Market: In the performance sector, aluminum rims are now almost exotic – but Campagnolo shows that not all wheels without carbon fiber rims necessarily belong on the scrap heap with the latest version of its evergreen Shamal: the Campagnolo Shamal Ultra C17.
The first version of the Shamal wheels came onto the market more than 20 years ago and sat right at the spearhead of what was technically possible: the Shamal was the only wheel at the time to consist of components that were specially matched to one another, so it was hardly surprising that the ProTour professionals used it. In the years that followed, Campagnolo's Shamal line initiated numerous developments in the wheel sector that are now taken for granted, such as recesses on the rim to reduce weight or ceramic bearings.
The main difference between the Shamal Ultra C17 and its immediate predecessors is the wider rim profile, which now has an inner width of 17mm. This is Campagnolo's reaction to the trend towards ever wider tires - the new rim is optimized for tires with 25mm or 28mm. Of course, these tires can also be used on the 15mm wide previous rims, but the tire shape is less aerodynamic and the tires fit much better on wider rims. Due to the wider rims, the weight of the new Shamal Ultra C17 increases minimally: the clincher variant weighs 1.435g - so you can undoubtedly compete with the carbon competition.
Apart from the rims, a lot remains the same: light carbon hub bodies and the striking aluminum spokes are already known from the predecessor, as is the Mega G3 lacing, which is not only a visual eye-catcher, but also produces excellent stiffness values. The new wheels will also be available either as a clincher or as a "2-Way Fit". The latter is the Campagnolo-specific designation for tubeless-compatible wheels. This also prepares you for the future - because tubeless will undoubtedly become a big topic on the road in the coming years.
The new Campagnolo Shamal Ultra C17 will be available from specialist dealers within the next few weeks. The clincher version comes on the shelves at an RRP of €1.202, the tubeless-compatible 2-Way-Fit version costs €1.250.
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