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EICMA show -
Milan, Italy, September 15-18, 2006
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Part 8 - September 15-18:
Fulcrums' three new kids
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By Anthony Tan at EICMA in Milan, Italy
A sister company of Campagnolo, Fulcrum wheels are becoming increasingly popular as the brand assumes its own identity.
Fulcrum wheels are marketed based on three patents:
1. Two-to-One spoke ratio: the company claims when a rider pushes hard on the
pedals, a slackening of the freewheel spokes and subsequent loss of rim tension
occurs at the rear wheel. Hence, the spoke count is doubled in critical areas
on the drive side cluster to limit this loss of torsion, and is said to provide
a more even spoke tension throughout, also improving fatigue life of the rim,
hub and spokes.
2. Dynamic Balance: Fulcrum believe the fact that all aluminium rims are joined
creates an annoying 'jump' effect at speed. They overcome this said problem
by balancing the mass of the joint with a mass of the same weight; for their
top models, this is obtained with a special modification on the section of the
rim opposite the rim joint. For entry-level models, Fulcrum use two oversized
spokes in the section opposite the joint.
3. MoMog: No, not a new form of facial hair-do, but the doing away with holes
in the rim bed for their Racing3, Racing 1 and RacingZero models, designed to
make spoke tensioning and changing of spokes simpler.
Racing7 is Fulcrum's new entry-level wheelset for 2007, but offer similar advantages to their dearer counterparts. An aluminium rim with a height of 24mm, aero profile and machined braking surfaces, the Racing7 also features an oversized flanged hubs and sealed cylindrical bearings. Traditional, 2mm round spokes are used, with 20 laced radially on the front and according to Fulcrum's 2:1 Two-to-One spoke geometry, 24 on the rear.
Racing5 Evolution shall be the successor to the Racing5, with the scale now tipping 1.755 grams, 90 less than the current year model. Hubs are new - now oversized and flanged to accommodate bladed spokes - with a single piece body that incorporates the freewheel body and pawl carrier as one. Spoke count has also been reduced, from 24/27 front/rear to 20/24. The mid-sectioned 24mm rim height remains unchanged.
The new Racing Zero wheelset is definitely aimed with Italophiles in mind, which are blazened almost entirely in Ferrari red apart from the machined brake surface - arrrrrr! (Make sure you rolled those r's as if you just saw supermodel Megan Gale walk past you.) 26mm high rims are made by a special extrusion process that keeps the walls as thin as possible without compromising strength; weight is further reduced between the spoke's anchoring points using the company's patented triple milling technology. Spokes - 16 on the front and 21 at the back - are aluminium with a varied aerodynamic profile, and are tensioned with special Ergal nipples. Now all this talk is beginning to make me horny, baby!
Oh yes, ahem, back to the Racing Zeros. They're available in clincher or tubular versions.
Furthermore, bar the Racing Chrono full disc wheel, all Fulcrum wheels are compatible with Campagnolo, Shimano and SRAM drivetrains.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com
- Fulcrum's Racing3 wheels are designed for road racing and training.
- The oversize hubs have an aluminium body and axle.
- The hubs contain adjustable high precision bearings.
- The Racing Zero wheels are designed to stand out - and they do! The wheels are the top of Fulcrum's aluminium range.
- Oversized hub flanges are designed for maximum torsional stiffness.
- The Racing Zeros are definitely for the Italophile in all of us.
- The rim bed contains no holes, and is said to translate to higher torsional rigidity and vertical elasticity.
- And here's the proof.
- The Racing5 Evolution wheelset is the successor to the Racing5, which are now 90 grams lighter at 1.755 grams.
- With completely new hubs, the flanges are designed to take bladed spokes. The freewheel body and pawl carrier are now one piece.
- The hubs contain high-quality, sealed bearings.
- With a height of 24mm, the rim is classed as medium-section.
- Fulcrum's Racing7 (L) is an entry-level wheelset, designed to be light and reliable.
- Hubs on the Racing7 are oversized, flanged, and turn on sealed cylindrical bearings.
- Wheels are available in red or black colour versions, depending on your boldness.
- The low-profile Racing Light wheel is designed for the pure climber at heart.
- With a rim made entirely of carbon-fibre, the Racing Light wheels are designed for lightness and strength, essential when climbing your big backyard cols.
- Oversized aluminium hubs contain adjustable bearings.
- As the name implies, a symmetrical design up front.
