Campagnolo releases Shamal Ultra C17 wheels

What’s that you say? You want more new stuff from Campagnolo to go with the disc brakes and the Potenza groupset we told you about this morning? Well, this is your lucky day because there are new Shamal Ultra wheels too

The performance-orientated Shamals have been in Campag’s range since the early 1990s, the Italian brand boasting that these were the first wheels where every component was designed specifically for that model.

The new Shamal Ultra C17 has all of the previous generation’s technology but with an internal rim width of 17mm – the clue’s in the name, see – an increase from 15mm. The idea is that this width is more suitable for the wider tyres that most people are using these days for greater comfort and increased grip.

Campag says that these wheels are designed specifically with 25mm and 28mm tyres in mind. The greater width is intended to provide more support for these tyres, to slightly increase the size of the contact patch with the road, and to offer more rigidity.

Campag also says the increased width means the C17 with 25mm or 28mm tyres fitted is more aerodynamically efficient than a Shamal Ultra in a 15mm width with the same tyres because the transition between the rim and the rubber is smoother.

Campag mills material away from the rims where it’s not needed in order to save weight, leaving it around the spoke holes where it is required for strength.

Other features include USB ceramic bearings and a new adjustable lockring that allows you to set the preload on the bearings, the same system as Campag uses on its top end wheels.

The driveside rear hub flange is oversized aluminium and the rear wheel is built with 21 anodised aluminium bladed spokes orientated in Campag’s Mega 3 pattern. The front wheel has 16 radially laced spokes. An anti-rotation system holds the spokes in their most aero efficient orientation.

The Shamal Ultra C17 will be available in a standard clincher version (1,495g) and in a 2-Way Fit option (1,505g). 2-Way Fit allows you to fit a normal clincher tyre with an inner tube or to use a tubeless system. The weights are close to those of many mid-range carbon-fibre wheelsets, and you get the advantage of braking on aluminium which, despite what some manufacturers would have you believe, is always better.

We don’t have UK prices but the standard Shamal Ultra C17 wheelset (front and rear) will be €1,201.92 (Campag freehub) and €1,208.08 (Shimano/SRAM), while the 2-Way Fit model will be €1,250.37 (Campag) and €1,255.75 (Shimano/SRAM).

www.campagnolo.com