wheelset weighed 1070g. That was split between 595g for the rear wheel, fitted with an SRAM XDR freehub, and 475g for the front.

The wheels are supplied with both SRAM XDR and Shimano HG 11/12-speed freehubs. The extras don’t stop there either, with wheel bags, spare spokes covering every spoke length used in the wheelset, and spare spoke nipples all included. Given that the composite spokes are expensive and less readily available than conventional steel alternatives, the spares are both welcome and reassuring.

The Terra CLX III wheelset is hand-built around an updated, relatively shallow 25.5mm carbon rim. Weight savings are clearly a priority, but the wheelset remains thoroughly modern with a 27mm internal width and a 38mm external width. The rims feature a 4.86mm flat-top bead hook, which Roval claims improves pinch-flat resistance.

The spokes are composite, a feature becoming increasingly common on premium wheelsets, and use a deep aero profile. These feature 21 spokes up front and 24 at the rear. ARRIS manufactures the spokes, and those fitted here go a step further in the pursuit of low weight by using titanium end pieces.

Spoke tension feels very different compared with traditional steel spokes. When moved by hand, there is noticeable lateral movement, which may initially seem disconcerting, but the spokes are designed to work under vertical load. This lateral compliance is intended to improve comfort and wheel tracking over rough terrain.

Moving to the Roval Low Flange Road hubs, the rear uses DT Swiss internals with a 36-tooth ratchet system and DT Sinc ceramic bearings throughout.

With a 27mm internal rim width, the minimum recommended tyre size is 35mm, while the maximum is 60mm (2.2in).

The wheelset has maximum tyre pressure guidelines that vary according to tyre size. For a 35mm tyre, the maximum pressure is 70psi. This drops to 55psi for 36-45mm tyres, 45psi for 46-50mm tyres and 40psi for 51-60mm tyres. Although low compared to other performance gravel wheelsets, these limits should suit most riders, although some may find themselves close to, or exceeding, the upper limit when using the widest recommended tyres.
The wheelset is UCI-approved for anyone who may wish to use it at the highest level. They have a weight limit of 125kg, which is surprising given the low weight, and Roval provides a lifetime warranty for the original owner and a “It Happens” crash replacement scheme that covers the wheels within the first two years of ownership.

Roval Terra CLX III wheelset – Performance

I tested the wheels with both a Continental Dubnital 50mm and a Schwalbe Thunder Burt 2.1” tyre, and both proved equally easy to install and inflate. Using just a single tyre lever, I was able to fit the tyres and seat them tubeless with a standard track pump.

While some studies have shown that reducing wheel weight does not always deliver the dramatic performance gains many riders expect, the exceptionally low weight here was still immediately noticeable. Replacing a wheelset that was more than 500g heavier, I would defy riders not to notice the difference. The improvement in acceleration from low speeds and standing starts was where the weight saving was easiest to feel.

The wheels spin beautifully and smoothly, aided by the quality bearings, while the freehub itself also rolls with very little resistance. Testing with the bike in a workstand revealed minimal drag when coasting, something that is rarely measured or discussed. Although faster-engaging ratchet systems are available than the 36-tooth setup fitted here, I never found engagement lacking during general gravel riding. Early in testing, the freehub was relatively quiet, producing more sound as speed increased. The freehub sound was initially quiet, but with more use, and I assume grease inside the hubs settling, the sound became more noticeable but not overbearing.

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The shallow rim depth and low spoke count are likely major contributors to the wheelset’s excellent comfort. While I generally favour wider tyres anyway, the smooth ride quality was still obvious, with very little harshness or vibration reaching the handlebars, which is something often found with deeper-section rims.

While the Terra CLX III is not the stiffest wheelset I have ridden, which is unsurprising given its remarkably low weight, it remained more than capable during hard efforts and held its line confidently through rough descents. I rode descents and sections that are more mountain bike than gravel bike, and during events like The Gralloch, which is known for its harsh terrain. At no point did I feel the wheels lacked stiffness.

During testing, I suffered one particularly severe puncture while using the Continental Dubnital 50mm tyre, and the wheels themselves emerged completely unscathed. While it is unlikely to be something Roval would officially recommend, after the puncture, I completed the final 15 kilometres of the event on a flat tyre, but with a Vittoria insert inside. Despite the impact and abuse, the rims remained perfectly true and showed no visible damage.

Roval Terra CLX III wheelset – Verdict

Overall, the performance of the Roval Terra CLX III was virtually faultless. Tyres are easy to install, the low weight is genuinely noticeable, and the wheels deliver superb comfort alongside ample stiffness. At £2750, perfection is a reasonable expectation, and Roval has assembled a package that ticks every premium box: carbon rims, composite spokes, ceramic bearings and an exceptionally low weight.

Among competing wheelsets, some alternatives come close on weight, but very few from mainstream brands can match the Terra CLX III. Scribe’s Gravel Ultra with Berd spokes claims 1258g, but its deeper 46mm rims make it a closer rival to the Roval Terra Aero, while costing significantly less at £1,499. Other lightweight options from major brands include the ENVE G23, with a claimed weight of 1262g and a hefty £2850 price tag, the Zipp 303 XPLR SW, which uses a deeper and wider rim and claims 1452g at £1600, and the Hunt 40 Limitless Gravel, which claims 1328g and costs £2449.

The Terra CLX III could easily be dismissed as a box-ticking exercise, featuring every desirable technology currently sought after: carbon rims, composite spokes, titanium spoke ends, ceramic bearings and an astonishing 1070g weight. However, the performance fully justifies the specification. If outright low weight matters more to you than aerodynamic gains, the Terra CLX III stands out with genuinely exceptional, near-flawless performance.