Racing Wheels

Fulcrum Racing 7 Cycle Wheels – A Great And Affordable Upgrade To Standard Wheels

The Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels are made by Campagnolo and are the entry level racer wheels making them an affordable upgrade to standard stock wheels. These wheels have an aluminium rim, aerodynamic profile and machined braking surfaces, complete with that all important wear indicator (to let you know when you have wore the wheels down and they need replacing – and for those of you non-cyclists out there I can assure you it is possible to actually wear out wheels in a few months of hard use).

 The front wheel has 20 2 mm spokes and the rear has 24 spokes. These spokes not only improve the aerodynamics of the wheels but they also help to make it strong and durable enough for heavy riders and uneven roads full of potholes.

 Despite being made by Campagnolo they are compatible with all drive train systems, including Shimano (including 8, 9 and 10 speed models) and SRAM (the two main rivals of Campagnolo), which means all cyclists can use them.

 With the front wheel weighing in at 855g and the rear wheel at 1,075g the Racing 7s are not the lightest wheel set around but they are lighter than standard stock wheels and you will definitely notice the difference, which should mean improved hill climbing, sprinting and acceleration.

Campagnolo describe the Racing 7s as “high quality wheels at an affordable price” and I am inclined to agree with this claim. The first thing I noticed about these wheels are they are absolutely bomb proof. I have been using these as training wheels all winter and even with a slightly larger than I would like frame, riding on the crappy and pot holey roads of Norfolk and with a tendency to stand up on the pedals during hill climbing (there are some nasty inclines in ‘flat’ Norfolk) the Fulcrums have not bent or distorted out of shape and still run true. I also find they do not flex, unlike other wheels I have owned have done, during a hard training session. The quality is simply outstanding and they are great value for money. 

The spokes are the traditional ‘J’ variety which means in the unlikely event of a broken spoke the replacements are very cheap and you can mend the wheel yourself instead of having to take it to a specialist shop, which can get very expensive. That said, I have yet to ‘pop a spoke’ and there have been a few times when I have mistreated my Racing 7s, unintentionally of course.

 Inside the hub are 3 catches, as opposed to 2 as found in competitor’s hubs, therefore the Fulcrums are exceptionally noisy whilst freewheeling (not pedalling). All hubs will make a noise during free wheel but the Fulcrums is a distinctive rattle. Think of the old fashioned football rattles (in both tone and volume) from years ago and this is what the Fulcrums sound like, you just don’t get the “come on United” screams as well. This is advantageous in that you don’t need a bell to warn walkers, horse riders or other cyclists you are approaching and will be overtaking but disadvantageous in that the noise gets very annoying, especially after a few hours and miles in the saddle. The 3 catches do make for a stronger, more reliable and longer lasting hub so the noise is worth it.

 One of the biggest problems with the racing 7s is fitting tyres to them. All tyres I have put on these wheels (and I have tried several different models and sizes from several different manufacturers) have required the need for assistance with a tool, the Crank Brothers Speed Lever (which I have also reviewed if you’re interested). With some tyre/wheel combinations it is possible to fit the tyres by hand and with no tools at all, but this is definitely not the case with the Racing 7s. Even with larger 25mm, although I refer 23mm, tyres it is still a struggle. 

The Racing 7s come with exceptionally thick tyre rim tape when you buy them which makes it even harder to get tyres on. I highly recommend getting rid of this and replacing it with thinner rim tape since it will make getting tyres on and off more manageable, although I would still not call it easy.

 The wheels retail for around £145 and can be bought from many online and off line cycling accessory retailers, so getting hold of a pair shouldn’t be a problem.

The choice of colours is limited to black or black/red so all fans of silver wheels are going to be disappointed. Personally, I think these wheels look really cool, especially in the black/red, and are a big improvement over stock wheels. These wheels actually look like ‘proper racing’ wheels although they don’t have the flat spokes but nor do they have the extortionate price tag either. 

So would I recommend them? If you are looking for some entry level racing wheels to replace the stock then for around £145 I can’t recommend the Racing 7s highly enough, especially if you are a heavier rider and/or frequently ride on shabby roads. I admit these wheels are not the lightest or quietest available but you do have to make some compromises and the additional noise does have some safety advantages when it comes to being identified by other road users, and just like Campagnolo claim, you get very strong wheels (that are built to be bullied and abused) at an affordable price.

Racing Wheels

As you steer your classic Twin Mill Red Baron and drop the hammer coming around the final turn to blow by the last of your competitors, it’s hard to remember when you last played with toy cars on the kitchen floor. In Hot Wheels: Prima’s Official Strategy Guide you will find stats for each racer, maps of all tracks, strategies for every stunt and trick, details on Multiplayer races, and all the shortcuts, power-ups, and secrets revealed.

Hot Wheels: Prima’s Official Strategy Guide

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Racing Wheels
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Racing Wheels question by Gamer Girl: Can I use PS2 Controllers and Racing Wheels on the PS3?
I have a bunch of PS2 controllers, and I rather buy a PS2 racing wheel, which is a lot cheaper than a PS3 one.

Racing Wheels best answer:

Answer by fisticuffs
get a ps2 to ps3 adapter and you are good to go.