Campagnolo may have been making headlines for their electronic shifting lately but remember the name, Bullet. The Italians from Campagnolo are combining their incredible wheel technology - CULT, G3, anti-roll– with aerodynamics and their industry leading 2-Way Fit tubeless technology in a line of deep carbon wheels called Bullets. Available in 50, 80 and 105mm depths they are going to bring all the benefits of tubeless to aero wheels. Reports of better handling and lower rolling resistance have been disputed by many tire and wheel manufacturers not making tubeless specific products. At peloton we are believers, but even if you aren’t, tubeless has two other features that are more than reason enough to make the move. You can run tire pressure low enough to make even the stiffest bike a magic carpet and tubeless tires almost never flat. Chances are your tires will wear out before you’re ever stuck making roadside repairs.

Adding to all of this are aerodynamics optimized for days the wind is fairly calm, just the kind of days you want the deep wheels. Campy kept the 80mm rim narrow, in contrast to the wide movement, but has still optimized the shape for handling if the wind does increase. Campy’s G3 spoke pattern ensures every load, whether power from the rider, or impact from the road, is handled by multiple spokes. They spin on lightweight aluminum axles with Campy’s super smooth ceramic CULT bearings and utilize an anti-roll feature so the bladed spokes are always in the perfect orientation. You can buy the non-Ultra version, forego the CULT bearings, and save some money too.

The Bullet Ultra 80’s we’ve been riding weigh 1770 grams, heavier than tubular options but more than competitive in the clincher arena and the ride quality they provide is unmatched by any standard clincher. The Bullet Ultra 80 is an incredibly stiff wheel, both laterally and vertically. This gives it better acceleration than any other clincher of similar depth. The G3 spoke pattern and bladed stainless steel spokes with oversize nipples combine with the rim to provide a simply rock solid platform for even the biggest, most powerful rider. This is another benefit of the tubeless technology. Campy could make the wheel just plain stiff, knowing the tubeless tire would provide the comfort, and it does. In a cross wind, they don’t match similar depths from Zipp, HED or Bontrager for ease of handling, but the line does offer a 50mm deep rim if you want to run something shallower up front.

Price: $2600.00 ($2300 with Standard Bearings)
www.campagnolo.com