Specialized Rapide Clx 50 Disc Front

Specialized Rapide Clx 50 Disc Front Features

First came our CLX 64. Then the 32s. And after racking up multiple wins in Grand Tours, Worlds, and everything in between, we knew that our best bet was to take the line to new heights, or well, new depths. We needed to design one wheel that was a true quiver killer. One wheel that had all the aerodynamic benefits of the 64 in a package that climbed like the 32, and that’s where the all-new CLX 50 comes in. When we set out to create the CLX 50 Disc, we had clear goals in mind—create wheels that are 48 to 54mm deep, aerodynamically optimized, ultra-wide, and under 1400 grams. This meant that they'd have to borrow some weight savings techniques that we developed for the CLX 32, take some aero guidance from the CLX 64, and keep all of the disc brake benefits that we've come to love if we were going to create what we like to call “the unicorn wheel." Why discs you ask? With our disc-specific rims, we ditch the brake track making for a stronger, more impact-resistant rim. This way, you get a disc-specific carbon layup that optimizes stiffness, a weight as close to its rim-brake brethren as possible, and incredible brake modulation and power in all conditions. Even though the CLX 50 is similar in weight to many wheels in the “lightweight” category, aerodynamics came at the forefront of the development. With this, we jumped headlong into Computational Fluid Dynamics computer modeling to arrive at various rim shapes that could make the CLX 50 as fast and light as possible. It took a while, but we narrowed the rim shape down to three contenders that were then CNC-machined into rims, built into wheels, and put into the Win Tunnel. In the tunnel, we tested every wheel, ours and the competition's, with a 24C tire (measuring 26C), as tires can drastically affect testing. We chose a modern-width tire to design our rims around, because they not only allow for less tire pressure (which results in more comfort and less rolling resistance) but are also just as aerodynamically efficient when paired with the correct rim width. After finding the optimized rim shape that best supported our svelte weight requirements, we opted to lace the rims to our Aero Flange (AF) hub, via 21 DT Swiss Aerolite spokes, which features the legendary CeramicSpeed bearings. This way you get a complete, superior wheel system—not just a quick rim. And at the end of the day, it all amounts to a 50mm-deep, 1415-gram clincher disc wheelset that's not only ~300 grams lighter than the competition’s similar depth wheel, but is also measurably faster in every conceivable test than each wheel in its category.

• Rim Type: Carbon clincher, 2Bliss Ready
• Rim Material: Carbon
• Braking Surface: Disc brake only
• Rim Depth: 50mm
• Rim Width: 20.7mm internal, 29.4mm external
• Spoke Pattern: Two-cross/Radial (2:1)
• Spoke Count: 21
• Spoke Type: DT Swiss Aerolite T-head
• Nipple Type: DT Swiss Pro Lock hexagonal
• Front Hub: Roval AFD1, Centerlock, CeramicSpeed bearings, quick-release or 12mm thru-axle end cap