Fulcrum wheels have been used to win championships all over the world, and Fulcrum has been working with the top racing teams to make their wheels lighter, stiffer, faster, and smoother.

The spokes on have changed from older Fulcrum wheels; there;s no more propeller like flare at the end, which makes the wheels more aero and a little lighter.

The spoking pattern of the rear wheel is a little different. There are 21 spokes: 7 on the left side and 14 on the right side. This asymmetry means better power transfer, because the spokes have better traction on the 30mm deep rim. The front wheel features 16 regularly laced spokes, and the rim is 24mm.

There is a carbon fiber shelve hub, which houses Campagnolo usb ceramic bearings. These bearings are lighter and more water resistant than stainless steel bearings.

Fulcrum has manipulated the rim to make the wheel lighter and more aero dynamic. There is also an updated lever to secure the wheel to the rim. And lastly, the rims are made with a two way fit system, which means they are compatible with all tires including tubeless.

When riding, the wheels are smooth and quiet.

Everyday aerodynamics. Giro's Air Attack Shield features a compact, wind slicing shell that isn't as heavy or impractical as a full-on TT helmet. It's an ideal option for riders who spread themselves out over tri, road, cyclocross and other events.

Like the newest Giro TT helmets, the Wind Tunnel™ ventilation system provides comfort during hard efforts without slowing you down. In-mold technology and an EPS liner provide superior impact protection, and the new Roc Loc® Air system ensures a comfortable, secure fit with further airflow and cooling.

The Air Attack's X-Static inner padding is comfortable and anti-microbial so it resists odor, and added Silver fibers help further regulate temperatures. An included shield provides eye protection when you need it, and since it's magnetically attached, it's easy to remove when you don't. Finally, SuperFit engineering guarantees a precise fit that's downright luxurious.

The Giro Air Attack features six vents, featherweight webbing and slimline buckles. Available in various colors.

Sizing:

Small (20" - 21.75"/51cm - 55cm)
Medium (21.75" - 23.25"/55cm - 59cm)
Large (23.25" - 24.75"/59cm - 63cm)

The Mavic Ksyrium SL S Clincher Wheel System is Mavic's popular and road-tested Ksyrium SL wheel, updated and improved, with Mavic's unique integrated tire and rim technology. By matching a specific tire with each wheel, the company is able to better control the way that stresses from the tire affect the rim and wheel and thus how the wheel performs overall. And, bonus, your wheelset will look extra awesome with matching wheel and tire graphics. Of course, you can also use any other road clincher tire with these wheels, if you prefer. Let's take a look from the outside-in:

The tires included are the Yksion Pro GripLink (front) and Yksion Pro PowerLink (rear). Up front, the GripLink compound is engineered to have superb grip in the corner, low rolling resistance, and a long-wearing center. The rear tire, meanwhile, features PowerLink compound for straight up speed and responsiveness. Both tires feature a whopping 210 TPI polycotton/Kevlar casing for a supple ride quality and excellent flat resistance, making these tires a good choice for race day or training rides. Both tires measure 700c x 23mm (23-622 ISO).

On to the wheel itself: Mavic's new 3D InterSpoke Milling (ISM 3D) has made the already-lightweight Ksyrium SL rims even lighter, removing material from the rim's lower bridge and sidewall to lower inertia without decreasing strength. Made of Maxtal aluminum, the rims already offered exceptional strength with an impressively low weight. Fore-drilling shaves off even more weight and eliminates the need for a heavy rim strip. The rear rim's asymmetric rear rim drilling reduces dish for stronger performance, and the UB controlled brake track allows reliable stopping in any riding conditions.

Spokes are bladed spokes made of Zicral alloy laced through oversized aluminum flanges for ultra-stiff handling with great aerodynamics. Radial lacing in the front and Isopulse lacing in rear: that's radial lacing drive-side and 2-cross non-drive-side for maximum drive-side dish and better spoke tension balance between left and right flanges, which makes for higher stiffness and better wheel stability, which makes for less maintenance needed—in other words, you can go harder and farther.

