The one thing that always impresses us here at Cadence is the sheer ingenuity--dare we say "genius"?--that goes into the careful design of the products we select. Again and again we are astounded by the creativity and unadulterated brilliance that takes place in the design and manufacturing processes of items so seemingly mundane as, for instance, a wheel. It's this process of research and design that separates the products Cadence selects from the mass-market commodities that flood not only the cycling industry, but so many industries seeking mass production profitability in lieu of artisanal craftsmanship.
The wheel has been called the most important invention in the history of humankind. No other invention has enabled so much: mobility, portability, mechanical design, milling, and manufacturing are just a very few examples. Something so simple as the cross section of a perfectly round object changed the history of our species. And it's this striking simplicity--this Spartan economy which so perfectly encapsulates the law of parsimony and a strict application of function following form--that makes us all take a step back when look at how massively complex something so seemingly simple as a bicycle wheel can be.
Fulcrum wheelsets belie the apparent simplicity of the bicycle wheel. Fulcrum, derived from the Latin “fulcire” which means “to support," is an appropriate moniker for the function carried out by a bicycle's wheels. The wheel is arguably the bike's most critical component as it is the final resource that converts the rider’s power into speed and performance.
Fulcrum racing wheels was founded by a group of aerospace engineers united by a common passion for bicycles. By applying their specific knowledge of the aerospace industry and its materials, the team proceeded to design a full range of wheels that were to become known as Fulcrum.
The Fulcrum range is characterized by four novel concepts:
Dynamic Balancing: Each Fulcrum wheel is perfectly balanced for impeccably smooth rotation. No other wheel in the world can claim this. The rotational mass of each wheel is so perfectly balanced that there is literally no "wobble" or "bounce" when the wheel spins.
2:1 TWO to ONE: Fulcrum wheels have double spoking on the drive side of the rear wheel for perfect centering and unparalleled endurance over time.
Aluminum Spokes: Exclusive hammer-head spokes provide a special aerodynamic profile constituted by a variable truncated-cone cross-section.
CNC-Machined Rim: Fulcrum's special triple facing treatment relieves the rim of unnecessary masses. A complete absense of spoke holes on the inner rim results in maximum torsional stiffness and eliminates the need for rim tape.
The Fulcrum range has three models:
Racing 5: for heavy-duty training or use.
Racing 3: for both training and racing; a price conscious compromise to the R1.
Racing 1: a full blown racing wheel for maximized durability, aerodynamics, and precise handling
Fulcrum's manufacturing technology, their unflinching use of high-quality materials, and their rigorous process and quality controls all verge on fanatical.