Product Review - Roval Control Carbon 29" Wheels

I just wanted to write a small little ditty about this new wheelset that I've been riding this summer.

The Roval Control 29 Carbon wheelset from Specialized.

My 2012 Specialized Camber Comp was in need of wheels.  The stock alloy rims have been beaten and battered, and have held up quite well considering.  Nonetheless, they have reached a point in their life when the wheel truing becomes a series of approximate rather than precise adjustments and the rear hub is a bit noisier than it ought to be, even after a complete overhaul.

Enter the Control 29 Carbon wheelset from Specialized Bicycle's Roval division.

When they first arrived, I wasn't so sure that the box didn't contain road wheels because it was so lightweight! How light? The pair is 1580g. Not too far off from a high-end road wheelset.

Sure enough, there were mountain bike wheels in there.

I wasted no time in mounting up my Specialized tubeless tires, my Praxis cassette, and Shimano rotors.  The rims come with tubeless tape already installed.  The silky smooth DT Swiss hubs come with end caps to fit just about any non-boost xc or trail mountain bike you can find.  Also provided are some valve stems for tubeless use.  All is pro quality stuff.

When mounting your tires pay close attention to your air pressure.  These rims have a stated max air pressure of 45 psi/3.1bar.  My understanding is that this limit is not imposed due to any durability issue, but rather because of Roval's Zero Bead Hook Design.  Using my home compressor, the tires seated quite easily with an authoritative and reassuring "POP!"  

 The rim width is 27mm external and 22internal. Wide enough to not cramp 29x2.3" tires. Not wide enough to cause interference issues with most xc and trail bikes.

First impressions were stellar.  They really transformed that bicycle's appearance!

But appearances are not all these wheels are packing.

Speeding through fast twisties, these wheels change direction with an agility unmatched by any I have ridden before.  Lively is a great word to describe the way these hoops handle.  Lively, but predictable.  Predictable as in stable.  No unsteady wiggles whatsoever.  Point and shoot!

  I have smashed the Control Carbons into rocks, roots, and ruts of nearly every imaginable size.  They have seen bumbled drop offs and harsh landings.  Met face to face with ledges and even a tree or two.   I might be an old BMX'r, but I'm not always the smoothest guy out there.   Stream crossings, smooth trail, club rides, and races.  

I still have not had to true them once or make any adjustments whatsoever.

At $1200 USD retail, the Control 29 Carbon is in my opinion, the best carbon fiber wheelset value on the market.  

I also believe them to be one of the best, if not the very best carbon wheelset for xc and trail use available at any price.

I will keep these for quite some time.