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review

Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon Wheelset

8
£1,399.99

VERDICT:

8
10
High-quality gravel wheelset in terms of both the ride feel and durability, with plenty of stiffness to boot
Good weight for gravel wheels
Easy to fit tubeless
Very smooth rolling
Can take plenty of abuse
Solid rim bed means nipples require magnets to be replaced
Weight: 
1,570g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon wheelset sits in the company's gravel range, but the wheels are versatile enough to be used anywhere wider tyres are wanted thanks to a girthy rim width, loads of stiffness and a light weight. The attention to detail is impressive, and you are getting a lot of wheel for the money.

If your gravel riding requires an injection of speed or you just want some bling looking carbon fibre wheels then I'd definitely recommend the Fulcrum Rapid Reds. They bring all of the lightweight performance of the company's road range (of which I've ridden many), but in a tougher build for the challenges of some off-road shenanigans.

2022 Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon wheelset - rim decal 2.jpg

At 1,570g on the road.cc scales (around 80g higher than Fulcrum's claimed weight) they are light enough that acceleration feels quick, and they certainly don't feel lacking when it comes to climbing.

It's easy to push the boundaries of durability to improve weight by cutting down on the amount of material used in certain parts of the build or dropping the spoke count, for instance. But in my opinion the ride feel from the Rapid Reds shows that Fulcrum has got the balance right. They feel solid, giving you confidence when pushing hard over broken or rough terrain, and there are no feelings of 'buzziness' that you get on some cheaper wheels where a lot of surface vibration gets through.

2022 Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon wheelset - rim detail 1.jpg

A lot of my testing route is on military transit routes made up of large aggregate sections. The majority is a hardpacked surface compressed by tanks and lorries passing over it, but there are many potholes, which can be hidden from view because of the colour of the surface until you are right on top of them.

It's a given that I am going to hit at least one on my loop, and they can be wheel wreckers. The Rapid Reds took everything in their stride, and even when I heard that horrible sound of rock against rim the Fulcrums showed no damage or any issue with trueness.

The adjustable cup and come bearing system meant the wheels ran super smoothly throughout testing, and I didn't need to touch them once over eight weeks of testing that saw plenty of dust, grit and mud.

2022 Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon wheelset - front hub 2.jpg

The internal rim width is 25mm (30.6mm externally) which is ideal for tyres ranging from 38mm to 60mm according to Fulcrum.

I used them with both a set of Panaracer GravelKing EXT TLC tyres in a 38mm size, and some 45mm Schwalbe G-One Bite Evolution TLEs. Both fitted easily and inflated securely, popping on the bead with just a high-powered track pump. Whether that is thanks to Fulcrum's C-Lux Finish, which it says gives a mirror-like finish to ease tyre fitment, it's hard to say.

The Rapid Red's full carbon fibre rim is 2-Way Fit, which means the rim isn't drilled right through to the side that mates to the tyre. This enables you to fit either clincher tyres and inner tubes or tubeless tyres without the need for rim tape.

2022 Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon wheelset - rim profile 2.jpg

The only downside to this is if the nipples need replacing – they would need to be run around the inside of the rim using a magnet rather than just dropping them in. At least Fulcrum has left the nipples exposed, though, so if the rims go out of true they can be tweaked easily.

2022 Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon wheelset - valve hole.jpg

To aid stiffness and reliability the rim is also drilled asymmetrically, offsetting the spoke holes to reduce dishing. Dishing is the angle of the spokes between the hub and the rim, and the deeper that the cassette gets, the less angled the spokes have to run on the rear drive side. The same happens to a lesser extent on the front wheel with regards to the disc brake. By moving the spokes holes the angle can be increased.

2022 Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon wheelset - spoke nipple.jpg

Aerodynamics isn't anywhere near as crucial on a gravel wheel as it is on a road version so it's good to see that Fulcrum has kept the Rapid Reds shallow at 30mm, which helps keep the weight down.

2022 Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon wheelset - rim decal 1.jpg

The spoke count is 24 for both the front and rear, and that is pretty typical for gravel wheels focusing on performance. If you are looking at something for bikepacking and carrying big loads you'll probably want something with 28/32 spokes, which will have a higher weight limit than the Rapid Red's 120kg (which includes bike, rider and kit).

2022 Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon wheelset - rear wheel.jpg

When it comes to compatibility, the aluminium hubs take 12mm axles out of the box and are available with HG11 (Shimano/SRAM), HDR (SRAM) and N3W (Campagnolo) freehubs.

