All-road wheels are nothing new, and we’ve seen each Zipp and Princeton check the waters with wavy wheelsets up to now – most notably Zipp with its NSW vary and Princeton with just about each wheel in its lineup.
The splendidly evocatively named Sharq – suppose velocity, menace, chew – is, nonetheless, a double-first for Fulcrum. The Sharq sits between the model’s street Pace and gravel Speedy Purple product classes whereas borrowing inspiration from its aero Wind line too. It’s the primary time Fulcrum has produced an all-road wheel, not to mention an aero one with a squiggly rim.
The Sharq’s uneven wave profile is its most visually defining function. Pictured right here with 38mm Vittoria Terreno Combine tyres and a Campagnolo Ekar cassette
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
It is about time too. Gravel could have stolen all of the gross sales headlines over the previous few years, however the fact is that many people spend most of our time using damaged street surfaces and well-groomed tracks.
Latest launches by the likes of Ribble, with its unambiguously named Allroad vary, have seen endurance street bikes evolve into machines with wider tyre clearance that may deal with quite a lot of uneven, if non-technical, surfaces. That is precisely the territory the Sharq has been developed for – speedy rides down wind-blown, pothole-pocked rural lanes, fireplace tracks and quick gravel. The enjoyable stuff.
Wave howdy to the construct
The silky, flawless end is straight from the mildew, whereas the silver logos and etched graphics are elegant add-ons
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
It’s pure ego, however I’ll readily admit that the looks of those wheels is a large a part of their attraction. They’re jaw-droppingly attractive, with their tender undulations, etched decals and glossy silver Sharq logos. However that circle of shark-fin-like protuberances is there for efficiency, not showboating.
Fulcrum says that the aero, wavy rim is 21% extra steady in facet winds from 0° to 10° and as much as 30% steadier between 10° and 20°, in comparison with a extra typical rim profile of an analogous depth. Rim top for the Sharq varies from 42mm within the troughs to a sizeable 47mm on the nipple holes. Their side-wind resisting high quality is, for essentially the most half, as a result of rim’s curious profile, which is symmetrical on the peaks, morphing organically asymmetrical within the valleys. Fulcrum calls this profile 2-Wave.
The 25mm inner rim is optimised for 30mm to 42mm tyres – tube or tubeless. Be aware that the bridge isn’t drilled for spoke entry, so no tubeless tape is required.
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
The rim mattress has an internal width of 25mm, which precludes the usage of something lower than a 30mm tyre, however that’s a attribute that completely fits fashionable all-road bikes. Fulcrum says the rim is optimised for as much as 42mm rubber, so in case you’re using is biased in direction of chunkier gravel, you’re coated too. The edges are suitable with each tubes and tubeless setups, and have mini-hooks for ‘most security’. These are Fulcrum’s phrases, not ours, and a doable swipe at Zipp.
The brand new stainless-steel aero ‘A3RO’ spokes had been developed particularly for the Sharq, and Fulcrum has them locked in place on the hubs, so that they’re completely aligned. Measuring a full 3mm throughout the blade, the spokes don’t contact, which can assist to maintain pressure in test and will definitely hold noise down. If there’s one factor that’s positive to set off my latent OCD, it’s the irritating chatter and pinging of spokes rubbing collectively on an extended experience.
Suitable with each tubes and tubeless setups, they function mini-hooks for ‘most security’.
Every wheel has a complement of 24 spokes, laced in a two-to-one formation. This locations the biggest variety of spokes on the facet of the wheel that’s going to be topic to essentially the most forces. For the entrance wheel, that is the left facet to assist the brake disc, whereas on the again it’s the righthand facet to compensate for energy put via the drivetrain. For optimum aerodynamics, spokes are laced radial on the facet least topic to forces and three-cross on the opposite for energy and stiffness.
Hubs function a conventional cup and cone construct, loaded with Fulcrum’s USB (Extremely Easy Bearings) ceramic bearings. There’s an simply accessible pre-load adjustment ring for quick fine-tuning, and long-term upkeep must be simple sufficient.
The edges share the identical silky matt sheen as seen and felt on a lot of Fulcrum’s latest carbon wheels. The model makes use of a producing approach it calls DIMF (Direct Inmold Matt End), which, because the identify suggests, offers a near-flawless floor end straight from the mildew, with out the necessity for additional ending or portray.
The whole system weight restrict for the Sharq wheelset is a beneficiant (for a efficiency wheel) 120kg, which opens up the chance for bike packing in case you’re a lighter rider.
The experience
The Sharq wheels suited our Wilier Jena check rig nicely. Pictured right here on a mellow farm lane, carrying 32mm Vittoria Corsa Management tyres.
(Picture credit score: Future)
I rode our Sharq assessment set bolted to my Wilier Jena gravel/endurance bike. Initially, I fitted 38mm Vittoria Terreno Combine tyres, however quickly swapped these out for a pair of quicker 32mm Vittoria Corsa Controls, purely as a result of they higher swimsuit my road-biased using. Each units of tyres went on tubeless utilizing simply my thumbs and seated effortlessly with a observe pump. The method was really easy, I may barely imagine it. I’m positive the shortage of rim tape – the Sharq’s rim bridge isn’t drilled – actually helped right here.