The hub design offers more weight savings while providing excellent performance. Carbon hub shells have a cool high-tech look; the FTS-L freehub body and QRM+ cartridge bearings make for efficient power transfer. Light alloy axles.

Available in either Shimano/SRAM 8/9/10/11-speed or Campagnolo 9/10/11-speed compatible versions. Claimed weight for wheels and tires: 1935 grams. Claimed weight for wheels alone: 1485 grams.

Cycling Plus’ 2014 Bike of the Year: The Cannondale Synapse 5. So what makes it a worthy winner?

Cannondale Synapse 5

The engineers at Cannondale have taken the very best from a race bike, and by that we mean handling, agility, efficiency, and just out and out pace, and they have blended that with comfort levels that you rarely see on a bike this much fun and this aggressive.

Starting out at the front. Cannondale has reduced the head tube so it sits in the middle of the old Synapse and Cannondale’s racing bikes. Moving on to the fork. It is slightly flared and the save plus design is there to take out all the bumps, and does so really successfully.

Save Plus Design Fork

On the backend is where Cannondale has done most of their work. Around the bottom bracket, you will notice what Cannondale is calling the power pyramid, where the seat tube effectively separates out the bottom, creating a really nice, super stiff, structure. The bottom bracket itself is a new variation on the BB30 standard that Cannondale created. The new BB30a is slightly wider, which has led to massive improvements in all out stiffness. In addition to the bike being super comfortable, all your power when pedaling is going directly through with no unwanted flex. The seat tube tapers as it moves towards the top tube junction. The seat post is slimmer than normal which adds to the compliance of the bike making it very comfortable.

Power Pyramid Design

All of the compliance and comfort of the bike makes skeptics think it could be boring, but the opposite is true. All of the comfort is wrapped up in a bike that handles brilliantly. It is one of the fastest descending bikes we have ever tried. Out of all the bikes tested for bike of the year, the Cannondale posted the fastest descending time and was smooth going over all the bumps of the road.

We’ve taken this bike out in the worst weather and on barely rideable roads, and through it all the bike has been unfazed and has performed wonderfully. It is a perfect companion if you want to get somewhere quickly and comfortably. Not only is this an easy choice for bike of the year, but it will change how bikes are designed forever.

This one is a real game changer.

Shimano 105 Components

*The complete bike offered by Cannondale comes with Shimano 105 components. 

With the Continental Grand Prix 4000 S II, the last compromise really has been eliminated—Conti's magic Black Chili performance tires are now available with bold, bright sidewall color options, so those looking for a little coordination no longer have to choose between the best performing tire and a sweet-looking ride.

Despite its style upgrade, the Grand Prix 4000 S II is actually grippier, more durable, and faster than its predecessor. That's because Continental is able to improve their exclusive Black Chili just a little bit every year, thanks to their continued dedication to research and development.

What is Black Chili? It's a unique rubber compound with an ultra-dense construction and high silica content, allowing it to deliver outstanding grip and blazing fast speeds. This cutting-edge formula is also optimized for reliability and longevity, making it a great choice when both performance and durability are top priorities. Just like the name suggests, it's only available in black. Luckily, tje new colorful sidewall doesn't interfere with the tire's primary contact patch, so you get all of the benefits and none of the sacrifice.

The GP 4000 S II also features Conti's patented Vectran puncture protection breaker. Vectran was originally developed by NASA in the construction of space shuttles and suits, and Continental has brought its otherworldly lightweight protection to bike tires, making these lightweight tires impressively flat-resistant.

All in all, the GP 4000 S II is Continental's most advanced racing clincher yet, with a truly unique blend of speed, durability, and, now, aesthetics. Thanks to the high-tech materials and years of testing and development, the GP 4000 S II delivers low rolling resistance and superb handling with exceptional puncture protection and higher mileage performance than a typical race tire.

The Grand Prix 4000 S features three fabric plies for a total of 330 TPI, and has a Kevlar folding bead and a max inflation pressure of 120 PSI. Black 700c x 23mm weighs 205 grams; color versions weigh 215 grams. The 4000 S II is available in 700c (622 ISO) and various widths.