Fulcrum’s shark-finned carbon Sharq wheels get a new deeper 57mm option to improve aerodynamic performance, while still benefiting from the crosswind stability of lower-profile wheels. Their secret again is the unique undulating rim profile – 57mm at its lowest and 62mm at the highest, with a 3-dimensional wave design. The Sharq shape smooths airflow as you ride, so you get the aerodynamics of the virtual 62mm depth, but the crosswind performance of the lower 57mm depth, as a strong gust from the side can push through the lower sections of the wave.

Fulcrum Sharq 57 variable-depth aero carbon road bike wheels

(Photos by Federico Vandone/Fulcrum)

Fulcrum debuted their dual-wave Sharq biomimicry aero road wheels last summer following some Unbound gravel racing on the 42-47mm deep original version. But now they’ve doubled down for on-road aerodynamics with a deeper 57-62mm update. The wavy wheel profile is always an eye-catcher. But it looks like there’s some legit aero science behind Fulcrum’s 3D approach, where there are two different wave profiles, that vary from the asymmetrical outside to the symmetrical centerline of the rim, smoothing airflow as the wheels spin along down the road. The result is that the rim section varies from a more flat-sided blunt-nose profile at the spoke, to a slightly more V-shaped aero profile about 1/4 of the way in front of the spoke at the bottom of the wheel.

(Photo by Imaze/Fulcrum)

Fulcrum explains that this special 3D asymmetrical design better manages airflow over the carbon rim and wide tires, both reducing aerodynamic drag directly into the wind and in crosswinds. Now the deeper rims with an updated 2-Wave Rim profile are optimized to improve air flow and reduce turbulence at higher road riding speeds.

“Wind tunnel and road tests have shown that with 30 mm tires there is a 10% improvement in aerodynamic efficiency compared to the Sharq 42, at 45 km/h. Sharq 57 is therefore faster in real world conditions.”

Tech details

• proprietary FF100 hi-mod carbon mix construction
• 2-Wave patent-pending aerodynamic rim profile
• 57-62mm depth
• 25mm internal width (for 30mm and wider tires)
• 2-Way Fit hooked tubeless-ready profile
• uninterrupted MoMag rim bed with no spoke holes, means it is tubeless-ready without tape
• straight out of the mold C-Lux finish with no added clearcoat, laser-etched graphics & water transfer logos
• flat aero stainless spokes & external alloy nipples, laced 2:1 for uniform tension
• classic cup & cone USB ceramic bearings
• HG, MS12, XDR & N3W freehubs available
• 1520g total wheelset weight (claimed)

Fulcrum Sharq 57 aero wheels – Pricing, options & availability

The new deeper Fulcrum Sharq 57 aero carbon road wheels are available now at Fulcrum retailers globally, for the same $2807 / 2560€ price as the shallower wheels. They are entirely made in Europe, are tubeless-ready out of the box without rim tape, and include tubeless valves and wheel bags.

Pick from Shimano HG, MicroSpline, SRAM XDR & Campagnolo N3W freehub bodies to fit them to all the latest road or gravel bike groupsets.

FulcrumWheels.com

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