2022 Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon wheelset - rear hub.jpg

Value

The overall handbuilt quality is very good, and they are well finished. I'd say it's an impressive build for the £1,399.99 rrp.

Zipp's new 101 XPLR wheelset (reviewed recently on off.road.cc) has a similar raised central section to the rim, and is also aimed at gravel riding. With rim tape and valves fitted they are 1,710g in weight, and a fair bit pricier, too, at £1,746.

> Buyer’s Guide: 10 of the best road bike and gravel bike wheels

There are some direct-to-consumer options available for quite a chunk of money less, though, such as Scribe's Carbon Gravel Wide++ wheelset, also tested on off.road.cc.

Matt on the whole was impressed (after he packed the hub with grease to quieten down the freehub buzz) and you can see why at just £870 for a set of wheels that weighs 1,360g.

Conclusion

Overall, I really like the Fulcrums. The ride quality is excellent, and I can't fault the build quality either. From a large brand that has to go through the distributor route, they are a decent price too.

Verdict

High-quality gravel wheelset in terms of both the ride feel and durability, with plenty of stiffness to boot

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon Wheelset

Size tested: 700C, 30mm deep

Tell us what the wheel is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Fulcrum says, "The Rapid Red family of wheels now boasts a set of wheels dedicated to those who want to discover new terrains and new trails, with a touch of extra speed.

We have applied the technological knowhow from our top of the range wheels to develop the reactive, light and reliable Fulcrum Rapid Red Carbon, for gravel (and for whatever gravel means to you).

Lightness and reactivity are guaranteed by the S-Shape asymmetrical profile carbon rim. This technology improves the balance between the tension of the spokes.

The optimised balance ensures long term performance levels. Moreover the unique shape of the rim profile increases stiffness by 2.5% compared to a traditional U-shaped profile."

The Rapid Reds are a lightweight gravel wheelset with the ability to take plenty of abuse.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the wheel?

Fulcrum lists:

TYRE TYPE: 2-Way Fit Ready (for clincher and tubeless ready)

TYRE SIZE: 700c

DISCIPLINE: B-ROAD (Gravel)

RIM MATERIAL: Full carbon

RIM MATERIAL DETAILS: Full carbon, "UD" - carbon fiber finishing

PROFILE HEIGHT: Low

RIM HEIGHT: Front and rear: 30 mm, asymmetric

RIM WIDTH: 30,6 mm

INNER RIM WIDTH(CHANNEL): 25 mm

TYRE WIDTH: From 38 to 60 mm

BRAKING SYSTEM: Disc brake

FRONT AXLE COMPATIBILITY: HH12-100

REAR AXLE COMPATIBILITY: HH12-142

FRONT WHEEL SPOKES: 24

REAR WHEEL SPOKES: 24

SPOKES: MATERIAL Stainless steel - double butted

SPOKES: PROFILE Rounded, straight pull

NIPPLES: Aluminum

FRONT HUB: Aluminum flanges

REAR HUB: Aluminum flanges

BEARINGS: Adjustable Cup & Cones bearing system

OTHERS: Lasered hubs

WEIGHT LIMIT: 120 kg (comprising cyclist, bike, equipment and luggage)

FWB OPTIONS: HG11, XDr, N3W

Rate the wheel for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the wheel for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the wheel for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the wheel for weight
 
8/10
Rate the wheel for value:
 
6/10

Did the wheels stay true? Any issues with spoke tension?

The wheels stayed true throughout testing.

How easy did you find it to fit tyres?

Various size tyres fitted easily to the rims.

How did the wheel extras (eg skewers and rim tape) perform?

All of the extras that came with the wheels are of a good quality.

Tell us how the wheel performed overall when used for its designed purpose

A fast-rolling, durable wheelset that can take on the abuse from the gravel tracks.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the wheel

Great ride quality from what is a stiff wheelset.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the wheel

Having to position the nipples via magnets could be more of a faff than normal for the home mechanic.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

They are well priced against a similar build from Zipp, although direct-to-consumer brands like Scribe offer some tough competition.

Did you enjoy using the wheel? Yes

Would you consider buying the wheel? Yes

Would you recommend the wheel to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

There are cheaper options available from direct-to-market suppliers, but the Fulcrums deliver all of the attributes needed for a quality gravel wheelset at a sensible price. The ride quality is a highlight. Overall, they're very good.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 44  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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