FULCRUM RACING 3 DB ROAD/GRAVEL WHEELSET 2024
How many times have you imagined a set of all-purpose wheels, excellent in the winter, agile and performing uphill, with no limits on less-than-perfect road surfaces, reliable and ready when you need to concentrate exclusively on your training, and a loyal companion when your goal is big mountain passes, great distances, and big adventures?
Fulcrum Racing 3 DB is a concentrate of technology designed to raise the performance bar in a wide range of situations, setting new standards for satisfaction and reliability.
The focus here was on substance and the R&D division at Fulcrum have taken everything to a higher level, choosing the most balanced, evolved a technical solution for every single essential component. Extremely smooth thanks to the cone and cup bearings and comfortable thanks to steel spokes that ensure 25% more shock absorption.
The 19 mm wide well also ensures generous, robust, stable contact with the road.
'Versatility' for Racing 3 DB means making the difference whatever the context: as a training wheel, for long distances, and on gravel. It is also a high-class upgrade for those who enjoy cycling without any competitive intent.
Good-looking, refined, detail-attentive construction.
FEATURES
tyre type 2-Way fit Ready (for clincher and tubeless)
tyre size 28'
discipline Road / Gravel
ASTM category 2
weight 1660 g
rim material Aluminum
rim material details Alluminio (6082, T6 Pre-Aging), R2-Milling
profile height Low
rim height Front and rear: 28 mm
rim width 23,8 mm
inner rim width(channel) 19 mm
tyre width From 23 mm to 42 mm
braking system Disc brake
braking surface/brakes options AFS
front axle compatibility HH12-100
rear axle compatibility HH12-142
front wheel spokes 21, Two-to-one (14 left + 7 right)
rear wheel spokes 21, Two-to-one (7 left + 14 right)
spokes: material Stainless steel, double butted
spokes: profile Rounded, straight pull
nipples Aluminum
front hub Aluminum, Aluminum oversize flange
rear hub Aluminum, Aluminum oversize flange
bearings Adjustable Cup & Cones bearing system
others Aluminum Axle. QR only with optional accessories
Weight limit 109 kg (Cyclist)
FWB options HG11, Campy, Optional: XDr
TECHNOLOGIES:
_ 2-Way Fit™
2-Way Fit™ profile for tubeless and clincher.
Tubeless technology was first used by the auto industry , then by motorcycles and now has reached the cycling industry. After its debut with mountain bikes the moment has come to “put it on the road”, and that’s what we propose to do.
We have developed our 2-Way Fit™ technology to ensure the perfect compatibility of our tubeless rims with normal clincher types and tubes. 2-Way Fit™road bike wheels are perfectly multipurpose for tackling every situation. Thanks to a special impression in the valve area, the tubes are fitted with the maximum precision while keeping the tube perfectly stable inside the tyre.
Housing the valve for tubeless tyres is also risk-free, with the unquestionable advantage that there are never any air infiltrations caused by non-ideal positioning when fitting.
The advantages are indisputable: our tests have highlighted an unique increase in smoothness. Because there is no tube, the friction caused by rubbing against the tyre is eliminated, while the perfect adherence of the tyre to the rim prevents the dispersion of energy.
Tubeless tyres do not suffer from sudden deflation when punctured which is a great advantage in safety terms. There is also no risk of snake bites as there is no tube to get injured. What if a tubeless tyre gets punctured? There’s nothing to be afraid of... With the Fulcrum® 2-Way Fit™ you can remove the tubeless valve and fit in a standard clincher tire that will let you ride back home.
_ RDB™ Rim Dynamic Balance
The concept is simple and elegant: balance the weight of the gasket, with an item of similar weight placed on the exact opposite side.
For top models, this is obtained by a special operation on the section of the rim opposite the rim joint.
For entry-level models, Dynamic Balance™ is obtained by using two oversized spokes in the section opposite the joint. The result is a wheel with perfectly balanced rotational dynamics.
_ 2:1 Two-to-One Spoke Ratio™ - Disc Brake
A system that is as simple as it is effective, the result of the ingenuity of Fulcrum® engineers and attentive observation of the results of the tests performed on the wheels on a daily basis.
These tests made it possible to understand that the forces that act on the sides of the wheels, and therefore on the spokes, are extremely different; but what’s more, the differences between the front and rear wheels are also evident and significant. The front wheel, in fact, has to remain stable even during braking of the disk on the left side, and the rear wheel, in addition to the sprocket set, has to compensate for the traction of the force on the chain side.
