Fulcrum racing 5 or 7 or something else?

[oldgreyandslow]

Which is best, or any other recommendations? Easton EA50 seems a bit more pricey, racing 7's are £144 on wiggle, 5's £180, Eastons £225, Planet X have Fulcrum 7's at £105.

The idea is to replace the Ambrosios on my Bianchi with some new wheels and use the ambros' on my winter bike which has some old mavic MA2's and knackered sprockets and bearings, this coud be the most cost effective option if Fulcrums are reasonable quality?

Advice, thoughts etc appreciated

 

[accountantpete]

When you are getting old grey and slow like me then you need a bit of a helping hand - I'd advise a set somewhere around the £300 to £400 mark (Zonda's or Fulcrum 3's etc). These will have better hubs and will be a bit lighter and a bit stiffer.

The best thing is that when you get a pair of these any upgrades(say a £600+ pair) will have only a marginal effect (unless you get some Zipp tubs) so you won't be going around thinking that you should have got a better pair of wheels.

 

[Aperitif]

I have 5s on a Look and they are great compared to the Ksyrium Equipes on there before...(probably a 'weight' thing )
On another Look I had Zondas - they were very very good.
Fulcrum are made by Campagnolo anyway are they not?

My Fulcrum 5s cost about £150 18 or so months ago...prices are-a-leaping.

 

[Kestevan]

I replaced Fulcrum 7's with 5's earlier this year.
The 5's are much stiffer, a bit lighter and roll better. They are also much, much quieter, whilst still retaining a nicely audible clickiness when freewheeling.

So far so good, even at 15st and riding on what Kirklees laughingly refer to as "roads" I've not had any problems at all.

Definately worth the extra over the 7's.

 

[stephec]

I had some 7's and they didn't feel very responsive, at time it felt like I was riding through custard.

I now have a set of Planet X Models B's, much faster, don't know about long term reliability yet as I've only done about 500 miles on them, unfortunately with Planet X stock isn't always available - http://www.planet-x-...odel-b-wheelset

Only £99 when I got them as well.

 

[lukesdad]

Nothing wrong with 7s Ive got them on the Dolan. Plenty stiff enough. I also run Dura Ace Mavic ES and S60s. But to be honest unless your racing the extra dosh ain t worth it.

 

[oldgreyandslow]

Well I bought the 5's from Merlin cycles, under £150 with skewers and cassette lock ring, fitted them with the old tyres and what a transformation! Just went for a quick spin and wow!!!!!!! fast, quiet, smooth etc chuffed to bits!

 

[L.E.D.]

quiet,

Have a set of Fulcrums on a bike and bloody hell the Freehub is noisy, thought they would quieten down after a while but the little buggers are just as loud now as they day i bought them. Every bugger knows when i'm not doing any work on the back.

 

[User482]

If you can stretch to £180 or so, these are a complete bargain:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/ro...te-Bracciano-Clincher-Wheels-Pair/PROLWHFR280