Roval Traverse EL Disc Wheelset Review
My new Roval Traverse EL Disc Wheelset is the best pound I lost this year.
Six months ago I decided it was either a new bike or soup up my 2007 Stumpjumper with a new wheelset. Price a the determining factor ($3,000+ for a new ride, or $800+ for a wheelset). I opted for wheels. Jeff at RockN’Road told me the best money I could spend on my bike was on the wheels.
I’ve probably “needed” new wheels for two years. I essentially learned how to mountain bike on my current bike, throwing it on the ground as many times as miles as I’ve pedaled. It’s seen 3 years of 10 to 20 rides a month, been catapulted end over end down Los Pinos and similar trails more times than I care to admit. She’s been abandoned on climbs I could not clean, to roll side over side down a rock face, left behind as I buried the front end in a sandy corner and “Supermanned” over the bars, My old wheels are tired.
I’m not the guy to take an $800 wheel purchase lightly. When I bought my bike in 2007
I convinced myself first, then my wife, that I NEEDED it (she was just hoping when I bought it I’d stop talking to her about Fox Shocks and hydraulic disc brakes). I did some minor arithmetic that made the bike FREE. My math:
- Close my gym membership immediately (didn’t go anyways) $1620 saved over 3 years.
- Never buy a Starbucks ($50/month x 3 years) =$1.800.00 (note – still spend $30/month, and never really stopped, but sounded good then)
The early days, my Stumpjumper and I were in heaven. And every time I cut through the singletrack trees of lower Holy Jim, or descend through rock gardens, or climb technical single track at San Juan Trail, I would smile and realize how much I loved her.
After some hard riding the early signs were there. A year and a half ago, after Vision Quest, I started blowing spokes. My not-so-rigid wheels needed truing every month. Ride quality changed. Single track did not feel like I was on rails any more. The bike seemed “flexy” pedaling and rolling over rocks, pedal response from a stop didn’t create instant rear wheel engagement, as the hub was starting to get tired too. It wasn’t unrideable, but it was not as good as “the early days”. And because I know it’s a great bike, I decided it was her wheels, not her heart, that needed replaced.
Research is important to me when spending money on big purchases. I poured over reviews, articles, message boards, and checked out ads for killer wheel deals. Hours have been spent talking to shop guys who ride about: the best, how long a wheel lasts, weighs, service needs, and how much they improve ride quality. Who makes the best hub, spokes, hoops, hand built versus machine assembled, Chris King vs. DT SWISS 240? Then…. price, weight, durability, tubeless, wide rim, Mavic or other proprietary spokes, versus the standard universally available spokes?
Bottom line: I wanted a wheel set that was lighter than I currently rode, more durable, at as reasonable a price as I could find…without compromising the ride and quality. My wife rallied the troupes for birthday cash in December, so I could stop talking to her about wheels (a selfless move?)….I took it as her nudge, “shut up and do something about it”. So I did.
Rock N’ Road ordered me my weapon of choice, the Roval Traverse EL Disc Wheelset. The website pitch: “For aggressive trail riders who aren’t afraid to take risks and go big, this wheel gives you the durability to traverse the whole mountain, without compromising low weight.” I felt fast already. And the red nipples were sexy.
My rationale for a big dollar set of wheels: The versatility could last me some years and a couple bikes. The front wheel comes with 3 choices of quick-change 20mm/15mm/QR axle caps. So though I currently have a 9mm quick release, when I upgrade to a 15mm/QR I’ll be able to swap the caps and keep the same wheels for added rigidity in the front end. Serviceability was important to me so I made sure I’d find my wheel’s spokes anywhere I ride, in or out of town.
Jeff at the Aliso Store, was pretty confident that this was my best bet for the money. He’s been riding them…and so do most of the guys in the shop. They claim no need for truing, “they are sturdy, stiff, fast”.
