Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon: Light, comfortable Gravel wheelset

Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon: The Italian manufacturer focuses on stability and low weight with unusually shaped rims. The fact that the focus is not on aerodynamics even has certain advantages.

Gravel is playing an increasingly important role at Fulcrum in Italy: the Rapid Red Carbon has recently been added to the range, which uses a 25 mm wide "Mini Hook" rim, made of carbon and with a closed rim bed, which improves the tightness. A particularly smooth surface should make it easier to mount the tire, which is actually done without much effort. Before both tires can be filled with the normal floor pump, they must of course be treated with "Easy Fit" - without the assembly fluid, the only way is to use a compressor. Then the Schwalbe G-One RS keep the air permanently even without sealing milk; so you can also ride “dry” tubeless and only have to carry a tube to be on the safe side.

Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon – Even lighter than promised

At 1.480 grams, the Rapid Red Carbon is even slightly lighter than specified by the manufacturer and features the unusual "S-Shape" profile. This should make the asymmetrical rims, which are designed for even spoke tension, a little stiffer. All spokes used on the wheel set are of the same length - so you don't have to keep different spare spokes. The tangential spokes can be swapped out without removing the brake discs or cassette, which is very practical when you're out and about. They do not touch at the crossing points, which prevents annoying noise. It is noticeable that Fulcrum also uses round spokes on the top wheel set - the focus here is not on aerodynamics. Advantage: When centering, the spokes do not have to be held tight.

The soft-running, adjustable cone bearings are typical of Fulcrum and the parent company Campagnolo. The three-pawl freewheel cannot be removed by hand as usual; To change it, you have to put on the cone key and first remove a kind of snap ring on the left that covers the contact surface for the key. As far as riding characteristics are concerned, the Rapid Red Carbon impress with dynamic acceleration thanks to their low weight and perceived high rigidity. In addition, the wheels feel very supple, which may be due to the design of the wide rims - shocks and vibrations seem to penetrate the driver a little less strongly. And so the Italian Gravel wheel set can convince all around even without aerodynamics.

WEB: fulcrumwheels.com