After being tested under Lampre-Merida over the past year (including Diego Ulissi’s two Giro d’Italia 2016 stage wins), the new Fulcrum Speed T carbon tubular road bike wheels formally debut with deeper, wider rims to fit with today’s wider tire preferences. Previously, the Speed tubulars came in 35mm and 50mm, but both grow by five millimeters to become the 40T and 55T models.
The carbon construction gets updated accordingly, but carries over features like their 3Diamante braking surface and 3K weave outer layer. The rims are molded with spoke holes intact, so no drilling is required. The rear gets their 2:1 triple spoke layout, front gets traditional straight pull spoke configuration. Specs and more below…
The rims, thanks to the molded spoke holes and their MoMag tech (magnets guide the spoke nipples into place), avoid holes in the tire bed. This protects the tire, but also keeps the wheel stiffer.
The hubs get carbon bodies with alloy flanges shaped to support the spokes on the driveside. Available now for €2,548/pair with CULT ceramic bearings.
Fulcrum’s parent brand, Campagnolo, has also been updating their own wheels. The Zonda C17 alloy clincher follows trends by widening the rim to 17mm inside (22.5mm external), optimizing them for 25-28mm wide tires. It retains the differing rim heights from front to rear, as well as the machined rim profile to shave weight. Front is 24mm tall (27mm at the spoke interface), and the rear is 27mm (30mm at spokes).
They’re available with Campagnolo or Shimano/SRAM freehubs, use 16 bladed spokes up front and 21 in the rear, and weigh in at a claimed 1,596g for the pair. The rims also use their MoMag nipple placement technology, which leaves the rim bed solid for better rigidity and no need for rim tape. It’s a standard clincher design, though, not their 2-Way tubeless ready profile.
