{"product_id":"fulcrum-racing-5-c17-rim-brake-wheelset","title":"Fulcrum Racing 5 C17 Rim Brake Wheelset","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eFulcrum Racing 5 C17 Rim Brake Wheelset\u003c\/strong\u003e is the kind of wheelset that earns its keep through steady, reliable performance rather than bold claims. Built for riders who want real-world durability and a well-considered design — whether that's a long Saturday ride, a sustained training block, or a local road race — the Racing 5 C17 doesn't ask you to handle it with care. It's designed to be ridden hard and put away without drama.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFulcrum's Racing 5 line has been a consistent presence in the clincher wheel category for good reason. The C17 iteration reflects a meaningful shift in rim geometry: a 17mm internal width that aligns with how modern road tires are actually engineered. Mount a 25mm or 28mm tire on this rim and the cross-section opens up into the rounded, full profile that tire designers intended — not the pinched, lightbulb shape you get from an older narrow rim. That geometry translates directly into a wider contact patch, reduced rolling resistance, and a measurable improvement in compliance over rough surfaces. It's a practical design choice rooted in how road cycling has evolved, not a spec-sheet update for its own sake.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe rim brake track is machined to deliver consistent, progressive stopping power in varied conditions. On a long descent — in mixed weather, with a loaded pack — you want braking that you can modulate, not just grab. Fulcrum's two-to-one spoke lacing on the rear wheel adds more spokes on the drive side, where tension imbalance caused by cassette offset creates the most structural stress. The result is a rear wheel with improved lateral stiffness and long-term durability built into the architecture — not bolted on as an afterthought. These are the kinds of engineering decisions that distinguish a thoughtfully built wheel from one that merely meets a price point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFulcrum Racing 5 C17 Specs at a Glance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"specs_at_a_glance\"\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRim Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clincher\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInternal Rim Width:\u003c\/strong\u003e 17mm (C17)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrake Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rim Brake\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpoke Lacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Two-to-one rear (2:1 drive-side bias)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shimano \/ SRAM 11-speed (HG11)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Black\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAxle Standard:\u003c\/strong\u003e Quick Release\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIntended Use:\u003c\/strong\u003e Road cycling, training, endurance riding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDesign Benefits\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col class=\"design_benefits\"\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eC17 Rim Width for Modern Tire Pairings:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 17mm internal width is designed to work with 25mm to 28mm road tires — the widths that have become standard on performance road bikes. A wider rim bed allows the tire sidewall to sit at the correct angle, improving aerodynamic profile, cornering stability, and rolling efficiency compared to running the same tire on a narrower rim.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMachined Brake Track for Dependable Modulation:\u003c\/strong\u003e The machined aluminum brake surface provides \u003cstrong\u003econsistent bite and progressive feel\u003c\/strong\u003e under both dry and wet conditions. This matters most when you're managing speed on a fast descent or navigating technical terrain — situations where predictable braking response is more valuable than outright stopping power alone.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo-to-One Rear Spoke Lacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Standard rear wheel builds concentrate identical tension across unequally loaded sides — the drive side carries significantly more stress due to cassette offset. Fulcrum's 2:1 lacing adds spokes where that stress is highest, producing a more evenly tensioned wheel that resists lateral flex and holds true longer through sustained hard use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShimano \/ SRAM 11-Speed Compatibility:\u003c\/strong\u003e The HG11 freehub body is designed to accept the full range of current Shimano and SRAM 11-speed road cassettes, making these wheels a straightforward drop-in upgrade or replacement for the vast majority of modern rim-brake road drivetrains. No adapters, no workarounds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFinal Take\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Racing 5 C17 is built for riders who train consistently, cover real miles, and want a clincher wheelset that holds up without demanding constant attention. It suits the endurance rider looking for a reliable second set, the commuter-racer who doesn't want to risk their best wheels on daily training, and anyone transitioning to wider tires on a rim-brake road bike. \u003cstrong\u003eFulcrum has put genuine engineering thought into a wheelset\u003c\/strong\u003e designed to disappear beneath you — and that's exactly the point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Fulcrum Racing","offers":[{"title":"Black \/ HG11 (Shimano \/ SRAM 11s)","offer_id":43512136499244,"sku":"FU-R5-SHIM-BK-PR","price":397.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/ricycles.com\/products\/fulcrum-racing-5-c17-rim-brake-wheelset","provider":"RA Cycles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}