CAMPAGNOLO PRESENTS BULLET THE NEW ALU/CARBON WHEELS THE FIRST 2-WAY-FIT HIGH-PROFILE ALU/CARBON WHEELS FOR TUBELESS/CLINCHERS ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE CLINCHER-ONLY VERSION.
For the 2012 season Campagnolo has expanded its range of high-profile wheels by introducing the brandnew range of Bullet wheels. Bullet is a range of high-profile carbon wheels with an aluminium breaking track launched on the market in the Ultra 2-Way Fit™ version as the first alu/carbon wheels for tubeless clinches. The range of Bullet wheels was created to be a benchmark in its category for being lightweight, aerodynamic, high performance, practical, responsive, as well as for their design. Two types of wheels: Bullet and Bullet Ultra, an extensive range where each rider can find the best suited wheel for their needs. Bullet Ultra will be available in 3 different heights: 50mm, 80mm or the extreme 105mm. And there's more: for each wheel height you can choose between two different profiles (clincher or the exclusive 2-Way Fit™ system) and three types of ball bearings (Standard, USB™ and the innovative CULT™ technology). Bullet Ultra will be available in all heights (50mm, 80mm and 105mm) in two colours, Bright Label and Dark Label. Bullet will be instead available in two heights (50mm and 80mm) in one colour with two bearing options, standard or USB. Bullet Ultra 50mm will also be available in the CX version dedicated to the cyclocross world with a special double cranckset that protects the ball bearings from water and mud, allowing for consistent performance over time.
TECH - INFO Engineers at Campy Tech Lab™ have conducted numerous tests, both laboratory and dynamic ones, that allowed them to achieve the ambitious goals they set for themselves right from the start of the project. The elements on which they focused for this project are: aerodynamics, smoothness and responsiveness.
AERODYNAMICS Engineers at Campy Tech Lab™ have dedicated energy and time to develop the aerodynamic profile of the rim. The goal was to optimise the geometries to obtain low resistance to air and minimise negative effects generated by cross winds. The numerous CFD simulations and wind gallery tests allowed the development of a rim profile that reduces turbulence.
Indeed, laboratory tests showed that in general the areas that cause greater turbulence and vortices were the cable plates, the hubs and the spokes. When cycling, the wind creates a high-pressure area in the front part of the wheel which means there is are considerable force from the opposite direction, while the airflow generated in the rear part of the wheel forms a low-pressure area that pushes the wheel forward.
In view of this analysis, engineers at Campy Tech Lab™ have worked to maximise the force generated by the low pressure at the rear by trying to keep the design of the profile as narrow as possible so as to maintain a more compact airflow as close as possible to the rim. Herkömmliches mittleres Aluminiumfelgenprofil
Alu/Carbon-Laufrad mit 80 mm-Profil
This was made possible thanks to the special design of the rim, the innovative aluminium/carbon coupling technology and the new system to fix the spokes on the rim that allows to considerably reduce its width. Moreover, as the spokes always maintain the correct aerodynamic position thanks to the Anti-rotation System they favour penetration into the air.
SMOOTHNESS When talking about the wheel, and especially about a high-profile wheel, smoothness becomes a very important aspect and quality that can considerably affect the performance of the rider. Bullet Ultra have a cone/cup technology (while Bullet wheels are fitted with industrial bearings) that allows to maintain and optimal contact angle (Îą) between the balls and bearings, reducing the clearance.
Moreover, the exclusive system of adjustable bearings requires little maintenance and allows to maintain its smoothness unchanged over time. The aluminium axle (in the Ultra version only) reduces the weight of the wheel favouring agility and smoothness.
The CULT™ technology, optional for Bullet Ultra, means the wheels have record-breaking performance and smoothness.
Again for the Ultra version, Campagnolo offers the possibility of choosing the profile of the 2-Way-Fit rim and to mount tubeless tires that further increase the smoothness of the wheel. This improves comfort on the bike and minimises the risk of a puncture and pinching to the benefit of safety.
RESPONSIVENESS The special design of the rim in the Bullet wheels combined with the oversize hub and G3™ spoking system with the DRMC™ (Directional Rim-Spoke Coupling), gives the wheel an explosive responsiveness combined with a great manoeuvrability and steering precision. There is an integrated aluminium/carbon rim thanks to the exclusive coupling system between the aluminium rim and the carbon fibre section, which makes the rim extremely rigid, allowing for excellent responsiveness and durability of the wheel. The exclusive moulding system of the non-painted carbon rim means that it is extremely lightweight and that the surface is smooth and has no imperfections. Bullet wheels have a dynamic rim balancing system: thanks to a special manufacturing process, the skin of the carbon fibre is positioned in order to obtain a perfect balancing of the rim even at high speed. Moreover, the MoMag™ technology allows combining both the benefits of a rim for tubeless tires with no holes and the benefits of the traditional spoke tensioning with nipples.
DRMC™ (Directional Rim-Spoke Coupling), the exclusive system that allows a perfect orientation of the spokes between the rim and the hub, thereby reducing the concentration of tension and stress on the spokes. Furthermore, the system allows a reduction of weight in the rim as there is no need for reinforcements located on the spokes and allows the use of a narrower and more aerodynamic rim profile. This allows for an optimal and constant tension on the spokes and mechanical stress is minimised. The oversize aluminium Nipples (Ultra version) allow to further reduce the peripheral mass of the wheel, thus increasing responsiveness. The self-locking system of the nipples allows to maintain the right tension on the spokes and does not require any maintenance.