Another key difference is one that normally goes unseen: the rim bed of the Racing 3 is not drilled with entry holes for spoke nipples like the Racing 5 LG. The Racing Zero was the most impressive wheelset under these conditions. By contrast, Fulcrum’s wheel range is much more diverse, including lower-priced offerings and wheels for MTB and cyclocross/gravel. As a result, it’s inevitable that buyers looking for a new set of alloy wheels will spend time considering what the brand has to offer. The Racing 5 LG is served by a fairly simple alloy hubset with hollow alloy axles and cartridge bearings. The Racing 5 LG has a recommended retail price of AU$360/US$390/€288 and includes a pair of rim strips, skewers, and a choice of an 11-speed Shimano/SRAM- or Campagnolo-compatible freehub body. There’s no need to worry about loose balls falling to the ground because they are held in a retainer. The same Fulcrum quality and performance as the rest of the line with advanced characteristics such as a differentiated profile and Spoke Dynamic Balance technology. Once the axle has been removed, the bearing shield can be lifted out of the hub with a small screwdriver…. as original equipment on complete new bikes and when bought after market Thanks to the straight-head spokes and oversize hub, the Fulcrum Red Power XL MTB Wheelset is also extremely reliable and reactive and can be put to full use on any race track or for long cycling trips with friends. The rear hub of the Racing 3 is pulled down in exactly the same manner as the front hub. A 5mm hex key is used to hold the axle while a 17mm spanner is used to unwind the lock nut, which loosens in a clockwise direction. A locking threaded collar allows the amount of play in the axle to be adjusted, although some care should be taken to prevent overloading the cartridge bearings. Having spent time on Fulcrum’s earlier wheelsets with narrow rims, the new 17mm bed is a welcome addition. That’s because the former promises to extend the life of the wheels, while the latter is not only easier to service and maintain, but also more durable than conventional radial cartridge bearings. Flagstaff Fifth Wheels For Sale: 10 Fifth Wheels - Find Flagstaff Fifth Wheels on RV Trader. The Fulcrum Racing 3's are a great wheelset that'll improve your ride over the standard supplied wheelsets on bikes. The rims are treated with a plasma electrolytic oxidation coating that yields an all-black finish along with an extra-durable brake track that requires specialised pads. With that said, having inspected and serviced a multitude of Fulcrum wheelsets over the last decade, I’ve seen only one recurring problem, namely the cartridge bearings in the freehub body that can be quick to fail. This has always been the Achilles’ heel of factory-built wheelsets, but judging from the way the market has grown over the last 20 years, it doesn’t seem to be something that troubles many shoppers. This is what Fulcrum has been doing with its alloy clinchers for most of this century. Despite that the wheels felt fast and that could be down to a number of technologies applied by Fulcrum; anti-rotation system, differentiated rim height, 2:1 Two-To-One to name a few! With 35mm alloy rim providing you with aerodynamic benefits, sealed bearing hubs laced up using bladed spokes, the Racing 4 is truly a modern all-rounder wheelset. Fulcrum Racing One Wheelset Specifications: Model: Racing One in black color with Shimano Cassette Weight: 1610 grams (actual measured weight without skewers) Extras: includes skewers and wheel bags MSRP: $1199 Introduction: Fulcrum is … There was no discernible distinction in the ride quality of each wheelset. As for the asking price, expect to pay around AU$1,200/US$1,244/€916, though some buyers may be tempted by a couple of extra upgrades that are offered for the Racing Zero. The freehub body can be removed from the rear hub and axle in the same way as the Racing 5 LG. On the flip side, the use of proprietary alloy spokes utilised by the Racing Zero is something of a turn-off compared to the more conventional stainless steel spokes of the Racing 3. The rear axle remains in place after the freehub body has been removed. Compared to the rim bed of the Racing 5 LG (right), the Racing 3 has just one hole for the valve stem. Overall, each wheelset behaved exactly as expected for a good set of low-profile alloy clinchers: easy to ride, untroubled by the wind, sturdy with no obvious lateral flex, with excellent braking. And in another nod to the unique demands on each rim, the rear rim has an asymmetrical profile that offsets the spoke nipples to the left so as to help even out the