Fulcrum turns to wavy rim profiles for new Sharq all-road wheelset

Fulcrum has become the latest brand to introduce wavy rim profiles to its product range through its new Sharq wheelset.

Designed for both road and gravel riding – it made a pre-release appearance at Unbound recently – the Italian brand says the Sharq wheelset is the first member of its new all-road range that is designed for versatility through a blend of aerodynamics, a light weight, robustness and reactivity.

It calls on a host of existing and new tech, most notably the aforementioned patent-pending wavy rim profile which it says contributes to 30% extra stability in crosswinds. The wheels also call upon new A3RO flat steel spokes and a cup-and-cone hub system with ceramic bearings.

The wheelset is optimised for 30mm to 42mm tyres through its 25mm internal rim width and weighs a claimed 1440g.

Read more: FFWD launches ‘versatile, reliable, affordable’ new Outride wheelset

Fulcrum joins the wavy rim crowd

Wavy rims aren’t a new invention but they’re still a relatively rare sight. Zipp has been using them for a number of years on its NSW wheels, in what is arguably the best known example, but other brands such as Princeton CarbonWorks have turned to the technology too.

Now Fulcrum has added its name to that list through the Sharq wheelset which adopts a patent-pending undulating rim design that varies between a 42mm and 47mm depth. It has veered from previous designs in a significant way, though, by adopting a ‘2-Wave Rim’ design. When viewed from the side, the profile appears to be uniform but it actually adopts an asymmetrical depth at certain points.

As is the oft-stated reasoning for using wavy rims, Fulcrum says it has adopted the profile – which took 4000 hours to design – due to its improved stability in crosswinds. This amounts to a claimed 21% extra stability at a 0° to 10° yaw angle and 30% between 10° and 20°.

The rims have been forged from a mix of proprietary Fulcrum FF100 carbon fibres and resins, which Fulcrum says has also led to a lightweight construction too, resulting in a claimed weight of 1440g.

Read more: Easton launches new EC90 ALX gravel wheelset

New spokes provide aero boost

It may be an all-terrain wheelset but the Sharq still falls firmly in the performance category too, so it isn’t too surprising that aerodynamics are a key part of the recipe.

The undulating profile contributes to the wheelset’s aero profile but it is the spokes that Fulcrum says bring “considerable aerodynamic advantages”. These are new steel A3RO spokes that sport a flat-blade design and are 3mm wide and 0.8 mm thick. Their design has been optimised alongside the rim profile for maximum aerodynamic gain.

They link into a revised spoke interface on the hub that ensures that each spoke will “remain aligned and not rotate, guaranteeing a constant aerodynamic support”. The spokes never touch so that they will maintain their tension. Fulcrum says they should last the full life of the product without needing tensioning. The wheels also roll on a cup-and-cone style hub with ceramic bearings.

Fulcrum Sharq wheelset product details

The Sharq wheels use a 25mm internal rim width and are compatible with 29mm to 71mm tyres, although they’re optimised for anything between 30mm to 42mm.

They’re compatible with all of the major freehub body types, including Shimano HG11, Shimano Micro Spline, SRAM XDR and Campagnolo N3W.

The wheelset is available now for €2,460. Learn more about the new wheelset on Fulcrum’s website.

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