Hooked on Cycling – Alloy and Carbon Road Wheels

Upgrading your wheels on your road bike is apart from the frame the best investment you can do to improve the performance of your bike.  There is a huge selection of road wheels in the market place from alloy wheels to carbon/alloy mix to full carbon wheels. In general, terms the more you pay the better performance upgrade you shall get, cheap carbon wheels, for example, would probably not provide much improvement, with wheels you do get what you pay for – there is no paying for a name!  We can source Fulcrum, Mavic, Vision, Syncros, Zipp, Campagnolo and Reynolds wheels. These suppliers can supply wheels from the price range of £300-£3000.

Below is a selection and description of Fulcrum wheels which are pretty similar to Campagnolo wheels.

Racing 7

The Racing 7 LG has been introduced with one purpose in mind. These wheels have been designed with a slightly wider rim to facilitate the easier use of 25c tyres. his means the rider can benefit from better comfort, better grip and slower tyre wear.

• Steel spokes with 2mm cross-section: Provide high levels of tension and stiffness.
• Oversized flange on the drive side: Provides greater stiffness, increases reactivity at each change in rhythm of the pedal stroke.
• Superior quality steel balls on sealed cylindrical bearings which reduce friction and ensure consistent performance over time.
• Fulcrum brings you the perfect training/everyday use wheel in the Racing 7.
• Fulcrum 2:1 spoke ratio on rear wheel double the number of spokes on the drive side for greater wheel stability and improved power transfer in the rear wheel. 20 straight pull steel spokes on front wheel24 on rear.
• Hubs made for straight spokes: aluminium-made and with a large flange on the drive-side of the rear wheel to increase reaction.
• Includes Fulcrums new Wear Indicator system so you know when the rims are nearing their limit.
• Weights: Front 815g Rear 945g (not including quick release)

Racing 5

This brand new Racing 5 has been brought in for 2015 with one purpose in mind. They have been designed with a slightly wider rim to facilitate an easier fitting of 25c tyres. This means the rider can benefit from better comfort, better grip and slower tyre wear.

Racing 5 are designed for everyday use and training. An optimum proposal from Fulcrum which guarantees excellent quality.

• Oversized hubs with flanges for blade hammer-head spokes and sealed high-quality bearings ensure smoothness.
• The rear wheel incorporates a new single-piece body which embodies the freewheel body and pawl carrier in a single component resulting in a considerable weight reduction
• Fulcrum 2:1 spoke ratio on rear wheel double the number of spokes on the drive side for greater wheel stability and improved power transfer in the rear wheel. 20 radial aero spokes on front wheel 24 on rear
• The wheels have two oversized spokes to balance the concentration of the rim joint material during wheel rotation, Fulcrum call this Dynamic Balance
• The Racing 5’s also have a deep upper bridge on the rim to facilitate clincher tyre fitting.
• Weights: Front 753g Rear 892g

Racing 3

Racing 3 wheels are ideal for both racing and for everyday training.

• Differentiated rim heights – 24mm at front for optimal manoeuvrability; 30mm at rear for optimal power transfer.
• Oversized hub body in aluminium painted white gives strong lateral stiffness while reducing weight.
• Fulcrum 2:1 spoke ratio on rear wheel double the number of spokes on the drive side for greater wheel stability and improved power transfer in the rear wheel. 16 straight pull aero spokes on front wheel 21 on rear.
• Fulcrum Dynamic Balance keeps the Racing 3 wheels perfectly stable but is achieved in the rim milling process rather than spokes in the Racing 5.
• Milled rim to reduce the peripheral weight of the rim increasing reactivity.
• Weights: Front 670gRear 885g

Racing zero

The Racing zero undergoes a facelift and has the following features:

• New colour way
• A carbon front hub with oversize flange is used creating a light weight but stiff hub. The rear hub is single piece aluminium for increased stiffness.
• Differentiated rim heights – 25mm at front for optimal manoeuvrability; 30mm at rear for optimal power transfer
• Triple milling of the rim saves weight but also creates an aerodynamic profile.
• Fulcrum Dynamic Balance keeps the Racing zero wheels perfectly stable but is achieved in the rim milling process rather than spokes in the Racing 5.
• Fulcrum 2:1 spoke ratio on rear wheel double the number of spokes on the drive side for greater wheel stability and improved power transfer in the rear wheel. 16 radial aero spokes on front wheel21 on rear.
• The Racing Zero wheels feature Fulcrums USB ceramic bearings which are 30% lighter 40% more resistant and 50% smoother compared to the steel bearings featured in the 3’s 5’s and 7’s.
• Total Weight – 1436g

Racing Zero Nite

Total black: a new look, with the ‘Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation’ treated surface the aluminium core changes its soul.

The Racing Zero Nite is a brand new wheel and has a number of new features:

• Plasma Treatment- This gives the wheel set an ‘all black’ look. The Plasma treatment process creates an extremely hard and wear resistant surface.
• New braking surface, the specially milled braking surface is Plasma treated allowing superior braking in wet conditions. The ‘grooves’ in the braking surface allow water to drain away increasing braking friction. Specified blue brake pads developed by Fulcrum must be used with this special finishing.
• Plasma treated freehub. This removes 20g from the weight of the freehub.
• A carbon Hub with oversize flange is used creating a light weight but stiff hub.
• Differentiated rim heights, 25mm at front for optimal manoeuvrability; 30mm at rear for optimal power transfer
•  Triple milling of the rim saves weight but also creates an aerodynamic profile. Reflective rim graphics add great contrast to the dark surface.
• Fulcrum Dynamic Balance keeps the Racing zero wheels perfectly stable but is achieved in the rim milling process rather than spokes in the Racing 5.
• Fulcrum 2:1 spoke ratio on rear wheel double the number of spokes on the drive side for greater wheel stability and improved power transfer in the rear wheel. 16 radial aero spokes on front wheel, 21 on rear.
• The Racing Zero Nite  wheels feature Fulcrums USB ceramic bearings which are 30% lighter, 40% more resistant and 50% smoother compared to the steel bearings featured in the 3’s 5’s and 7’s.
• Total Weight – 1420g