Fulcrum's Racing Zero Carbon wheelset delivers in every area of performance but is particularly apt for riders who embrace the grind of a climb. The wheels are seriously light, at 1358g a pair and uncompromisingly stiff. This enables rapid spin-up for swift acceleration, useful anywhere on a ride, but especially for effortless climbing. This finely honed balance of lightness and stiffness delivers consummate handling for total control in long sweeping bends and challenging twisty descents. To achieve all these desirable characteristics Fulcrum break new ground combining a high grade uni-directional carbon fibre rim with aluminium spokes, for a weight reduction and stonking stiffness.
What goes up must come down, thus the Racing Zero Carbon rim's braking surface benefits from Fulcrum's 3Diamant carbon braking surface technology. Fulcrum use a diamond tipped tool to eliminate any resin imperfections on the braking surface revealing a surface of just woven carbon fibres for the brakes to work on. This improves braking performance in dry and wet conditions, also making braking considerably smoother. This way the strength and weight advantages of carbon fibre can be embraced without the braking concerns previous generations of carbon wheels have brought to the fore.
Not just relying on superior quality materials for strength, Fulcrum use their MoMag technology to produce a uniform rim without any spoke holes, which is stronger and doesn't require rim tape, reducing weight and aiding convenience. The Racing Zero Carbon's spoke nipples are placed in the sealed rim via the hole for the valve stem and are then guided into place using an external magnet. The Racing Zero Carbon's were the first carbon rimmed wheels to use aluminium spokes and this is what makes the rims stiffer than its competition, whilst also conferring a weight advantage. Thus Fulcrum have also developed a unique spoke and rim coupling system for their Racing Zero Carbons. This guarantees that spokes are distributed and tensioned evenly, meaning Fulcrum's consistent aim of producing durable wheels is not compromised by the choice of aluminium spokes. Fulcrum's engineers have designed exclusive spoke housings, ensuring that the spokes will never lose their initial tension, further improving the wheels longevity and keeping the spokes in optimal aerodynamic position too. The rear wheel has a two to one spoke ratio, with 14 spokes on the drive side and 7 on the non-drive side. This enhances power transfer and longevity, supporting the extra torsional forces that pass through the the drive side of a wheel. For these same reasons the flange on the drive side of the rear hub is oversized.
The Racing Zero Carbon's have beautiful carbon hubs, with Fulcrum's excellent Ultra-Smooth Bearing system (USB). Fulcrum's USB hubs use ceramic bearings which are incredibly smooth for significantly improved performance. Ceramic bearings are also lighter and require less maintenance. The freehub is plasma treated to make the aluminium very hard-wearing, increasing its lifespan, whilst also allowing the aluminium on the freehub to be much thinner for reduced weight. Stealthy beauties, these wheels will spin up in an instant giving the feeling of having ever-ready power in your pedals, with their outstanding stiffness allowing you to accurately weave and flick through bends.