New Fulcrum Sharq, fast on any terrain

On its 20th anniversary, Fulcrum, a brand that was born as Campagnolo's B wheel firm and has since acquired its own identity despite sharing some technologies, now applies everything learned from the manufacturing of its Wind, Speed, and Rapid Red Carbon wheels to create a versatile wheel capable on both roads and off-road, undoubtedly a top-notch choice for gravel enthusiasts.

Fulcrum celebrates its 20th anniversary by launching the Sharq wheels that will captivate gravel fans

Combining maximum performance, lightweight, top-level aerodynamics in wheels that perform equally well on asphalt and off-road is no easy task. However, Fulcrum has not been deterred and has showcased its best wheel-building skills in these new Fulcrum Sharq.

In the words of the brand itself, the Fulcrum Sharq wheels are designed for mixed terrain routes, which is another way of saying they are gravel wheels. However, they are not your typical gravel wheels as the brand has worked on aerodynamics at the same level as they would for road wheels.

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The aerodynamics are supported by the new 2-Wave Rim carbon rims, which combine an asymmetric section on the sides of the rim that merges in the center with a symmetrical edge designed in a wave shape, a solution first seen in Zipp NSW wheels and since emulated by other brands for its aerodynamic advantages. This means that the profile is 47 mm at the peak of the wave and 42 mm in the concave part, achieving a 30% improvement in wind resistance compared to other wheels with a similar profile according to the brand's own data.

The 2-Wave Rim rims are constructed with a FF100 material laminate, a blend of carbon fiber and specific resins that allow Fulcrum to achieve a weight of 1,440 g for the pair of wheels.

Returning to the aerodynamics, the incorporation of the so-called A3r0 spokes stands out, new flat 3 mm profile spokes for which a specific seat has been designed in the hub to prevent them from rotating due to changes in tension, thus losing the aerodynamic gains they provide. Speaking of tension, Fulcrum has designed the spoke pattern of these Sharq wheels so that there is no contact between the spokes at the crossings, ensuring that tension changes resulting from impacts or support do not affect the rest of the wheel.

Regarding performance off-road, Fulcrum has equipped these wheels with a tremendous internal width of 25 mm, of course, with the 2-Way Fit system inherited from Campagnolo, which eliminates the need for rim tape as the rims have no spoke holes, with the spokes being inserted through the valve hole and guided to their location with a magnet.

Such a wide rim width determines the minimum tire size that can be used when fitting slick road tires, which is fixed at 700x30c.

Finally, we cannot forget about the hubs, in which Fulcrum uses free ceramic ball bearings USB that are fixed using the traditional cone-cup system and are easily adjusted, without the hassle of the usual nut and locknut system, through an adjustment ring on the outer part.

Fulcrum Sharq Wheels: Technical Specifications

• Price: €2,460
• Weight: 1,440 g
• Rim Material: Carbon FF100
• Profile: 42-47 mm
• Internal Width: 25 mm
• Number of Spokes: 24 Two to One spokes
• Hubs: Aluminum. Ceramic USB bearings