spoke tension between the driveside and non-driveside of the wheel. According to Fulcrum, this treatment renders the freehub body more resistant to the bite of sprockets. These wheels have a variety of high-end features that save some weight and improve the performance of the wheels, however the design and assembly remains unchanged from the Racing 3. The bearing cone is not threaded; instead, a compression ring locks it into place (like the upper assembly of a threadless headset). If the buyer has no intention of using tubeless tyres, then the Racing 3 should serve as an enduring upgrade and/or a robust set of training wheels. FREE worldwide delivery available. The asymmetric rear rim is a subtle feature that improves spoke tension on the non-drive-side of the rear wheel. As such, I decided to bring all of them together for this review — courtesy of Fulcrum’s Australian distributor, FRF Sports — to learn more about what each has to offer, and to decide just how much difference there is in performance of each. The assembly of the Racing Zero front hub is identical to the Racing 3. The rear hub of the Racing 5 LG is also quite simple to dismantle, starting with undoing the axle cap with a 17mm spanner after a 5mm hex key is used to secure the axle from the opposite side. A smear of grease can be added on top of the bearing for extra water resistance. Easy to maneuver. Spoke tension is always much higher on the driveside of any wheel fitted with multiple sprockets, and the imbalance accelerates spoke fatigue. Fulcrum has given the Racing 3’s a nice upgrade and offer a real edge to the ride that feels fast and performance lead. It has been almost 15 years since Campagnolo launched Fulcrum, a brand that was created to sell the company’s factory-built wheelsets. However, the Fulcrums Racing 3’s are the most expensive here that with the fact they are not tubeless ready I can’t hand them the group test win. There are over twenty wheelsets in Fulcrum’s current road catalogue with a choice of aluminium alloy, carbon/alloy, and carbon rims. With an asking price of AU$1,200/US$1,244/€916, and no prospect of readily re-building the wheels once the brake tracks have been scrubbed away (or a rim is damaged by a pothole), it’s a lot to pay for a consumable product. Instead, the front and rear rims are machined in between the spoke holes, not only to save weight, but also to balance the rim without compromising durability. The Racing 3 costs more than twice as much as the Racing 5 LG yet weighs just 8% less; the Racing Zero, by contrast, costs three times more than the Racing 5 LG and offers a 14% weight saving. Like the front hub, there is a shield on the bearing that simply slips off the axle. I have been riding on Fulcrum wheels for years now, and have never had a complaint. By comparison, the Racing 3 was a livelier wheelset because it was a little easier to accelerate from a standing start or on a slope. Fulcrum’s Racing 5 LG is finished with black components for a contemporary look. Over the years, a number of strategies have been developed to ameliorate this imbalance, and it is generally accepted that even a minor increase in spoke tension on the non-driveside of the wheel is beneficial. This differential in rim height promises a little extra lateral stiffness for the rear wheel while saving some weight for the front wheel. A systematic approach was adopted for assessing the on-road performance of the Racing 5 LG, Racing 3, and Racing Zero. Most tyres will sit a little wider on these rims (the 25c Michelin tyres measured 26mm at 70psi), and therefore, provide a little extra grip to improve the handling of the wheels. For the Racing 5 LG sample sent for review, driveside tension measured ~110kgf compared to ~55kgf for the non-driveside. About Fulcrum - Fulcrum Wheels was established in July 2004, based on the idea of three aerospace engineers who are passionate about bicycles. As a result, I see the Racing 3 as the strongest proposition on paper. At face value, the lacing pattern used for the Racing 3 is identical to the Racing 5 LG, and while that is true for the front wheel, the arrangement of the spokes in the rear wheel is quite different. The wheels also get heavier with fewer technical features as the model number increases. And for good reason, because it is a proven strategy for reducing the imbalance in spoke tension for the rear wheel. There is a bearing shield under the collar that simply slips off the axle. The Racing 3 is supplied with a set of internal-cam skewers. The axle is then free to slide out of the hub, leaving behind a cartridge bearing on each side. I am ever grateful!!! Where once