Fulcrum Speed 55 Disc Brake Carbon Road Wheelset – Black

The new rim profile characterizing the Speed 55 DB is a further step forwards in the search for the best aerodynamic performance. The model, therefore, focuses on a demanding and “racing” audience. To improve the rolling resistance (and ultimately the speed) of the wheel/tyre system, we designed this model in the 2-WAY FIT version.

The manufacturing process of the carbon fibre rim without holes in the internal channel – a patented construction technology – also allows a stronger and sturdier construction capable of withstanding even the most extreme racing conditions. The rim with a 19 mm inner width perfectly matches recent trends of using increasingly wider tyres – a choice that further improves the aerodynamic performance of the wheel/tyre system. This data has been validated by intensive wind tunnel studies and trials where new projects are tested on a regular basis. SPEED 55 DB proved to be the best option in terms of aerodynamic penetration indexes in the Fulcrum range and is derived from the profiles developed for the tubular version used by World Tour teams.

The SPEED range not only responds in terms of aerodynamic performance. The optimizing performance also requires the wheels to be light and run smooth. The scale stops at 1580 grand we have chosen to add ceramic USB bearing components.

Technologies:

2-WAY FIT™
2-Way Fit™ profile for tubeless and clincher.
Tubeless technology was first used by the auto industry, then by motorcycles and now has reached the cycling industry. After its debut with mountain bikes the moment has come to “put it on the road”, and that’s what we propose to do.

We have developed our 2-Way Fit™ technology to ensure the perfect compatibility of our tubeless rims with normal clincher types and tubes. 2-Way Fit™road bike wheels are perfectly multipurpose for tackling every situation. Thanks to a special impression in the valve area, the tubes are fitted with maximum precision while keeping the tube perfectly stable inside the tyre. Housing the valve for tubeless tyres is also risk-free, with the unquestionable advantage that there are never any air infiltrations caused by non-ideal positioning when fitting.

RDB™ RIM DYNAMIC BALANCE
The concept is simple and elegant: balance the weight of the gasket, with an item of similar weight placed on the exact opposite side.

USB™ – CERAMIC ULTRA-SMOOTH BEARINGS™
Fulcrum® has a long-standing reputation for the extremely high performance of its hubs in terms of smoothness and reliability. In fact, all the projects are entirely developed in our R&D department and we have put obsessive care into taking care of every detail. The hubs with USB™ ceramic bearings (Ultra Smooth Bearings) further enhance the triathlon and road bike wheels’ smoothness and reduce weight and the need for maintenance.

2:1 TWO-TO-ONE SPOKE RATIO™ – DISC BRAKE
A system that is as simple as it is effective, the result of the ingenuity of Fulcrum® engineers and attentive observation of the results of the tests performed on the wheels on a daily basis.

These tests made it possible to understand that the forces that act on the sides of the wheels, and therefore on the spokes, are extremely different; but what’s more, the differences between the front and rear wheels are also evident and significant. The front wheel, in fact, has to remain stable even during braking of the disk on the left side, and the rear wheel, in addition to the sprocket set, has to compensate for the traction of the force on the chain side.

DRSC™ – DIRECTIONATED RIM-SPOKE COUPLING
Exclusive rim/spoke coupling system. It allows the rim, spokes, nipples and hub to align properly with the same tensioning value in all areas.

MOMAG™
What is MoMag™?
A magnet and lots of ingenuity. This was what led to the patent for the well-tested “Mounting Magnet” system, or MoMag™. The nipples, once inserted inside the rim via the valve hole, are “guided” to the point of connection with the spoke by means of the magnet. This simple but ingenious system makes it possible to have wheels without holes on the upper bridge, but with spokes tensioned by traditional nipples!

No holes on the rim mean that the rim is uniform at every point, free from stress points or zones of weakness and, for the clincher profiles no rim tape is required, to the benefit of weight reduction. The advantages are immediately clear: greater rim lifetime, greater resistance to fatigue, the possibility to give the spokes greater tension, and greater stiffness which, in terms of performance, mean greater reactivity and acceleration.

ANTI-ROTATION SYSTEM™
This new system raises the concept of spoking to a new level of performance for road bike and triathlon wheels ( and mtb too). The Fulcrum® engineers have redesigned the spokes and the hub housings to create a solid and unmoveable whole. The result is that the spokes

a) will never lose their initial tension, thus keeping the wheel perfectly reactive and centred
b) will remain in the position that has been studied in the wind tunnel tests to ensure the best aerodynamic penetration possible.

TRACEABILITY

A guarantee of quality
The keyword for our products is traceable.

If you find a little label attached to any Fulcrum® product, do not remove it. It will provide you with a guarantee in case of an ascertained defectiveness of a production batch, and so the component needed or wheel will be traceable. All this because, devoted to its mission, Fulcrum® demands absolute perfection and safety for its customers.

AFS AXLE SYSTEM™
The Axial Fixing System™ is the solution developed by Fulcrum® to fix the disc brake to the hub. The constraint granted by the butt area of the release mechanism, greater than in familiar standard ones, makes it possible to obtain greater structural rigidity and therefore more precise and powerful braking.

RIM FULL-CARBON TECHNOLOGY
Full carbon Fulcrum® rims are built using combinations, developed in the laboratory, of different types of fibre, including UD and the famous 90-degree 3K of models at the top of our range. To build them we developed a special HTG (high transition grade) resin, whose glass transition point is at a higher temperature than any other fibre used in the bicycle industry. This gives incomparable performance when braking.

WIDE RIM TECH
Fulcrum®’s R&D department, following requests from the competition circuit, has worked to create rims that are wider than before, about 4 mm or more than previously. This technical choice provides an ideal basis for 25/28mm tyres, the sizes currently popular. This ensures stability, excellent handling and superior comfort.

UNDRILLED RIM BED
No holes on the bridge connector mean that the rim is uniform at every point, free from critical areas subject to stress. The advantages are immediately clear: less weight, longer lasting rims, greater resistance to fatigue, the possibility of giving the spokes more tension and more stiffness which, in terms of performance, means improved responsiveness and acceleration.

CUP & CONE
The cup-and-cone bearing differs from the classic cartridge bearing because it works in perfect alignment with the forces involved, weight and thrust from the frame, as the bearings run in a race positioned directly opposing these forces.

CARBON HUBS
In line with their aim to save every possible gram of weight and to choose the most advanced technological solutions, the R&D department has developed a seamless carbon hub. The fibre selected is woven at 90 degrees, for the enhanced balance of torque when pedalling.

PLASMA FREEHUB
The Plasma treatment makes the aluminium especially hard and resistant to surface abrasion and wear. This has allowed the thickness of materials to be reduced to a minimum, achieving advantages of lighter weight, while maintaining lifespan and reliability.

OVERSIZE FLANGE
The Oversize Flange was developed from the need to create a system to transmit every watt to the ground without dispersion, stiffening the wheel system where necessary, without having to add spokes or superstructures that increase weight. The oversize flange uses physics to solve the problem. It increases dishing and enables spokes to be shortened. Doubling the spokes creates a balanced system that is excellent at transmitting torque.

MONOBLOCK HUB FOR DISC
The rear hub of a top-quality disc brake wheel is a technical problem to be solved. Fulcrum®’s R&D department found itself facing a fundamental choice: on which side to put the oversize flange of the Two-to-one™ system? Disc or sprocket side? Without question – must stay on the sprocket side. To combat the loss of braking power from flex and torque of the connector between the two sides of the hub, a special one-piece system has been devised with internal stiffening ribs.