Fulcrum - CX version for winter?

gingermagician

Fulcrum wheels seem to be pretty well thought of and I'm considering a pair for winter duties - either the Racing 5 or Racing Quattro. Plenty of good deals about on 2013 wheels, plus some pretty good ones available on the new 2014 versions.

Anyway, my question is primarily about the CX versions they offer. The only difference as far as I can see is the double seals in the hubs but, given the filthy stuff I end up doing weekend club rides through during the winter months, this could be no bad thing.

Reckon they're worth upgrade?

passout

Dunno but my Racing 7s made great winter wheels, no issues with seals - would recommend.

patrickf

Whereas I destroyed my standard Racing 7s in less than a season.

gingermagician

Thanks for the replies, gents.

patrickf - was it the hubs or rims/spokes that you had trouble with?

springtide9

These would be my choice....

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/hope-pro3-clincher-wheelset/

Hubs that have decent seals and can be serviced easily; and the rim replaced when worn.

I currently have Fulcrum R3s for reference - and two winters have trashed the front rim.

majormantra

Hope hoops have a poor reputation for build quality though. I would recommend talking your nearest wheelbuilder if you want something along those lines.

If you're near Edinburgh that could be me.

gingermagician

These will be a replacement for some handbuilts that I've had a few issues with. Nothing major, but my problems getting the builder to sort them correctly are leading me down the route of building my own. Plenty of people local to me who I know could fettle them for me, but I'm kind of fed up with shelling for someone else to maintain my bike stuff. Want to learn it all myself, including wheel building.

However, in the meantime, winter bike season is on the horizon and I need something relatively cheap and reliable.

I've read nothing but horror stories about the pre-built Hopes, so they're a no-go. The hubs are on the short list for when I build my own though.

springtide9

GingerMagician wrote:

These will be a replacement for some handbuilts that I've had a few issues with. Nothing major, but my problems getting the builder to sort them correctly are leading me down the route of building my own. Plenty of people local to me who I know could fettle them for me, but I'm kind of fed up with shelling for someone else to maintain my bike stuff. Want to learn it all myself, including wheel building.

However, in the meantime, winter bike season is on the horizon and I need something relatively cheap and reliable.

I've read nothing but horror stories about the pre-built Hopes, so they're a no-go. The hubs are on the short list for when I build my own though.

The cost of Hope wheels are actually cheaper than the sum of the parts. Personally I'd go for the Hope Hoops and get a wheel builder to give them a once over.

You'll then have a decent spec'ed pair of wheels for a good price. Obviously this only works if you know a wheelbuilder who is willing to do this.

patrickf

GingerMagician wrote:

Thanks for the replies, gents.

patrickf - was it the hubs or rims/spokes that you had trouble with?

Spokes are spot on.

The bearings started grinding a little bit fairly early on thanks to all the wet weather spring last year. I just let them go thinking I'd replace them once they got to the point where they didn't work anymore. They didn't really get any worse until the winter, but since the brake tracks wore out as well I decided to change the wheels entirely.

That said, they were cracking for what they were. I had no issues with the spokes and never had to true them.