Fulcrum Racing One Wheelset
Specifications:

Model: Racing One in black color with Shimano Cassette
Weight: 1610 grams (actual measured weight without skewers)
Extras: includes skewers and wheel bags

MSRP: $1199

Introduction:
Fulcrum is a new brand in the wheelset market yet it is backed by one of the oldest brands in the industry. Campagnolo launched Fulcrum to build a wheelset and components company that can be appreciated by all cyclists. Campagnolo has been making some of the best wheels in the industry but they are generally ignored by many cyclists who use Shimano components. Aside from the cassette incompatibility between Shimano and Campagnolo, mixing components between the two brands is generally considered as taboo by many cyclists.

Fulcrum wheels are very recognizable and very attractive. They are usually identifiable by the ‘Fulcrum Red’ color. The road wheelset with aluminum rims line-up consists of:
Racing 7 - 1858 grams - $299
Racing 5 - 1756 grams - $399
Racing 3 - 1605 grams - $799
Racing 1 - 1550 grams - $1199
Racing Zero - 1425 grams - $1299

All the wheels are available in clincher version only except for the Racing Zero which is available in clincher and tubular versions.

It is obvious that Fulcrum is trying to reach all segments of the market with this very broad offering. They have carbon wheelsets too and several mountain biking wheelsets. Each road wheelset is available in Campagnolo or Shimano cassettes.

Description.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the the Fulcrum Racing One is the elliptical spokes. The spokes get wider and flatter as they get closer to the rim. This design not only looks good but is designed to reduce drag near the rim where the wind speed is fastest. Near the hub, a narrower width on the spokes helps reduce crosswind susceptibility.

There are 16 spokes on the front and 21 spokes on the rear. The straight pull spokes are very neatly tucked in the hub as the spokes are recessed into the hub and covered. The lacing is radial all around except for the 2 cross lacing on the drive side rear.

As delivered, the wheels were dead-on true and had perfectly even and tight spoke tension. Two red wheel bags come as part of the package.

The skewers are some of the nicest we’ve come across. The machining is top notch and the surface is a textured finish that is grippy and has no sharp edges. The lock nut is three-sided and very easy to turn. The skewer lever is a two piece arm that is ergonomically shaped and pinned together near the end. The open and close action is very smooth and powerful.

The cassette body is a nice piece of titanium machining. The action on it seems very smooth and precise as well. We had the opportunity to convert our wheelset from Campagnolo to Shimano and we’re happy to report that it is a very simple operation. We simply had to remove a lock nut and we were able to slide off the old cassette body and put in the new one. Care has to be taken to not pinch the single spring that activates the three pawls.

The rims are milled out in between the spokes for lightness. Rim strength is optimized near the spoke while excess material is removed in between. Also, there are no spoke holes on the inside of the rim. This not only makes rim tape unnecessary but it also makes for a stronger rim as well. Finally, the rim is perfectly balanced as the extra weight on the weld joint is countered with a rim design with extra material on the opposite side of the weld.

The ride:

The Fulcrum Racing One is quick and responsive. It accelerates off corners incredibly well and it tackles steep hills with enthusiam. Such are the virtues of a stiff and light wheelset. Furthermore, descending is a delight as this wheelset will help you carve corners confidently. It holds a line with very little drama.

On the flipside, this is a stiff wheelset. So lighter riders looking for all day comfort might want to look somewhere else. The responsive ride is very similar to the Mavic Ksyrium wheelset.

The cassette ratchet performed flawlessly and the bearings felt smooth from mile one. This is not the lightest wheelset around but it seems to perform all its duties very well topping it off with excellent braking performance.

Strengths:

• stiff wheelset translates to excellent cornering and accelerating wheelset
• excellent braking surface delivers powerful and consistent braking
• bearings and cassette mechanism are top-notch
• powerful and easy to use skewers
• one of the best looking wheelsets in the market

Weaknesses:

• stiff wheelset can deliver a harsh ride
• 1610 gram weight is not very light for the price

Bottom Line:

Again, it’s great to have choices. With the Racing One wheelset, Fulcrum delivers a product that offers top-level performance. Yet it is tough enough for everyday use in all conditions. Furthermore, this wheelset can be appreciated by sprinters, climbers, descenders of all shapes and sizes. The versatility of the Racing One stands out. And if the budget does not fit or the rider is more demanding, one of the other half-dozen Fulcrum wheels should fit the bill.

The Fulcrum Racing delivers a quality product that is stiff, light and attractive.

Value Rating:

Overall Rating:

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Editor’s Note: