Endurance test: Campagnolo wheels - 1800 km on the road with Campagnolo Shamal wheels

Milled and balanced rims, carbon hub bodies, bearings with ceramic balls, aluminium blade spokes, G3 spoking at the rear with 14 spokes on the drive side and seven spokes on the left side - the third generation of Campa's Shamal wheels has striking features. But how do the Shamal Ultra C17 wheels, which are sold online for between €1,000 and €1,200, cope with the rigours of everyday training? Our laboratory and practical test provides clear answers. We have ridden 1,800 kilometres with the wheels so far, completing nine descents of Mont Ventoux with 1,600 metres of elevation gain each, as well as some longer rides in the rain. The wheels are still in great shape. The braking performance in combination with Campa's latest aluminium brake pads, introduced in 2016, is almost outstanding for conventional wheels. The USB ball bearings rotate as smoothly as when they were new, without the slightest sign of wear. What is new compared to the previous model is that the rims are now two millimetres wider than before, with an inner width of 17.3 millimetres. Campa is thus following the trend towards wider rim profiles, which harmonise better with 25 and 28 millimetre wide tyres. The Shamals are solid in terms of the measured values. The stiffness values are at a medium level: 46 N/mm at the front and 43 N/mm at the rear. The front wheel weighs 643 grams, the rear wheel 836 grams, both without quick release and rim tape.

PLUS Top workmanship, super hub technology, very good braking characteristics, relatively light
MINUS Relatively expensive

Info www.campagnolo.com