{"id":45852,"date":"2026-03-28T20:58:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T11:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lovecyclist.me\/?p=45852"},"modified":"2026-06-09T21:02:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T12:02:25","slug":"roval-alpinist-clx-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovecyclist.me\/en\/roval-alpinist-clx-iii\/","title":{"rendered":"ROVAL’s Latest Flagship Wheels Reviewed (Part 2): The True Purpose of the ALPINIST CLX III, and Three Riders’ Verdicts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In Part 1<\/a>, we examined the RAPIDE CLX III and the SPRINT CLX. The asymmetric front\/rear rim heights and the adoption of carbon spokes were the biggest stories of the third-generation RAPIDE CLX lineup \u2014 a design pivot the industry took notice of.<\/p>\n

The ALPINIST CLX III takes a slightly different path. It commits to carbon spokes, but sticks with a uniform 33mm rim height front and rear. Compared to the two models in Part 1, the ALPINIST CLX III may seem to lack a headline-grabbing technical story \u2014 yet given how much climbing defines Japanese roads, this wheel’s reason to exist is unmistakable.<\/p>\n

In Part 2, we put the ALPINIST CLX III through real-world riding and clarify how the three wheels differ in character. Which one suits which rider, depending on body type and riding style \u2014 we lay out the criteria as we explore the cutting edge of road wheels.<\/p>\n

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Reviewer<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Ryuji<\/strong>\uff08@ryuji_ride<\/strong><\/a>\uff09
\n<\/strong>Company owner. 16 years on sports bikes. POC ambassador. A former competitive racer with podium finishes, he also knows the industry from the inside \u2014 having worked as an editor at a cycling magazine and at a cycling apparel brand. Rides an S-Works Tarmac SL8 and a Cannondale SuperX.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

text & photo \/ Ryuji<\/strong>\uff08\uff20ryuji_ride<\/a>\uff09
\nedit \/ Tats<\/strong>\uff08\uff20tats_lovecyclist<\/a>\uff09<\/span><\/p>\n

*The ALPINIST CLX III in this review was loaned by Specialized Japan and tested on the road over an extended period.<\/span><\/p>\n