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Prototype 1100g Fulcrum Carbon 29er Wheels Spotted on Merida Team Bikes

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Merida Team bikes with Prototype Fulcrum 29er carbon fiber mountain bike wheels

Just got this from one of favorite European sources: The Merida Multivan mountain bike team’s testing prototype Fulcrum carbon fiber 29er wheels.

Word is they weigh in at just 1100 grams with a full carbon rim. They’re part of the Fulcrum Lab for pro teams only, but if they prove successful they might just end up in the standard range. Those are all the details we have for now, but at that weight we’d have to guess they’re tubulars, except:

The unmarked tires look an awful lot like Maxxis Aspen (front) and the new Beaver (rear) tread patterns, and Maxxis is a team sponsor. However, Maxxis’ marketing man Aaron Chamberlain said they’re not currently testing any tubular mountain bike tires. Nor do they have their new tubeless casings worked up for testing on the Aspen yet, either. But, he did say that some teams have taken their treads and glued them to tubular casings in the past. Hmmm. More as we get it.

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Paul
Paul
11 years ago

Almost certainly tubular, with a very similar, albeit larger casing to the FMB Service Course and Paris Roubaix sidewall protection which popped up in black this season.

Sam
Sam
11 years ago

With the tape visible around the edge of the rim it’s pretty clear they are tubs. Dugast (for one) will take a tread from an existing tyre and glue it to one of their casings. My guess is that’s what we’ve got here.

1100g isn’t too difficult, I built some Edge tubulars, CXRays and DT hubs a couple of years back which came in around that mark.

Dan Gerous
Dan Gerous
11 years ago

Looks like tubulars to me. There seems to be some base tape between the rim and tire and the tread does look glued to a casing (look at around 3 o’clock on the front wheel).

Many teams have been getting custom tubulars made out of their sponsors treads for years, I think Dugast offer that service.

Joshua Murdock
11 years ago

Definitely looks like a casing with tread glued to it… Well, at least from this picture that’s what it looks like. It’d be cool to see some close-up shots! Still really light wheels, though.

clint
clint
11 years ago

hey guys, do any of you see some tape that perhaps could indicate its a tubular wheelset? Also I’m wondering if Dugast could possibly glue on thread from another tire to their casing?
Thanks for the info.

Pasabaporaquí
Pasabaporaquí
11 years ago

Clint, it’s not unusual to have Dugast casings with any brand threads.
When Friskies first appeared with 650c wheels, in 2004, he was running Dugast with Ritchey threads.
Also, Paulissen and others were seen with Schwalbe threads on camouflaged Dugast.
In fact, you can order those tubs with your favourite thread.

Steve @ G4G
11 years ago

@ Pasabaporaquí – You must be new around here. 😉

Pasabaporaquí
Pasabaporaquí
11 years ago

Indeed 8)

Alan
Alan
11 years ago

mountain tubs + gripshift = pure sex

DB4L
DB4L
11 years ago

Somewhat off topic…

1. Is that an xx1 crank with a 1×10?
2. Short cage RD?

(hard to tell)

Thanks!

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