the Racing 5 featured rims with a 15mm bed, it has grown to 17mm for the Racing 5 LG (LG stands for large) with an external width of 23mm. The Racing 5 LG, Racing 3, and Racing Zero all seemed adequately stiff without any overt rigidity or harshness. The straight-pull and bladed stainless steel spokes add a modern touch to the wheels, but a broken spoke may be difficult to replace at short notice. The hubs that are found in the Racing 3 are made from aluminium alloy, and have oversized hollow axles that are supported by traditional cup-and-cone bearings. While the final result is subject to the length of the valve stem, it promises to smooth out the rotation of the wheels. Of these, it’s the improvement in the balance of spoke tension for the rear wheel and the cup-and-cone bearings that stand out for me. Fulcrum refers to this arrangement as its 2:1 spoke ratio, but it is no difference from a triplet lacing pattern that has long been used by wheelbuilders. The ride is perceptibly smoother, quieter, and faster. This spring can be lifted off the pawls for servicing, but some care is required to avoid bending it. All of these refinements produces a wheelset that weighs 1,482g (front, 634g; rear, 848g) without skewers, making for a saving of 108g over the Racing 3. In the case of the Racing 5 LG, offsetting the spoke nipples towards the non-driveside of the wheel reduces the length of spokes required, which in turn, produces a small increase in spoke tension. The rim is 17C, as the new standard nowadays. I need to get the elephant in the room out, however, the Fulcrim Racing 3’s are not tubeless ready! The Fulcrum Speed 40 falls into an interesting place in the high-end wheel market, it’s a flagship high-performance wheel that would be perfectly comfortable in … The Italian company needed a fresh identity to promote sales of its factory-built … The Shimano/SRAM-compatible freehub body that is fitted to the Racing Zero is made from alloy, however it is treated with “plasma”, hence the white finish. Collect+ and Next Day delivery available in UK. The freehub body of the Racing 3 has the same design as the Racing 5 LG, but rather than steel, it is made from aluminium. CJ from Montana says: ... It’s like having an office, an apartment on wheels. The Racing Zero is Fulcrum’s most expensive alloy wheelset, and the only alloy wheelset that the company produces in Italy. The front wheel is laced with 18 spokes while the rear wheel has 20. In addition, there is no need for rim tape, but it makes it much trickier to assemble the wheels. In addition, the driveside flange on the rear hub is considerably larger than the non-driveside one, and Fulcrum also uses a differential spoke lacing pattern: two-cross on the driveside, and radial on the non-driveside. For the Racing 3 sample sent for review, tension on the non-drive-side spokes was measured at ~70kgf compared to ~110kgf for the driveside spokes, which is a marked improvement over the Racing 5 LG. The wheels are a tremendous improvement compared to my worn out Mavic CXP 22s with about 10000 miles on them. Of course, the Racing 3 and Racing Zero have more to offer than just weight savings. The rim is wider too and suits a 28mm profile better according to Fulcrum. The Racing 3 rims have the same 17mm bed as the Racing 5 LG, however the external width is a little narrower (22.5mm) and the rims are constructed from a higher-strength alloy (6082-T6). My old wheelset was a pair of Fulcrum Racing Quattro that are still very much in use depending on my ride plan. The Fulcrum Racing 4 C17 is an alloy wheelset, perfect for performance-focused riders on a budget. Weight: 1.67kg A light spring holds all three pawls in place, and sits within a slot that circles the freehub body. Out of the box the Racing 3’s felt super light but added with the skewers came out a little heavier than the Cero AR30’s at 1.67kg. The first is the Racing Zero Nite, which is essentially a stealth version of the wheelset that sells for AU$1,400/US$1,546/€1,190. They are very stiff and surprisingly light. As a result, the Racing Zero is more sophisticated and lighter than the Racing 3 and Racing 5 LG, and it proved to be livelier and more responsive, too. The Racing 3 is positioned two tiers above the Racing 5 LG, and as such, it is a more sophisticated wheelset that weighs less and costs more. Fulcrum Identifcation Card - 100% Handmade Quality - Right from its inception Fulcrum has been marked by feature that continues to this day: that is to design, prototype and industrialise all the wheels characterised by the red “F”. A small screwdriver is all that is needed to lift the shield off each