With a claimed weight of just 358g, these are some of the lightest carbon rims currently on the market. The big story with the Roval Control Carbon wheelset is with the rims. Notice the shape of the rim bead, the external ridge is part of the 4mm platform on top of the rim bead, aiming to reduce pinch flats.

Confirmed weight: 1,440g (w/tape & valves).

DT Swiss Competition Race Straight-pull spokes & Prolock Alloy nipples.

Control SL carbon rims w/4mm FlatTop design.

Given that price differential, is there a compromise in performance? And how do they compare to the competition? We got in a set of Control Carbons to put to the test and find out. The result of those changes is a set of carbon wheels that sells for $1,400 AUD less than the Control SLs.

The new $20,100 Specialized S-Works Epic and Epic EVO use the 1,278g $3,400 AUD Roval Control SLs. Here you’ll find workhorse DT Swiss 350 hubs and non-bladed Competition Race spokes instead. The Roval Control Carbon wheels utilise exactly the same rims as the Control SL wheelset, though Roval has been able to bring the overall price down by skipping the fancy DT Swiss 180 hubs, ceramic bearings and Aerolite spokes. (Yes, yes, you could buy a car/horse/flat-screen TV/purebred Pug for that etc, etc.) For those who aren’t quite ready to wax three grand on a set of wheels, these Control Carbons offer a more realistic proposition. Of course the Roval Control SLs aren’t exactly the most price-accessible wheelset on the market, with an RRP of $3,400 AUD. That’s absolutely bonkers, and lighter than most road wheels! We’ve been riding the new Control Carbon wheels for a few months, and it’s not just their specs that impress us. We tested the Control SL wheels on both the Specialized S-Works Epic and Epic EVO, where they – quite frankly – blew us away thanks to their ridiculous 1,278g weight. With a confirmed weight of just 1,440g for the pair, these lightweight carbon hoops follow in the footsteps of the ultra-exotic Control SLs that were launched last year.

Having received a complete redesign, the brand new Roval Control Carbon wheels have arrived on the scene as one of the most compelling options in the XC/lightweight trail market.

Mick reviews the new Roval Control Carbon wheels Competitors offer better crash-replacement schemes Round straight-pull spokes are trickier to true

Dt swiss xrc 1200 carbon