FULCRUM RACING ZERO CMPTZN DB
FULCRUM RACING ZERO CMPTZN DB
10 December 2019
The Racing Zero family, feather in the cap of the Fulcrum brand, sees the addition of the CMPTZN DB model.
Launched in 2007 as the first wheel to use aluminum spokes, the Racing Zero Concept gained the immediate consensus of the most demanding of cycling fans thanks to its outstanding qualities: a clever mix of reactivity, light weight and reliability. In 2017 the DB version was introduced, and the following year brought the evolution of the carbon version.
Over the years, the range has been updated and reviewed and the latest new arrival is the Racing Zero CMPTZN DB, a lighter aluminum variant with the most minimalist look in the Fulcrum range, for bikes with disc brakes.
One of the strongest and most responsive wheels on the market has been improved thanks to the use of CULT bearings and the classic 2:1 spoke pattern with oversize double butted aluminum parts.
CULT bearings (CERAMIC ULTIMATE LEVEL TECHNOLOGY™) use a special steel for the bearing races. This material features extreme corrosion resistance allowing the bearings to be lubricated with a thin layer of oil instead of grease. These top-quality ceramic bearings, thanks to the absence of bearing grease and their high precision finish, drastically reduce the friction coefficient thus increasing the running smoothness of the wheels by up to 9 times compared to standard solutions. CULT bearings allow cyclists to maintain higher speeds and save valuable energy.
Another key feature of this wheelset are its spokes, often mistakenly considered to be the least important part of the wheel and for this reason deserving a closer look. Racing Zero CMPTZ DB have maintained the typical Fulcrum 2:1 spoke pattern, featuring 14 spokes on the side subjected to maximum torque and 7 on the opposite side (with different lacing patterns between front and rear wheel), a design that guarantees symmetrical behavior of the wheel despite its asymmetrical structure, making it highly responsive. The spokes are made from an aluminum rod, pressed and machined to give the spoke head its special shape. Subsequently the spokes are fixed inside the hub-shell and tensioned to the rim with threaded nipples, while preserving an aerodynamic profile for the rest of the exposed surface.
The rear hub, made of a single piece of solid aluminum, maximizes torsional stiffness and guarantees efficient power transmission and system integrity. The front hub, not being subject to the torsional stress from the transmission can be made of lighter material, thus allowing for the use of carbon fiber to connect the two flanges. Both front and rear hub feature oversize flanges in order to optimize the offset of the 21 aerodynamic aluminum spokes used on each wheel.
The aluminum rims, entirely manufactured in Italy, stand out for their unmistakable design with a 30 mm profile: the ideal compromise between light weight and ease of handling.
The wheelset continues to rely on 2-Way Fit technology which has become indispensable for Fulcrum, allowing to fit both standard clincher or tubeless tires. Thanks to the fact that there are no holes in the rim bed, tires are assembled without the use of any rim-tape. Thanks to the Mo Mag technology the nipples are inserted inside the rim via the valve hole, then “guided” to the individual nipple holes by means of a magnet and connected to the spokes. This simple technique produces wheels without drilling any holes on the upper bridge, while using spokes which are tensioned by traditional threaded nipples.
The 19 mm inner width and a 2-Way Fit profile allow to use of 23 mm and larger tubeless tires.
Special attention has been paid to the weight and the look of the wheel, with a minimalistic design. An extremely elegant, light weight wheel, also thanks to the lack of any decals, while featuring different surface treatments that generate an attractive black-on-black effect.
Thanks to the mentioned innovations, the CMPTZ is now a big-impact addition to the Racing Zero DB family, the restyling of which was showcased at Eurobike and features a new optimized by 12 mm axle (both in the front and the rear hub —just like the Racing Zero CMPTZN DB), with updated graphics thanks to the use of reflective adhesives while maintaining all substantial highlights that makes the Fulcrum range stand out and retailing at 950 euros.
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