Wheels

Fulcrum Racing Quattro Carbon DB wheelset

Versatile carbon wheelset ideal as an upgrade for your disc-equipped bike

Fulcrum are one of the biggest names in wheel manufacturing and we’ve seen these versatile Racing Quattro Carbon DB wheels fitted to the Merida Scultura Team Disc bike when we reviewed it – with impressive results. So let’s delve a little deeper as to why they’ve earned a spot in the RCUK 100, too.

Let’s begin with the rim depth. At 40mm, they straddle that fine line between shallow lightweight climbing rims and your full-blown deep sections. The idea here is to give the best that both can offer – a rim that will cut through air with impressive efficiency, without being laden down when the going gets hilly.

The actual profile is tapered to a smooth point, and while not as rounded as some leading edges, still means the wheel is impressive at a range of yaw angles. However, it’s the balance achieved under the skin that impresses most.

Fulcrum’s ‘Rim Dynamic Balance’ is quite simple in its thinking, in that it aims to keep as equal balance as possible throughout the rim – essentially, in the case of carbon wheelsets, laying up the 3k unidirectional carbon in aligning directions at opposite sides of the wheel. This is supposed to offset one another, resulting in a smoother and more balanced ride.

Fulcrum Racing Quattro Carbon DB

In use, the Racing Quattros produce a lively, responsive ride – they’re super-stiff, ensuring every time you stamp on the pedals that energy is transferred into forward movement – but the ride is far from bone-shaking.

The rims also benefit from ‘MoMag’ spoke fitting methodology, which removes the need to drill extra holes in the upper surface of the inner rim bed, instead guiding the nipples to the correct location on the rim by using a magnet. Fulcrum claim this results in “greater rim lifetime, greater resistance to fatigue, the possibility to give the spokes greater tension, and greater stiffness which, in terms of performance, mean greater reactivity and acceleration.” Well, if it makes us faster…

One real plus point is that the axle compatibility is available in quick release or thru-axle, making them suitable for any type of system your bike runs, while you can attach your rotors using the standard 6-bolt or Fulcrum’s own AFS system that fixes the rotor more directly to the hub. All the while, the hubs will be dependable thanks to their sealed aluminium construction, working in tandem with flared oversized flanges to provide maximum stiffness through the 2:1 spoke lacing system.

RCUK 100 2017 - Fulcrum Racing Quattro Carbon db wheelset

The outer rim is particularly wide at 24.5mm, making the Quattros perfect for sporting 28c tyres – generally now a given for disc brake bikes. In fact, these wheels are an ideal sparring partner for the all-round capabilities of a disc-equipped bike. They’re light enough at 1,605g to remain competitive, while offering an aero advantage, plenty of stiffness and the opportunity to run wider tyres. What we’re saying is, these wheels won’t let you down in any scenario.

Got yourself a disc-brake race machine and want to kit it out with some high-end, fast wheels as at home in the mountains as they are on the flat? You haven’t done your research properly if the Fulcrum Racing Quattro Carbon Disc hoops aren’t on your shortlist.