A perennial budget favourite, Campagnolo’s Scirocco aluminium wheelset returns with a redesigned rim. They’re 35mm tall, but in line with the shift to wider road tyres, are 22.5mm wide externally and 17mm internally.
The Sciroccos are rim brake only, and their C17 rim bed design improves strength, and makes for a better interface with 25mm and 28mm tyres, reducing the turbulence caused by poorly matched tyres and rims.
The rims are balanced to equalise the rotational mass of the valve using Campagnolo’s Dynamic Balance process, their joints are welded for integrity and the braking track is milled smooth for smoother, more efficient stopping.
The 35mm rim depth aids lateral rigidity and has some aerodynamic benefit that keeps them stable
Campagnolo’s aluminium hub bodies feature aluminium axles and steel cup and cone bearings, with external lock rings to adjust bearing preload, plus an oversized driveside flange at the rear.
The front wheel has 16 radial straight-pull, bladed stainless spokes, and the rear wheel uses Campagnolo’s Mega G3 pattern, with 21 spokes in a 2:1 configuration, all with internal spoke support tabs to distribute asymmetric forces over a larger area for integrity.
My Campagnolo freehub-equipped wheelset, including rim tapes, weighed 1,916g, with the fine skewers adding another 120g. Even allowing 30g per rim tape, that’s more than the claimed 1,654g.
I fitted 25mm Schwalbe Pro One tyres, which measured 26.5mm when inflated, filling most of the space within an Ultegra 6800 brake callper, but providing useful air volume. Despite their mass, there’s definite response that translates rider input into forward motion.
The 35mm rim depth aids lateral rigidity and has some aerodynamic benefit that keeps them stable, even on a 40mph descent in gusty winds. The increase in usable tyre width and volume makes for a thoroughly up to date riding feel, with good sidewall support for cornering stability, and greater comfort and grip through reduced pressures.
Judging the Sciroccos purely on weight is unfair, as they’re very well featured, hand-built wheels that feel far quicker and more efficient on the road than expected. They’ll never suit mountain goats, because uphill progress is tempered by rotational mass, but as well-priced all-rounders, the Sciroccos have much to commend them.