bearing. The bearings are held in place by a shield, which can be pried off with a small screwdriver. The aluminium rim has a height of 24 mm and its braking surfaces are machined to provide the greatest friction for the brake pads when braking. I have only ridden about 500 miles on these wheels, but so far I have had no problems. However, the distinction is a mild one at best, a nuance perhaps, and my sense of it was often fleeting. There was no longer a need to wait for a busy workshop to build a set of wheels; buyers could buy their wheels off-the-rack and start riding them the same day. I've used these wheels for trail riding and enduro races, and they've never let me down. This medium profile makes all the difference on the flats at cruising speeds, but is no less excellent uphill, with agile and powerful relaunches. Like the Racing 5 LG, the Racing 3 is made in Romania and Taiwan, and is supplied with skewers plus a choice of an 11-speed Shimano/SRAM- or Campagnolo-compatible freehub body. Lower tyre pressures can also be used for extra comfort. … so that the bearings can be removed for cleaning and re-greasing. Superb range of Fulcrum Wheels at Wiggle, the online cycle, run, swim & tri shop! The end cap is removed with a 5mm hex key, then the collar is unlocked with a 2.5mm hex key. And like the Racing 5 LG, the rear rim of the Racing 3 is a little taller than the front, 29.5mm versus 26.5mm, but there is no asymmetrical profile. The front axle assembly comprises just a few simple components. Fulcrum engineers have pushed the quality of these wheels even further incorporating an asymmetric rear rim that increases performance in terms of lateral and torsional rigidity as well as reactivity. At least Fulcrum has not resorted to a proprietary spoke design, so any 14-gauge (2.0mm) straight-pull spoke (round or bladed) in a matching length should suffice. That ride quality is good enough though to over come this problem, as long as you don’t want to go tubeless any time soon, as out on the road I say that the Fulcrums hands down out performs the likes of Shimano’s Ultegra wheels and Cero AR30 Evo’s. The front hub of the Racing Zero has a carbon fibre shell in between the alloy flanges while the rear hub is all alloy. The driveside axle bearing sits below the drive ring, but there’s no need to remove it when replacing the bearing. I also noticed that the wheels feel much stiffer when climbing uphill. Hunt gives you a 35% discount, Profile Design 30%, and Light Bicycle 10-25% but none state how long after you buy your wheels they are willing to do this. Pulling down the hubs for service is similar to the Racing 5 LG, however the bearings can be cleaned and re-greased with ease. And, as hoped, buyers were prepared to pair Fulcrum’s wheels with any brand of groupset by taking advantage of the choice of Shimano/SRAM- or Campagnolo-compatible freehub bodies. The internals are essentially identical to Racing 3 hubs with hollow alloy axles and cup-and-cone bearings, however the standard steel balls have been replaced by Fulcrum’s USB ceramic balls. The Racing 5 LG suffered the most from some obvious inertia, which isn’t surprising given that they weighed over 1,700g. While his results are clear — you get what you pay for — the distinction between each is not as great as the difference in price. Rear axle assembly including the freehub body. Nevertheless, I quickly developed a preference for the Racing Zero. Tubeless compatibility remains an option for the Racing Zero, as mentioned above, but for buyers looking at cheaper wheels, it doesn’t exist. As a road tubeless convert, it’s disappointing to see that Fulcrum’s “2-Way Fit” has largely disappeared from its alloy clinchers. Testing back-to-back with the Cero’s I found the Fulcrums zipped up to speed faster and had an all-round more agile ride. The exterior of Racing 3 rims are machined in between the spoke holes to remove some weight from the rims. The machining process is also used to balance the rim, such that extra material is left behind to offset the weight of the valve stem. It’s a simple design that is hard-wearing and easy to service. Remove the stickers and you're left with a good wheelset at a great price. With fewer spokes on the non-driveside, more tension is required on each spoke to centre the rim over the hub, and while this strategy doesn’t achieve a perfect balance, non-driveside spoke tension is typically greater than 50% of the drive-side spokes. [Feb 26, 2016] Fulcrum road bike wheels are chosen by great champions and designed with innovatine technologies and ultralight materials such as aluminum and carbon fiber For those wondering