Vittoria Air-liner tyre liners fitted with out me needing to resort to specialist tools or vibrant cursing.
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
My scales learn 1,484g in opposition to the quoted 1,440g, however that’s with a Campagnolo N3W freewheel physique fitted. That’s an excellent weight for a comparatively deep set of wheels. Throughout the assessment interval, I had the chance to experience out on a set of Miche Kleos RD 36 street climbing wheels, that are equally priced however weigh solely 50g much less. I’ve additionally just lately clocked a whole bunch of kilometres on a set of Mavic Cosmic SL 40 all-road wheels, which value £800 much less however weigh 160g extra.
The Miches are elegant and the Cosmics nice worth, however I’d take the Fulcrums over both. The Sharqs roll very easily on their ceramic bearings and really feel uncharacteristically agile and responsive for wheels of this depth – not far off the Miches on this respect.
On the similar time, they had been considerably much less troubled by facet winds than the Mavics. I repeatedly experience a couple of quick lengthy descents on native, slim hedge-lined lanes which can be fairly sheltered till you zip previous the occasional five-bar gate. Then momentarily, with no hedge for cover, you are feeling the wind’s full pressure, which might knock simply you sideways. I swear I can hear Zephyrus, the Greek god of the west wind, screaming ‘gotcha!’
After all, in these circumstances, the entire bike and rider act like a sail however there’s noticeably much less entrance wheel tug with the Sharq’s fitted.
The 38mm Vittoria Terreno tyres sit nicely on the edges
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
Their aero profile, relative gentle weight and good stage of stiffness allow these wheels to spin up quick and hold rolling on flat roads, undulating terrain and reasonable ascents. Little doubt helped by the ceramic bearings. They’re not climbing wheels, however I didn’t ever really feel that they had been holding me again on steeper ascents, in contrast to the funds 1,750g alloy Miche Graff XL wheelset that got here inventory on my Jena.
I’m no observe sprinter, nothing like, however my efforts at accelerating exhausting by no means unsettled the again wheel, nor did braking with conviction expose any sloppiness within the entrance. Leaning the wheels, when corning as quick as I dare, additionally didn’t reveal any lack of torsional stiffness.
The transition from rim to tyre, on this case a 38mm Vittoria Terreno, could be very clean.
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
A lot of my time with this wheelset was spent on weekend endurance rides within the picturesque Cotswold hills, pedalling lengthy circuits on slim rural lanes. Nonetheless, in my first few weeks, with the 38mm Vittoria Terreno Combine tyres mounted, I did hunt down some native gravel routes. Inevitably, my common speeds had been significantly decrease, however that did give me time to understand simply how clean these wheels really feel over something however correctly rocky or rutted floor (the place, frankly, nothing goes to really feel comfortable). A few of this really feel, in fact, is because of bigger quantity tyres operating decrease pressures, however even after I transitioned to the narrower Corsa Controls and tarmac, that silky really feel remained with me.
I’m far too gradual on gravel to understand any aero financial savings the Sharqs could have introduced however Traka 360 legend (he’s gained it 3 times) Mattia De Marchi isn’t. He positioned fifth at Unbound 200 this 12 months, using a Basso Palta geared up with Fulcrum Sharq wheels. One other aero gravel wheelset that acquired a lot consideration at that race was Zipp’s new 303 XPLR, with its large headline-grabbing 32mm inner width rims. Little doubt, the Zipp is a gravel monster, however for my cash the Fulcrum Sharq is a extra versatile beast, as competent on tarmac as it’s on gravel.
Conclusion
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
It’s simple to be charmed by the Sharq. This stunning wheelset seems unbelievable on any gravel or all-road bike, and for some riders that will likely be motive sufficient to speculate over two grand on a pair. Thankfully, their seems are matched by construct high quality and efficiency. In my expertise, tubeless tyres mount with ease, they’re quick and responsive on nearly any floor, and so they excel in blustery circumstances.
Specs
- Worth: £2,289/$2,807
- Tyre Sort: tube & tubeless
- Tyre Dimension: 28”
- ASTM Class 2
- Weight: 1,440g (quoted)
- Rim materials: Full Carbon (FF100)
- Rim top: 42–47 mm wave
- Outer rim width: 29.8 mm
- Inside rim width: 25 mm – mini hook
- Braking system: Disc
- Entrance axle compatibility HH12-100
- Rear axle compatibility HH12-142
- Entrance-wheel spokes: 24, 2:1
- Rear-wheel spokes: 24, 2:1
- Spokes materials: Stainless-steel – Double butted
- Spokes profile: A3RO 0.8 × 3 mm, straight-pull
- Nipples: Aluminium, Self-locking
- Entrance Hub: Aluminium, Low flanges
- Rear Hub: Aluminium, Low flanges
- Bearings: USBTM ceramic, Adj. Cup & Cone bearing system
- Weight restrict (system) 120 kg
- FWB Model: HG11, N3W, XDR, MS12
