Fulcrum Racing Speed 40C Carbon Wheelset

The Fulcrum Racing Speed 40C Carbon wheels are the company's high performance offering. They offer buttery smooth ceramic bearings, stable rims and brilliant braking. The only thing I don't like is the price.

• Pros: Strong, predictable braking; stable in high winds; seriously quick on the flat and on climbs
• Cons: Two grand is an incredible amount to invest in wheels

First off, I'll say that I've absolutely loved testing these wheels. They are a joy to ride, spinning up effortlessly, handling well on windy days and stopping better than any other carbon wheel that I've tried.

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If you go and drop two grand on these, you do get everything that you need. Excellent brake pads and skewers are provided along with two wheel bags to protect your investment.

The rim has been built with an internal bead width of 17mm. This gives a good profile to 23 and 25mm tyres and I was happy to run 70psi out on the rough local B-roads for extra cushioning. There's no need for a rim tape because there are no spoke holes in the rim bed, but these are not tubeless-ready; only Fulcrum's 'Two-Way Fit' wheels are certified to work tubeless.

A 40mm depth makes these feel fast and light out of corners. The shape isn't as blunt as other wheels I've tested, but these gave me no issues in windy conditions.

The spokes are no-nonsense double-butted straight-pull stainless steel. They have an aero profile and are common enough to make sourcing replacements easy.

That's not saying I've had any issues: our test pair have been spinning beautifully true. The front radial lacing of 18 spokes keeps the weight down, while the rear gets 21 spokes with Fulcrum's 2:1 technology (basically, a two-cross pattern of 14 spokes on the drive side, seven on the non-drive side).

The hubs are one of the best features of these wheels. Fulcrum shares this hub design and the internal parts with Campagnolo's Bora Ultra wheels. What you're getting here is a pair of easily serviceable cup and cone bearing hubs with fancy ceramics inside. Parts are again readily available and easy to install with the correct tools.

I had no maintenance to do but I'd be tempted to pop a dab of grease on the pawls. They started out being silent but have bedded into a gentle buzz. If you like a noisy hub, look elsewhere.

The rear hub features a pretty large drive-side flange which deals very well with the added forces on that side of the wheel. As you'd hope with such an expensive wheel, there is no tangible movement laterally when stomping up a hill.

The carbon braking surface has been constructed with AC3 technology (All Conditions Carbon Control). That's the grooves in the carbon. It's meant to improve braking, especially in the wet.

During a race in Wales, I got to thoroughly test this feature. While screaming downhill, I found that while the braking power is still down on dry performance, there is no sudden grab once the water has cleared. This makes everything much more predictable.

It's a feature that we're seeing pop up on other wheelsets too. The Bora Ultras have it, as do the new Zipp Firecrests. For me, it's a welcome feature that also makes a cool noise.

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For your cool £2,009.99, you get the wheels with ceramic bearings, wheelbags, brake pads and a spacer for running a 10-speed cassette. The pads are from Campagnolo and are really nice. They're soft, allowing for good power modulation, and have lasted surprisingly well. Skewers are also provided. I didn't notice them while riding so I'd say they've done their job well.

The price will be a sticking point for many, but, if you're considering these, then you've probably got the cash. Having just tested the Giant SLR 0 wheels at £1,549.98, I can see where the extra money is going. It's a classic case of diminishing returns, but the braking is better, the hubs are slightly better and I also found tyres were easier to fit to the Fulcrums. Direct comparisons at this price couldn't get much closer than the Campagnolo Bora Ultra. It's essentially the same wheelset with different decals (and different rim depth options). Personally, I prefer the look of the Bora, but that's rather subjective.

> Pros and cons of carbon fibre wheels

These expensive performance wheels deliver a beautiful ride with excellent acceleration. If you've got the cash, I'd highly recommend them.

Verdict

Go-faster wheels that back up the price with perfect performance and brilliant braking