Fulcrum’s aero carbon Speed DB road wheels are the latest to get the stealth Cmptzn upgrade with faster-rolling ceramic bearings. Available in two aero depth options 40mm & 55mm, the black-label spec wheels drop weight and drag, spinning on the Campy-family’s most premium CULT ceramic bearings.
Fulcrum Speed Cmptzn DB tubeless aero road wheels
Said to be a result of pro peloton feedback with Team Cofidis, specifically for Elia Viviani, the Fulcrum Speed Cmptzn DB are said to save 3.5W over the standard version thanks to the ceramic upgrade. That makes them the third wheelset to get the Cmptzn treatment – after the Racing Zero alloy and Racing Zero Carbon wheels. And while it is just a small improvement, those ceramic balls do actually weigh less too, saving 10g vs. the standard Speed DB models.
What does Competizione mean?
Cmptzn (read: Competition in Italian, minus the vowels) is more than the low-key black-on-black aesthetic. The race-ready secret is moving from USB steel to top-spec CULT (Ceramic Ultimate Level Technology) bearings. The claimed 9x smoother and faster rolling (vs. conventional steel) ceramic balls spin in premium steel bearing races, and in light oil instead of standard bearing grease.
Speed CMPTZN DB – Tech details
Smoother running with decreased drag is the driver for upgrading the Speed DB series wheels that were introduced just last spring. So these use the same 19mm internal hooked tubeless 2-Way fit carbon rims (26.5mm external), optimized for the lowest aerodynamic drag with 25 or 18mm tires. Rims are constructed of UD fibers, with a reinforced woven twill top layer, and feature a continuous Momag rim bed (without spoke holes), so no need for tubeless rim tape.
The wheels are available in 40mm deep pairs at 1460g a set (claimed), or 55mm deep pairs at 1570g.
Beyond bearing and stealthier black ano, the new wheels share all the same tech as their original Speed DB counterparts. The wheels use oversized flange machined alloy hubs with a carbon front hub shell, 21 straight-pull double-butted round stainless steel spokes per wheel in a 2:1 configuration & on one side, 14 on the other, 12-mm alloy thru-axles, and centerlock (AFS) disc brake mounting.
Fulcrum Speed CMPTZN – Pricing & availability
The new Fulcrum Speed Cmptzn DB sell for $2810 / 2250€ for either depth with Shimano 11 HG freehub bodies (a premium of $312/205€ over the original version), SRAM XDR body for $11/9€ extra, and can swap in a new Campagnolo N3W freehub available separately.
The new black-label wheels are available now in limited numbers, before larger scale production kicks off next February.
