With the Red Zone 3 and the Red Zone Carbon, Italian supplier Fulcrum is launching two brand new wheelsets for MTB use in 2022. As Fulcrum is at home under the Campagnolo umbrella, both wheelsets have a sporty focus. From cross country to marathon to downcountry or light trail use, everything is possible. Both wheels are also produced in Europe.
Fulcrum Red Zone Carbon
Carbon wheels should have high lateral stiffness on the one hand, but also offer sufficient comfort thanks to vertical compliance on the other. In order to achieve this development goal for the new carbon flagship Red Zone Carbon, Fulrcrum built a total of twelve different rim prototypes during the development phase. With an inner rim width of 28 millimetres and a rim height of 26 millimetres, the Italians want to have achieved the optimum.
Another special feature is the so-called "Nipple Force" technology. The nipple holes in the rim are arranged asymmetrically and offset to each other. This arrangement is intended to ensure more even spoke tension and also protect the rim material, as less torque is generated than with conventional asymmetric designs. Spoke tears should also be a thing of the past, as the holes are located at the most stable point of the rim.
What's more, tubeless set-up becomes child's play in the long term. The closed rim bed makes tubeless sealing tape superfluous. If a nipple does need to be replaced, it must be threaded through the valve hole using a magnet and placed in the correct position.
Thought was also put into the hub design. The hub flanges sit flat on the hub body and have been dimensioned so that all spokes have the same length. In addition, the bearing play can be adjusted from the outside.
Facts & details about the Red Zone Carbon
- Rim material: Carbon
- Inside width: 28 millimetres
- Weight: 1445 grammes
- Freehub body: Shimano HG11 and Shimano Microspline, Sram XD
- Rim height: 26 mm
- Tyre width: ideal for 2.2 - 2.4 inch tyres
- Number of spokes: 24 front, 28 rear
- Spoke type: round straight-pull spokes
- Installation dimension: 110/148 mm
- System weight: approved up to 125 kg
- Price: 1378 Euro (Mircospline 1390 Euro)
Fulcrum Red Zone 3
The Red Zone 3 wheelset from Fulcrum with its aluminium rims is aimed at the price-conscious biker and is intended for a wide range of applications. Despite the lower price, some technologies have been adopted from the Red Zone Carbon. Everything is possible, from gravel bikes with a Boost installation width to training and bikepacking use. The Red Zone 3 for 635 euros also comes with adjustable bearings. With an inner rim width of 25 millimetres, the Red Zone 3 is slightly narrower than its carbon counterpart. At 1650 grams for the complete set, the affordable aluminium wheels weigh just 200 grams more than the Red Zone Carbon.
Facts & details about the Red Zone 3
- Rim material: Aluminium
- Inner width: 25 millimetres
- Weight (BIKE measurement): 758 / 892 grams (front/rear) - 1650 grams total
- Freehub body: Shimano HG11 and Shimano Microspline, Sram XD
- Rim height: 19 mm
- Tyre width: ideal for 2.2 - 2.4 inch tyres
- Number of spokes: 24 front, 28 rear
- Spoke type: round straight-pull spokes
- Installation dimension: 110/148 mm
- System weight: approved up to 125 kg
- Price: 635 euros (Microspline 649 euros)
