New wheels from Campagnolo and Fulcrum

New wheels from Campagnolo and Fulcrum

Wider profiles, carbon clinchers, better braking

James Huang / Immediate Media

Published: September 16, 2014 at 9:17 pm

Campagnolo and sister outfit Fulcrum displayed a wealth of new road wheels at this year's Eurobike trade show. Although there were no disc brake-compatible models on hand, both companies are clearly making the most of rim brake technologies with Keronite and diamond-machined surfaces. Select rims have grown in width, too.

The star of the new Campagnolo range is the revamped Bora 50 carbon wheelset, which gets a new 17mm-wide (internal width) rim for the full-carbon clincher version while the tubular grows from 20.5mm across to a much healthier 24.2mm. Campagnolo says this not only improves aerodynamic performance but it also lends better casing support for the higher-volume tires that even top pros now prefer.

Campagnolo's latest bora carbon road wheels are offered in both 35mm and 50mm depths, both with specially machined sidewalls that leave bare carbon fibers for supposedly better braking : campagnolo's latest bora carbon road wheels are offered in both 35mm and 50mm depths, both with specially machined sidewalls that leave bare carbon fibers for supposedly better braking

The new Campagnolo Bora One 50 carbon clincher and Bora Ultra 50 tubular both get relatively wide rims

Although the clincher remains a tube-type, both versions get Campagnolo's 3Diamant sidewall treatment, which uses a diamond tipped cutter to effectively mill the rims as is done with most higher-end aluminum rims. According to Campagnolo, this leaves more carbon fibers and less resin exposed for better friction characteristics. Even the graphics receive an upgrade in the form of water transfer decals, which are more durable than traditional stickers and saves 15g.

The new campagnolo bora tubulars grow in width from 20.5mm from 24.2mm, which will match better with the wider road tires even top pros are now using: the new campagnolo bora tubulars grow in width from 20.5mm from 24.2mm, which will match better with the wider road tires even top pros are now using

Campagnolo claims improved braking performance from the 3Diamant milled sidewalls

Claimed weight for the Bora Ultra 50 tubulars is just 1,267g while the Bora One 50 clinchers come in at 1,313g.

The same upgrades can be found on the new Bora Ultra 35 and Bora One 35, whose shallower 35mm-deep rims bring the claimed weights down to 1,179g and 1,223g, respectively.

Campagnolo hasn't forgotten about its aluminum wheels, although we consider changes to the new Shamal Mille to be more revisions than a wholesale redesign. Indeed, the new wheelset carries over the same hubs, bladed aluminum spokes, 2-to-1 rear lacing pattern, and 15mm-wide (internal width) machined alloy clincher rims from before. However, the rim now gets a plasma electrolytic oxidation coating, which is better known by its Keronite trade name (and is the same surface treatment used by Mavic for its Exalith rims).

The new campagnolo shamal mille carries over the same rim profile and hubs as before but gains a new keronite surface treatment that is said to greatly improve braking performance - and sidewall durability: the new campagnolo shamal mille carries over the same rim profile and hubs as before but gains a new keronite surface treatment that is said to greatly improve braking performance - and sidewall durability

Meet the new Campagnolo Shamal Mille, complete with new Keronite-coated rims

Based on our experience with Exalith, the super-hard surface treatment should yield a longer-lasting dark grey finish to the rim. And like Mavic, Campagnolo claims improved braking performance as well (at least when used with the company's current red carbon-specific pads).

Claimed weight on the new Shamal Mille clinchers is 1,426g.

Full carbon clinchers from Fulcrum

Improvements to Fulcrum's wheel range come mostly on its shallower Racing Zero range for 2015.

Headlining the updated wheels is the all-new Racing Zero Carbon, which uses the same hubset and bladed aluminum spoke system as the standard Racing Zero but with an all-new 30mm-deep, 17mm-wide (internal width) full carbon clincher rim. The new rim makes do with a standard 3K weave on the braking surface, however. That said, Fulcrum does extend the Keronite treatment to the freehub body, which should reduce marring from cassette cogs.

Campagnolo sister company fulcrum showed off the new racing zero carbon clinchers, which use a 30mm depth, 17mm internal width (clincher only), and bladed aluminum spokes arranged in a 2-to-1 pattern (rear only). claimed weight for the clincher set is 1,358g; the tubulars weigh 1,268g: campagnolo sister company fulcrum showed off the new racing zero carbon clinchers, which use a 30mm depth, 17mm internal width (clincher only), and bladed aluminum spokes arranged in a 2-to-1 pattern (rear only). claimed weight for the clincher set is 1,358g; the tubulars weigh 1,268g

Fulcrum now has a full carbon clincher called the Racing Zero Carbon

Claimed weight for the clincher version is 1,358g while the tubulars come in at just 1,268g per pair.

Also new is the Racing Zero Nite clincher wheelset, which is essentially a Fulcrum-branded version of the Campagnolo Shamal Mille, complete with the same 26/30mm differential front/rear alloy clincher rim profiles and Keronite rim coatings. The Fulcrum version uses conventional rear spoke lacing instead of Campagnolo's 2-to-1 pattern, though, nor does the Shamal Mille get the Racing Zero Nite's Keronite-treated freehub body. Fulcrum does, however, offer the Racing Zero Nite in a tubeless-compatible version.

Does this fulcrum racing zero sidewall look familiar? it's the same texture and surface treatment used by sister company campagnolo on the shamal mille - and the same plasma electrolytic oxidation process used by mavic on its exalith rims: does this fulcrum racing zero sidewall look familiar? it's the same texture and surface treatment used by sister company campagnolo on the shamal mille - and the same plasma electrolytic oxidation process used by mavic on its exalith rims

Keronite-treated surfaces should retain their appearance for ages

Claimed weight is 1,428g.

And speaking of freehub bodies, they're largely the reason why Fulcrum exists. While Campagnolo offers its wheels with Shimano/SRAM-compatible freehub bodies, many riders with Shimano/SRAM-equipped bikes simply don't want to mix groupset brands and the Fulcrum label provides a more neutral alternative.

www.campagnolo.com

www.fulcrumwheels.com