Fulcrum and Polartec have teamed up. A wheel manufacturer and technical outdoor fabric manufacturer collaborating could only mean one thing: a really cool bag to put your wheels in.
The brands’ partnering is in hopes of elevating the cycling experience at every level. This includes pre- and post-ride wheel storage. As we all know, sometimes you have to take your wheels off to fit your bike in the back of your car.
Fulcrum Sharq 42
Okay, they are some pretty rad wheels with “exclusive graphic treatments” that you won’t find on the standard Fulcrum Sharq aero carbon wheels released last year, with a particularly unique wavy design. Early this summer, the brand released a deeper 57mm version of the Sharq wheels.
Now, we’ve seen other wheels using more than one depth to achieve the aerodynamic benchmarks the brand is looking for (‘biomimicry‘ anyone?), but Fulcrum’s 2-Wave design is uniquely its own. Yes, we see what we might expect: a dip and rise in depth, from 42 to 47mm. But Fulcrum has a second wave shifting and offset as it moves away from the centerline of the rim.
According to Fulcrum, the 2-Wave design creates a more aerodynamic wheel, allowing wind to better pass over the rim and tires. They claim drag reduction in both head-on and crosswinds — “21% improvement in winds from 0° to 10° and up to 30% between 10° and 20°” vs. a traditional aero rim profile of the same depth.”
Fulcrum and Polartec Collab
The two brands paired up to ensure that your Fulcrum Sharq wheels were protected when they are off your bike. But what about when your wheels are on your bike? Well, now have a custom Fulcrum x Polartec tote bag, large enough to fit a…well, a road/gravel wheel. In addition to acting as a wheel bag, this particular wheel bag appears to transform into a tote bag with a flat bottom envisioned for everyday use and “a bold fashion accessory.”
The Polartec Power Shield Pro is made from non-PFAS Biolon nylon, a bio-based nylon fiber derived from renewable sources. The durable fabric is waterproof, windproof, and breathable, and we wouldn’t expect anything less from Polartec.
New purchases of the Fulcrum Sharq 42 wheels include the Polartec Power Shield Pro bag and a Polartec cap. The cycling cap is quick drying, and did we mention that the wheel bag doubles as a bold fashion statement?
The Sharq 42 wheels retail for $2,807.