about how much freewheeling buzz there is, the freehubs were quiet (but not silent) for all three wheelsets. When factory-built wheelsets started to take hold of the market at the turn of the century, buyers were wooed by a heady combination of technical features and convenience. The 35 mm profile is a winning combination of great appearance and great performance. The end cap of the axle unwinds with a 5mm hex key, but a second 5mm hex key is required to secure the axle from the opposite side. Like the Racing 3, the rims of the Racing Zero are machined between the spoke holes, but the treatment is much more obvious. The front hub of the Racing 5 LG is relatively easy to dismantle. No special tools are required, and the bearings are easy to adjust with a threaded sleeve that locks on to the axle with a small bolt. For example, Campagnolo’s distinctive G3 lacing pattern for the rear wheel does not appear anywhere in Fulcrum’s catalogue, and its wheels are purely road- and track-oriented. Carbon wheelsets may be more popular than ever, but alloy clinchers still dominate the market, if only because they are much cheaper to buy. Well built and robust a good quality choice in Fulcrum’s Racing 3 wheels. With a 35mm deep rim, this wheelset offers both aero gains on flatter terrain, while also keeping weight to a relative minimum for climbing. A comparison of the Shimano/SRAM free hub bodies: Racing 5 LG (steel, left), Racing 3 (alloy, centre), and Racing Zero (plasma-treated alloy, right). With a 16.5mm internal rim width, they don’t have the best tire profile but they do have an excellent build, elite finish, and impressive stiffness. Up close, though, the hubs are quite distinct, as are the oversized alloy spokes. In contrast, altering the tyre pressure had an obvious impact on the amount of feedback coming from the wheels, regardless of the model, so this is what buyers should pay attention to when putting the wheels to use. Once the collar has been removed, a tap on the axle will release the compression ring and cone…. Total weight for the wheelset is a modest 1,732g (front, 764g; rear, 968g), including rim strips, but without skewers. I think this is a big oversight from the Italian brand and don’t see a good enough reason not to make them tubeless ready. From a pragmatic standpoint, the Racing 3 is more attractive on paper, and while it doesn’t quite match the performance of the Racing Zero on the road, it gets close. In the past, I had been convinced that the alloy spokes in the Racing Zero made for a more rigid wheel, but on this occasion, back-to-back testing did not reveal any difference between the wheelsets. It is supported on the axle by the same two cartridge bearings, and uses the same driver design, with three pawls that engage with a 30-tooth ratchet ring in the hub. … and then the freehub body is ready to be removed. The Racing 3 wheelset sent for review weighed 1,590g (front, 690g; rear, 900g), making for a weight saving of 142g over the Racing 5 LG, but it comes at a significant cost: the recommended retail price for the Racing 3 is AU$750/US$791/€599. A few common tools (17mm spanner, a pair of 5mm hex keys, and a 2.5mm hex key) are all that is required to dismantle and service the hubs. Alternatively, there is the Racing Zero Competizione, which sells for AU$1,500/US$1,645/€1,247, and feature tubeless-ready rims along with hubs that have been upgraded with carbon shells and Fulcrum’s premium CULT ceramic bearings, which are built with crygenically treated steel bearing races. Fulcrum Wheels was established over 10 years ago, in 2004, by Campagnolo. The wheels were tested on a range of paved surfaces and a mixture of climbs and descents. Braking surfaces on both wheels are in very good condition and neither wheel shows signs of carbon cracks, voids or delamination. The Racing Zero, 3, and 5 models have all been in Fulcrum’s catalogue for over a decade, and together, they essentially define the spectrum of options that the company has to offer for its alloy wheelsets. In this review, Australian tech editor Matt Wikstrom tests three of Fulcrum’s alloy wheelsets — the Racing Zero, Racing 3, and Racing 5 LG — to … All of Fulcrum’s alloy wheelsets wear the “Racing” prefix along with a model number; as a rule, the higher the number, the cheaper the wheelset (although the Racing Quattro Carbon is an obvious exception). With that said, the internal cartridge bearings that support the freehub body on the axle of the wheel are prone to wear, and while the outer bearing is relatively easy and inexpensive to replace, the inner bearing (at the base of the freehub body) can be difficult to remove.