How can we keep the wheel perfectly in balance even when it is stressed by braking and acceleration? By doubling the number of spokes and positioning them in such a way that, for each stress on one side of the wheel, there is an equal and opposite force on the other side. This may seem like a simple solution, but especially on harsh and demanding terrains like those of off-road riding, the 2:1 Two-to-One™ system is crucial for ensuring consistent control of your bike even in the most critical situations.
_ MoMag™
What is MoMag™?
A magnet and lots of ingenuity. This was what led to the patent for the well-tested “Mounting Magnet” system, or MoMag™.
The nipples, once inserted inside the rim via the valve hole, are “guided” to the point of connection with the spoke by means of the magnet. This simple but ingenious system makes it possible to have wheels without holes on the upper bridge, but with spokes tensioned by traditional nipples!
_ Anti-Rotation System™
This new system raises the concept of spoking to a new level of performance for road bike and triathlon wheels ( and mtb too)
The Fulcrum® engineers have redesigned the spokes and the hub housings to create a solid and unmoveable whole. The result is that the spokes
- will never lose their initial tension, thus keeping the wheel perfectly reactive and centred
- will remain in the position that have been studied in the wind tunnel tests to ensure the best aerodynamic penetration possible.
_ AFS axle system™
The Axial Fixing System™ is the solution developed by Fulcrum® to fix the disc brake to the hub. The constraint granted by the butt area of the release mechanism, greater than in familiar standard ones, makes it possible to obtain greater structural rigidity and therefore more precise and powerful braking.
The availability of the International Standard option ensures full compatibility of Fulcrum® wheels even with the most widespread braking systems that use this assembly plan.
_ Wide Rim Tech
Fulcrum®’s R&D department, following requests from the competition circuit, has worked to create rims that are wider than before, about 4 mm or more than previously. This technical choice provides an ideal basis for 25/28mm tyres, the sizes currently popular.
This ensures stability, excellent handling and superior comfort.
Everyone agrees that a more comfortable bicycle means less physical and mental fatigue, generating better performance and results.
The contact made by the wider tyre creates a better, more stable support, while the shape of the tyre and rim together creates regular, stable air flow, in short, more aerodynamics, less attrition.
_ Cup & Cone
The cup-and-cone bearing differs from the classic cartridge bearing because it works in perfect alignment with the forces involved, weight and thrust from the frame, as the bearings run in a race positioned directly opposing these forces.
The adjusting ring lets you pre-load the bearing, so you can eliminate side-to-side play and have optimum adjustment once the wheel is mounted on the frame.
_ High strength Aluminum
Special aluminium - the best aluminium wheels require carefully chosen materials. For 'High strength Aluminum', Fulcrum® R&D uses only the best aluminium alloy 6082, with artificial ageing T6 temper that stabilises the alloy and gives it maximum life and reliability.
Aluminium 6082 has the highest strength of the 6000 series and has replaced 6061 in many applications. It is generally used for high-stress applications.
_ Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation
The Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation treatment is a process made through electrical discharges that take advantage of heavy materials and free electrolytes.
This process is an advanced oxidation process of light alloys of aluminum, magnesium and titanium. This special project was developed a few decades ago in the Russian laboratories to improve characteristics of the lightweight materials used in the space and military spaces
The Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation process gives the alloy surface very special characteristics regarding hardness and wear resistance.
This is possible thanks to a very fine and compact matrix of alpha and microcrystalline gamma alumina and amorphous alumina embedded on the surface.
Road bike wheels treated with Plasma Electrolytic Oxidations take a new really engaging total black look, also interesting for the excellent wear resistance thanks to the high hardness of the layer.
Fulcrum® R&D department has chosen to use this treatment also on the aluminum braking surface, developing a new design created by turning that allows superior braking efficiency.
Specified brake pads should be used with this special finishing.
_ Oversize Flange
The Oversize Flange was developed from the need to create a system to transmit every watt to the ground without dispersion, stiffening the wheel system where necessary, without having to add spokes or superstructures that increase weight.
The oversize flange uses physics to solve the problem. It increases dishing and enables spokes to be shortened. Doubling the spokes creates a balanced system that is excellent at transmitting torque.
_ Monoblock hub for Disc
The rear hub of a top-quality disc brake wheel is a technical problem to be solved. Fulcrum®’s R&D department found itself facing a fundamental choice: on which side to put the oversize flange of the Two-to-one™ system? Disc or sprocket side? Without question - must stay on the sprocket side.
To combat the loss of braking power from flex and torque of the connector between the two sides of the hub, a special one-piece system has been devised with internal stiffening ribs.
The end result is maximum torque transmission while pedalling and forces coming from the disc on the opposite side when braking.
In this way the system works both accelerating and braking, when spokes that are more numerous and with more dishing are involved.
At the same time, the other side confirms the spokes’ radial layout, saving precious weight.
