View Full Version : Fulcrum 1 wheels semi-review...
catulle
03-29-2006, 06:51 PM
I've been riding the new Fulcrum wheels every day for the past few days, and the more I ride them the more I corroborate my initial impressions. At this point, I must point out the wheels are riding on Gommaitalia Targa clinchers.
The wheels perform very well. The most noteworthy virtue of these wheels is the way they deal with wind coming from the sides; which is odd because the rims are pretty tall (26mm?) and the spokes are very broad. Yesterday I rode the Cinelli with American Classics hubs, 32 spokes, and Velocity Escape wheels and at times I thought the wind would tip me over.
I also like very much the very assertive way they dig in the ground when cornering. Here I think the tires contribute a lot to the solid feeling of safety. With the 19mm Continental 3000 tires I have on the C-40 I don't feel nearly as safe. The Fulcrum wheels also soak up the road like new Mercedes Benz shocks.
In few words, the Fulcrum wheels seem to perform just fine. However, what can you think of hubs that require a sharp knife in order to take it apart for the bearings to be greased? A sharp knife, that's what the instructions sheet recommends. Also, the manufacturer recommends that you take apart the hubs every 1,200 miles for maintenance. To grease the rear wheel the cassette needs to be removed, a knife is needed to remove the plastic caps on the sides, then nuts need to be loosened up and removed, on and on, and according to them this ordeal must be endured every 1,200 miles. They also recommend that you take the wheels once a month to a qualified mechanic to check the esoteric mechanism that holds the spokes to the wheel and hub.
I like the way the Fulcrum wheels ride, but I wouldn't buy another set of them unless they were offered with a free red bicyle from Chester, CT. That's the only way I'd buy another Fulcrum wheel.
ergott
03-29-2006, 07:07 PM
http://www.campagnolo.com/pics/EURUS-Silver_rear.jpg
These get my endorsement. They now some in tubular. They are the nicest factory wheels out there (minus the Boras) IMHO. You can find deals on them as well if you look hard enough.
Fixed
03-29-2006, 07:08 PM
bro I bet their lawyer wrote some of that .cheers
catulle
03-29-2006, 07:12 PM
.
These get my endorsement. They now some in tubular. They are the nicest factory wheels out there (minus the Boras) IMHO. You can find deals on them as well if you look hard enough.
How are those different than the earlier model? Other than being silver....
e-RICHIE
03-29-2006, 07:15 PM
I also have a set of Neurons...
i have some too but they're not connecting imho
catulle
03-29-2006, 07:15 PM
I was offered a set of Eurus where I bought the C-50 but I insisted on the Fulcrum just to try something new. I have a set of Neurons which ride fine I guess, but they are black and most significantly ugly. But all will be fine when some pretty cool dude from Bayshore delivers some tubie wheels with Tune hubs and major mojo.
catulle
03-29-2006, 07:17 PM
i have some too but they're not connecting imho
I know. The ethiology is major axon dysfunction.
e-RICHIE
03-29-2006, 07:19 PM
...and major mojo.
the first google image match to "major mojo"...
http://www.jimmygs-foodsafety.net/Canton/mojo1_WEB.jpg
e-RICHIE
03-29-2006, 07:20 PM
I know. The ethiology is major axon dysfunction.
isthmus be where dysfunction occurs
catulle
03-29-2006, 07:21 PM
Provo = major mojo. (The Macmillan Encyclopedia)
e-RICHIE
03-29-2006, 07:24 PM
Provo = major mojo. (The Macmillan Encyclopedia)
i'm 'saving' myself imho
ergott
03-29-2006, 07:26 PM
How are those different than the earlier model? Other than being silver....
Tubular. The best part.
They are a pretty major redo. Different spokes. No spoke holes on the rtire bed (no tape or rims strip needed like the K's). The rims are a little different too.
ergott
03-29-2006, 07:27 PM
I was offered a set of Eurus where I bought the C-50 but I insisted on the Fulcrum just to try something new. I have a set of Neurons which ride fine I guess, but they are black and most significantly ugly. But all will be fine when some pretty cool dude from Bayshore delivers some tubie wheels with Tune hubs and major mojo.
Someone doesn't like blacks so someone has to go to the back of the bus. Red takes longer. So worth the wait.
e-RICHIE
03-29-2006, 07:28 PM
Tubular. The best part.
They are a pretty major redo. Different spokes. No spoke holes on the rtire bed (no tape or rims strip needed like the K's). The rims are a little different too.
they missed it when they nixed the black version.
goth-issimo infinity.
Someone doesn't like blacks so someone has to go to the back of the bus. Red takes longer. So worth the wait.
oh.
ergott
03-29-2006, 07:35 PM
they missed it when they nixed the black version.
goth-issimo infinity.
oh.
