Like the Campagnolo Bora that preceded it, the Fulcrum Racing Speed XLR is something of an anomaly in the world of race wheel exotica. How could a 50mm dish wheel that weighs less than the lightweight alloy options of competitors, remain stiffer, track more confidently, and perform just as well on nimble climbs as it does on powerful sprints? It’s for these reasons that the all-around, maximum-performance Racing Speed XLR sits at the top of Fulcrum's range, and is equipped on the bikes of Fulcrum's sponsored pro-tour team, Lampre-ISD. The XLR delineation in Fulcrum's naming scheme indicates the Racing Speed rolls on carbon-fiber hub shells encasing Campagnolo’s top-shelf, frictionless CULT ceramic bearings mated to stainless steel Cronitect races . The CULT bearing system is a purported nine times smoother than typical steel bearings, a smoothness that directly translates to the wheel’s ability to roll up to speed, and maintain that speed with as little friction or resistance as possible.

The carbon fiber rims and hub shells are tied together with aero profiled stainless steel spokes. The front wheel uses 18 radially laced spokes with the nipples hidden inside the rim for improved aerodynamic efficiency. The rear wheel uses the same hidden nipples, has 21 spokes, and features Fulcrum's Two-to-One lacing pattern. This arrangement, which features seven radial spokes on the rear non-drive side and, on the drive side, 14 tangentially laced spokes anchored to the oversized right side flange on the rear hub. The Two-to-One pattern ensures an instant, positive response to your pedal input and a better balance of spoke tension for greater durability.

The Fulcrum Racing Speed XLR Tubular Wheelset is light enough for hilly road courses, aero enough for breakaway riding in any terrain, and more than durable enough for nearly anything else you might imagine. The wheels ship with all-weather brake pads optimized for the carbon-fiber braking surface, as well as Fulcrum’s new quick-release skewers that offer greater clamping force and more security. The rear wheel is available with a Campy-compatible aluminum freehub body or steel-bodied version compatible with Shimano/SRAM cassettes. And one minor technical note: Campagnolo recommends that the CULT bearing systems be lubricated with oil, not grease.