Modern wheel comparison

[ishaw]

Which would be considered the better wheel between a set of ultegra and fulcrum racing quattro? I'm not sure of the ultegra model number but they came as stock on a di2 equipped cannondale caad 10 black inc and are 10 speed tubeless.

I'll try and get some pics up over the weekend but any opinions welcomed. I bought the fulcrum wheels as a spare set, and also because I'm not versed in the ways if tubeless. They are a very nice and light set of aero wheels and wondered if they would be better than the ultegra ones?

 

[Nob]

Re:

Fulcrum are a subsidiary of Campagnolo so you may have a shimagnolo set up

 

[NeilM]

Re:

Better in what respect?

They are both around the same price, but the Ultegra's are likely to be lighter, so they would be where I looked first.

 

[mattr]

Depends which Quattro you have, one will be all but indistinguishable from the Ultegra except for rim depth (fulcrum is 35, ultegra is mid 20s), the other version is a CX specific one (not 100% on the differences, but they are slightly heavier from memory).
Fulcrum are a doddle to convert to 11 speed too. Some shimanos are a pain.

I'd have a look and a fiddle and a weigh and just decide which one looks nicer, then put the good tyres/tubes on them, training tyres on the other.

(Not sure if fulcrum at that level have cartridge bearings or loose balls, with those wheels being so similar, that'd probably be the decider, all other things being equal. Cartridge = training, loose balls = nice)

 

[ishaw]

Thanks for the feedback. The fulcrum are racing quattro and are the current model. I believe the cx versions (which I don't think mine are) have heavier duty seals but are pretty similar that aside.

So in summary, they are both about the same in terms of price but the ultegra may be lighter.

I think looks wise, the fulcrum will look better on the bike being black, the ultegras are the grey colour which doesn't quite sit as well with the rest of the all black bike. I'll swap them over and take a pic of each guise and ask for judgement.

 

[bm0p700f]

Re:

If you want a modern feeling wheel get something with a wide rim. That means getting some built or buying fulcrum racing 5 or whatever the ds Swiss equivalent is called these days. Wider rims do nice things for the joy of riding.

 

[ishaw]

The quattro sits between the 3 an 5 in the fulcrum range. When you say wide, I assume you mean so a wider tyre can he run. I've gone for 25 on the fulcrum, the ultegras are fitted with 23s. Will I notice any difference (riding either at the moment seems a dream away)?

 

[bm0p700f]

On my 25mm wide carbon rims I have a 23mm vittoria corsa. They spread out to 25mm thus improving ride comfort handling e.t.c. A 25mm tyre will be wider still. wide rims also let the tyre sit taller.

Even conti gator skin 23mm on a 23mm wide rim like the 23mm wide H plus son archetype will sit at 25mm and feel good unlike on a narrow rim where they feel skittish. There is a couple of kinlin rims XR22t and XR31t that are even wider (this is a good thing) and take tubeless tyres. Now that would be a modern setup and a good one.

If you can't notice the difference a wider rim makes then there is little hope.

On a wider rim you can run any width tyre you want so long as it comes up as wide as the rims.