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The Specialized Roval Roubaix 322x bucks the aero trend with shallow aluminum clincher rims and a generous allotment of spokes.(Image credit: James Huang)
Hidden nipples are marginally more aerodynamic and require smaller holes for increased strength but are frustrating when truing is required.(Image credit: James Huang)
The front hub features a carbon fiber center tube to help keep the weight down.(Image credit: James Huang)
The rear hub uses DT Swiss star ratchet internals and both wheels use straight-pull spokes all around.(Image credit: James Huang)
The aluminum freehub body is easily swapped for use on Shimano, Campagnolo or SRAM drivetrains.(Image credit: James Huang)
The DoubleDrive lacing pattern uses twice as many spokes on the driveside as on the non-driveside for unusually even spoke tension between the two.(Image credit: James Huang)
Extra-wide flange spacing on the front hub is beneficial for lateral stiffness but it doesn't fit in some forks.(Image credit: James Huang)
The lightweight quick release skewers use titanium shafts.(Image credit: James Huang)
Specialized’s Roval Roubaix
The aluminum clincher rims are just
The payoff to the shallow rim and fully crossed spoke lacing is a subtly
Compared to most – but not all – deeper-section
Not just for the bumps
The Roubaix 322x wheels are confident descenders. While their non-aero rims don’t offer any
Specialized don’t peg these things as climbing wheels and they spin
The generous helping of pulling spokes on the rear wheel helps put
None of this would mean anything without longevity and our Roval
Bumps in the road
It’s a good thing our wheels have remained straight, though, since truing
Specialized intends for this wheel to see its fair share of abuse and
We also ran into an unusual problem when swapping the Roubaix
Old school is good but …
Save for the odd fork interference issue and difficult truing
All of the attributes listed above could also apply to
While the Roubaix 322x recalls the benefits of old-school wheel
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