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    Roval Traverse EL All-mountain Wheelset Review

    Jason MitchellBy Jason MitchellAugust 16, 20104 Comments5 Mins Read

    Buying a new wheelset can be a tough pill to swallow. Why? Well, a solid wheelset these days can cost a mint. $800-$1000 is commonplace for a durable, high-quality mountain bike wheelset with some of the latest carbon fiber designs (Easton Haven, Syncros FL25) costing $2,000 or more. But what do you get for that investment? Hopefully with the Roval Traverse EL wheelset you get long-time lovin’!

    Specialized-owned Roval wheels have garnered quite the reputation in the short time they’ve been on the market. Specialized wanted to build wheels, but didn’t want to slap their brand on them, so they revived an old wheel brand and have now built quite the spectrum of wheels for all levels of riding and all sizes of wheels–both road and mountain.

    Roval Traverse EL Wheelset Features:

    • E5 alloy, welded high-strength disc rim with eyelets; tubeless compatible (26mm W x 18mm H)
    • Front hub: includes quick-change 20mm/15mm/QR end caps (my sample came with the 2009 front hub)
    • OS28-compatible for Future Shock forks
    • Rear hub: CNC-machined alloy body, high quality Swiss-made internals, ratchet and cassette body, and sealed cartridge bearings
    • 24-spoke DoubleDrive front pattern, 28-spoke 3x pattern supports disc brake and loads to the rear wheel
    • DT super comp 2.0/1.7/1.8mm round spokes
    • DT pro lock hexagonal alloy nipples
    • Roval steel quick releases
    • Wheelset: 1550g
    • Q/R: 125g/set
    • MSRP: $800

    Roval Traverse EL Wheelset Review

    Anxious to get these on the trail, I split time on the Felt Compulsion 1 with these and the solid Fulcrum Red XL 1 wheels that came standard on that rig. In the end, it was a great head-to-head test with the Traverse EL’s holding up quite well against the comparable Fulcrum hoops.

    Looking over the lacing patterns of the Traverse EL, it’s quite a variety from the front to the rear and drive vs. braking sides. this is all done in calculated fashion to increase stiffness and ride quality. With 32H spokes, you get a stiff and reliable wheelset.

    Tubless-compatible, the Traverse EL features lightweight E5 alloy that also sports one of the most protective paint anodization of any wheel I’ve seen. It’s near impossible to scratch these rims. the rim profile provides enough width (26mm) and height (18mm) to accept even the widest tires and maintain the right lateral stiffness and compliance. I tested them with the WTB Wolverine 2.2’s and found them both easy to mount and easy to ride.

    I pushed the Traverse EL’s hard on my test rig and loved the overall feel. While the engagement may not be as quick as some (I never once felt like the drivetrain wasn’t there the instant I needed power). Stepping on these wheels, they respond well and roll quickly.

    On the downhill, I could lean into these wheels and they always tracked well and rebounded in and out of corners with a predictable swagger. only on a few really hard corners did I feel the rear wheel flex ever-so-slightly. That minimal flex is very small and doesn’t distract from the overall performance of these wheels — in fact, most people will never notice.

    The front hub is easily-converted to nearly all standard axle diameters with the included or available end caps. I ran these with the RockShox Revelation Team which uses the Maxle Lite 20mm system. Changing the endcaps is easy, but does require the removal and re-attachment of the disc brake rotor should you interchange these wheels across different bikes.

    I’m very impressed with Roval’s wheelsets and the Traverse EL performed admirably alongside the Roval Control EL 29er wheelset I’ve been flogging all Summer.

    NOTE: The wheels I tested were actually the 2009 Roval Traversee models. I’m told the only difference between mine and the 2010 model is the front hubs and cosmetics — everything else is the same.

    Good Traverse EL

    • Lighter than many competitive wheelsets
    • Works with all major front axles out of the box (9/15/20mm)
    • Durable rim finish resists scratching and cleans up well
    • Specialized dealers are everywhere — easy to find and easy to service should the need arise
    • Predictable handling in all terrain
    • Respond well when pushed hard
    • Flexibility of going tubed or tubeless

    Bad Traverse EL

    • Just a little more rear wheel flex than I’d like to see… pretty minor, but perceptible
    • A few minor cosmetic quibbles due to the older model year that aren’t the case with 2010+ models (cheesy QR’s, Roval hub sticker instead of etching, odd silver spoke pattern here and there)

    Bottom Line: Roval Traverse EL Wheelset

    The top-notch Roval Traverse EL wheels are one of the many contenders in the higher-end wheel market. I like that they are backed by Specialized, so the warranty and service will be unmatched. I was also impressed by the rim’s finish and resistance to scratching. Overall, these are a solid wheelset in a competitive market segment.

    More Info: Roval Wheels Specialized.com

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    Jason Mitchell
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    A native of the Pacific Northwest, Jason quickly developed a love for the outdoors and a thing for mountains. That infatuation continues as he founded this site in 1999 -- sharing his love of road biking, mountain biking, trail running and skiing. That passion is channeled into every article or gear review he writes. Utah's Wasatch Mountains are his playground.

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    4 Comments

    1. uki on August 17, 2010 6:45 am

      Jason, have you had a chance to verify the claimed weight of the wheels? From my experiences Specialized wheels tend to be quite a bit heavier than claimed. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Jason Mitchell on August 17, 2010 10:06 am

        I have not. It may be a little while since I’ve got them all mounted up, etc. It’s unfortunate that everyone has to be suspect of weights, but if they have been off in the past then it’s hard to blame you for asking.

        Reply
    2. Paul Lyon on February 25, 2011 12:12 pm

      Is there any chance you have the OS28 hub end caps left over for sale please?
      Paul

      Reply
      • Jason Mitchell on February 25, 2011 12:20 pm

        Paul. I believe I have them and definitely don’t have any use for them. Let me dig in and find out. Looks like you’re in the UK though. We’d have to work out shipping costs, but if I have them, they are yours just for the costs of shipping.

        Reply

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