Once you make a set of wheels in black...
http://www.campagnolo.com/pics/EURUS-Black_rear.jpg
catulle
03-29-2006, 07:35 PM
i'm 'saving' myself imho
We know. You're saving yourself for Provo.
e-RICHIE
03-29-2006, 07:40 PM
Once you make a set of wheels in black...
http://www.campagnolo.com/pics/EURUS-Black_rear.jpg
i'd never go back atafj
manet
03-29-2006, 07:40 PM
I know. The ethiology is major axon dysfunction.
http://www.cnbc.cmu.edu/Research/images/overview/dendrites.jpg
http://flatrock.org.nz/topics/photographs/assets/callahan_trees.jpg
catulle
03-29-2006, 07:45 PM
http://www.cnbc.cmu.edu/Research/images/overview/dendrites.jpg
Normal, full neuronal population.
http://flatrock.org.nz/topics/photographs/assets/callahan_trees.jpg
Diminished neuronal population with buried soma syndrome.
manet
03-29-2006, 07:49 PM
Diminished neuronal population with buried soma syndrome.
i want a lawyer _ not in that way, though i have noticed some
lawyers that look VERY pro.
catulle
03-29-2006, 08:03 PM
i want a lawyer _ not in that way, though i have noticed some
lawyers that look VERY pro.
By the way, a piece of Art trivia here, Gaugin lived for several weeks (months?) at a small island that I can see from my house on a clear day. That was back at the turn of last century. The island is very small and quaint but I don't know of any of his remaining work done at the island.
Hell, we are talking about loose neurons and then Manet comes into play, and from Manet to Gaugin for us suffering from that diminished syndrome one thing leads to the other. :beer:
shinomaster
03-29-2006, 09:03 PM
Tubular. The best part.
They are a pretty major redo. Different spokes. No spoke holes on the rtire bed (no tape or rims strip needed like the K's). The rims are a little different too.
Different, but better? How are they better than the 05 eurus? I wonder if they are overly stiff like the mavic k's..
Grant McLean
03-29-2006, 09:27 PM
Different, but better? How are they better than the 05 eurus? I wonder if they are overly stiff like the mavic k's..
the 2005 wheels with the stainless spokes:
1560g with 30mm rim profile.
the 2006 wheels are alloy spokes:
1510g with 26mm rim profile front, 30mm rear.
personally, I've got no complaints with k's
-g
shinomaster
03-29-2006, 11:41 PM
I understand that their over all weight is 50 grams more light, and that the front rim is 4mm more shallow, and the spokes are aluminum. This however doesn't nescessarily automatically translate into a better riding set of wheels. I think they just want to look more like K's....to appeal to a wider audience.
I liked the way the k's rolled along and climbed while I was sitting, but I didn't like how stiff they were when I stood up and cranked on them. I liked the flex in my neutrons better. I am only a light weight climber though, and don't need the strongest and stiffest wheels. I'm sure they are great for you and Simoni and Cunego and a lot of guys who put out more watts than I do.
Frustration
03-30-2006, 09:37 AM
Fulcrum = Ksyrium...
About all they do is stick a sticker on it that says "made in Italy".
The rim is a better design putting the spoke through and arch, so they will be less likely to crack there.
Grant McLean
03-30-2006, 10:43 AM
I understand that their over all weight is 50 grams more light, and that the front rim is 4mm more shallow, and the spokes are aluminum. This however doesn't nescessarily automatically translate into a better riding set of wheels. I think they just want to look more like K's....to appeal to a wider audience.
I liked the way the k's rolled along and climbed while I was sitting, but I didn't like how stiff they were when I stood up and cranked on them. I liked the flex in my neutrons better. I am only a light weight climber though, and don't need the strongest and stiffest wheels. I'm sure they are great for you and Simoni and Cunego and a lot of guys who put out more watts than I do.
Shino,
I think if you don't like K's, then you won't be in love with the new Eurus or Fulcrum R1's.
My experience is that people who like Neutrons also like wheels with stainless
spokes. I have no idea if it's about flex, or how vibration is transmitted, but
there are folks who believe that the "harsh" ride is due to the spokes.
This makes some sense, in that the Eurus stainless wheels don't seem to
get the criticism that K's do, even though the rim profile is quite similar.
I think campy made the new Eurus more stiff on purpose, by request.
If you want stiff, get the new Eurus, if you don't, get the Neutrons.
-g
Another option is Campagnolo's Zonda wheelset. Compared to Eurus wheels, Zonda's use ss spokes so it weighs a bit more (1610g) but is quite a bit cheaper. Comes in black and silver as well. Clincher only.
Grant McLean
03-30-2006, 12:13 PM
Another option is Campagnolo's Zonda wheelset. Compared to Eurus wheels, Zonda's use ss spokes so it weighs a bit more (1610g) but is quite a bit cheaper. Comes in black and silver as well. Clincher only.
good suggestion, as are the Fulcrum R-3's.
Minor weight difference, big price savings,
if that kind of groovy thing is your bag, baby.
-g
sspielman
03-30-2006, 12:44 PM
good suggestion, as are the Fulcrum R-3's.
Minor weight difference, big price savings,
if that kind of groovy thing is your bag, baby.
-g
Grant has only had his Sachs for about a week and it already has him talking beat...
Grant McLean
03-30-2006, 04:49 PM
Grant has only had his Sachs for about a week and it already has him talking beat...
L.O.L
baby!
-g
Karbon
03-30-2006, 09:49 PM
What about titanium spokes? :rolleyes:
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