Weight and price was a factor. Other Trail/All mountain wheels I considered:
Easton Havoc – Pair: 1930 g / MSRP $750.00
Azonic Outlaw Front: 997g, Rear 1247g, Pair 2244g / MSRP $399.99
CrankBrothers Iodine: Front: 895g, Rear:1008g, Pair 1903 / MSRP $950.00 (very sexy and functional wheel)
Mavic Crossmax SX: Front: 825g, Rear: 930g, Pair:1755g / MSRP $899.99
When it came down to it I wanted a wide stiff rim, so I could run a wide tire, with cross-country weight for the climbs I love to punish myself with, with solid internals and spokes. Enter Roval Traverse EL Disc Wheelset- with tried and true DT Swiss hub internals and spokes.
Specialized’s website claims 1550g. With the axle caps and tubeless valves mine weighed in at 1680g. The upgrade put my previous DT Swiss wheels on a diet of 406g diet from 2086g. That’s 0.895076 lb. Maybe doesn’t seem like a lot, but if you can shave rolling resistance on a bike, that’s the place to shave weight. Less rolling weight=easier climbing, faster descending. And with the Traverses I got a good looking set of wheels too. Here’s the stats Specialized lists on their site.
* E5 alloy, welded high-strength disc rim with eyelets; tubeless compatible (26mm W x 18mm H)
* Front hub: includes quick-change 20mm/15mm/QR axle caps
* 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
* Limited Lifetime Warranty
Another cool weight/rolling resistance saving: Traverse comes out of the box tubeless ready. I bought a compressor to get the tires to mount ($75 at Target). My tire choice,Sprecialized 2.4” Purgatory (front), with 2.2” Captain (rear)…add Stans Tire Sealant.
There’s 6 rides on the new wheels now. The rain and new baby in January made it tough to get on the bike frequently.
Verdict: the Traverse Wheels have made my ride solid, again, They hold a line, the wide rim lets the wide tires be grippy and quick to pick up a line on fast, technical single track. Pedal responsiveness: great – immediate engagement.
CAUTION: These wheels aren’t for everybody. When I took the wheels out of the box, one of the sheets included reads: for riders who do not exceed 250lbs. Due to the weight savings shaving Specialized has done my Clydesdale friends need to look elsewhere for your perfect set.
I did have a little trouble going tubeless, however it was my first time doing it myself, and so there’s been a learning curve. I did get them to inflate…another USER ERROR CAUTION: After I had the front tire blow off the bead when riding the first time I took it into RockNRoad to find out what I did wrong. They tell me I have to hear it “seat” which essentially sounds like a pop, pop as the bead seats in the rim. (I did not the first time, but rode it anyway). No problems now that I know. I just took them back home, inflated till I heard the pop-pop, and running tubeless for the last 5 rides incident free.
Two BIG noticeable improvements with the Traverses
- The wheels are fast….they roll and roll, without feeling any kind of drag while descending, or struggle when I’m climbing. I was starting to feel my old set “spin” towards the end. It’s better if you don’t feel your wheels spinning.
- Trail precision is more like a sharp knife. True. As I’ve cut through tight singletrack at speed, my bike is holding a line, no flex or delay in the corners.
Bottom line, best wheel I could buy for the money ($800). My Stumpjumper looks new again (or at least has sexy legs) I’ll get another year or two out of her, before I have to pretend I’ll stop drinking Starbucks to pay for a new frame and fork.
When it’s time I’ll just move this wheelset to the new bike.
4 Comments
Thanks — I am having the same dilemma right now and was a breath away from buying that wheel set on Saturday. Alas, I opted for a new rim and spoke (figured it doesn’t hurt to have a spare wheelset for the next taco fest).
But I am going to buy a new, lighter wheelset this year. I appreciate the review because it is between this and a custom built set. Jury is still out, but ever extra piece of info helps.
Hi, I know it’s a while after your review but I have only just come across it while trawling reviews on these wheels. Just decided to buy a set based on yours and other reviews I also got them for £350 which seems like a decent deal. They will be replacing my nukeproof generators (should save around 700g) on my Ragley blue pig hardtail which have been great wheels and will serve as spares or for the nasty stuff. Just wanted to add my thanks.
I know it’s been awhile, but do you have a line on where to get some 15mm or QR axle caps for these wheels? I can only find some for the more recent iteration, which don’t quite fit.
Thanks
Either your local Specialized store, or contact specialized warrantee directly for them to identify and ship replacements.