Campagnolo Shamal Ultra wheelset
Discussion
For £300, I would expect them to be immaculate. Usual questions to ask when buying second hand wheels:
Mileage?
are they true?
are the bearings smooth?
are all spokes original, if not why?
and very important to tell if mileage is correct: brake tracks. are they smooth or slightly concave?
I have had 2 pairs of shamal ultra 2 way fits. 2012 models so not directly comparable to your 2008/9 but mine were the best non carbon wheels i've ever owned. And i've had all fulcrums, many mavics and some shimano wheels too.
Campagnolo wheels in general are extremely well made with nicely sealed bearing which means they do last a very long time.
But as I originally said, I would want condition to be extremely good for £300. AND make sure they are the year you're being told. I'm very sad so know what iterations of many wheels look like for different years. Do not go by decals as they can be replaced.
Mileage?
are they true?
are the bearings smooth?
are all spokes original, if not why?
and very important to tell if mileage is correct: brake tracks. are they smooth or slightly concave?
I have had 2 pairs of shamal ultra 2 way fits. 2012 models so not directly comparable to your 2008/9 but mine were the best non carbon wheels i've ever owned. And i've had all fulcrums, many mavics and some shimano wheels too.
Campagnolo wheels in general are extremely well made with nicely sealed bearing which means they do last a very long time.
But as I originally said, I would want condition to be extremely good for £300. AND make sure they are the year you're being told. I'm very sad so know what iterations of many wheels look like for different years. Do not go by decals as they can be replaced.
From what I recall and doing a bit of research just now:
the 2008 model is the Shamal Ultra. The wheel has a silver rim with silver spokes. Will only fit a clincher
The 2009 model and iterations after that are called Shamal Ultra 2, ie 2 way fit. This means they fit both tubulars and clinchers. Someone may say that 2009- now you can also purchase standard fit but I have never seen them from having seen plenty of pairs of Shamals.
2009 onwards come in two colours. Black as standard or gold (which look awful.
If it's a gold shamal ultra, it's 2007:
http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/newsdetail/newsid...
I would really just ensure that all aspects of the wheels are in very good condition and that the braking surface tallies with the stated mileage.
the 2008 model is the Shamal Ultra. The wheel has a silver rim with silver spokes. Will only fit a clincher
The 2009 model and iterations after that are called Shamal Ultra 2, ie 2 way fit. This means they fit both tubulars and clinchers. Someone may say that 2009- now you can also purchase standard fit but I have never seen them from having seen plenty of pairs of Shamals.
2009 onwards come in two colours. Black as standard or gold (which look awful.
If it's a gold shamal ultra, it's 2007:
http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/newsdetail/newsid...
I would really just ensure that all aspects of the wheels are in very good condition and that the braking surface tallies with the stated mileage.
No problem Sam, happy to help 
And yes, they'll be an upgrade despite being five years old.
I'd say the previous generation ie just the Shamals were a little behind but the jump to the ultras was rather big.
The only reason I got rid of my shamal ultra 2's was because they were absoultely immaculate and i cycle in all kinds of rubbish. Picked up some as new fulcrum 3's for a great price so use them whatever the weather and then just use deep section carbon wheels when the weather is nice.
(I have no summer and winter bike so only change the wheels)
Enjoy them
And yes, they'll be an upgrade despite being five years old.
I'd say the previous generation ie just the Shamals were a little behind but the jump to the ultras was rather big.
The only reason I got rid of my shamal ultra 2's was because they were absoultely immaculate and i cycle in all kinds of rubbish. Picked up some as new fulcrum 3's for a great price so use them whatever the weather and then just use deep section carbon wheels when the weather is nice.
(I have no summer and winter bike so only change the wheels)
Enjoy them
ollie j said:
From what I recall and doing a bit of research just now:
the 2008 model is the Shamal Ultra. The wheel has a silver rim with silver spokes. Will only fit a clincher
The 2009 model and iterations after that are called Shamal Ultra 2, ie 2 way fit. This means they fit both tubulars and clinchers. Someone may say that 2009- now you can also purchase standard fit but I have never seen them from having seen plenty of pairs of Shamals.
2009 onwards come in two colours. Black as standard or gold (which look awful.
If it's a gold shamal ultra, it's 2007:
http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/newsdetail/newsid...
I would really just ensure that all aspects of the wheels are in very good condition and that the braking surface tallies with the stated mileage.
2 way fit IIRC means the wheel/rim will take conventional clinchers and inner tubes, OR tubeless clinchers (which are a different thing entirely to tubulars. Waste of time on a road bike: only Hutchinson bothered making proper tubeless tyres!the 2008 model is the Shamal Ultra. The wheel has a silver rim with silver spokes. Will only fit a clincher
The 2009 model and iterations after that are called Shamal Ultra 2, ie 2 way fit. This means they fit both tubulars and clinchers. Someone may say that 2009- now you can also purchase standard fit but I have never seen them from having seen plenty of pairs of Shamals.
2009 onwards come in two colours. Black as standard or gold (which look awful.
If it's a gold shamal ultra, it's 2007:
http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/newsdetail/newsid...
I would really just ensure that all aspects of the wheels are in very good condition and that the braking surface tallies with the stated mileage.
Thanks again for the input, I've had a look at what I can get for similar money new and found these:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mobile/MobileMo...
How would they perform compared to the 2nd hand shamal ultras?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mobile/MobileMo...
How would they perform compared to the 2nd hand shamal ultras?
Jimbo is completely right. My bad. So you can ride standard clinchers or tubeless tyres (google for explanation).
Sam, unfortunately I cannot comment on the FSA wheels you have linked as I have no experience of them.
However, I have loads of experience with many campagnolo and fulcrum variants so allow me to clarify:
At a £300 price point and without sounding irritatingly repetitive, I would expect the 2008 shamal ultras to be in extremely good condition.
Aside from that, if you're looking at second hand wheels and again from personal experience, you could have immaculate fulcrum 3's or new unused 1's for that price. £400 would get you zeros if you were lucky.
of all fulucrums (there are many... 7,6,5 you get the idea) the 3 has the most awkward and odd spokes and tension - speaking from personal experience.
As for campagnolo wheels, I was able to get some shamal ultra 2's that were as new for only £500. they were the 2012 model.
Campagnolo and fulcrum wheels are fantastic with the hubs being silky smooth and bearings being the best sealed in the business for the money (i have no experience of stuff like lightweights or enves but will do hopefully soon).
If you can be assured the wheels have been well looked after, I would have no hesitations.
On another note, I ride a De Rosa Protos. No integrated seat post but perhaps i can give you some geometry as i see you're looking at a de rosa? I'm 6 ft 2.5 so similar to you too.
Sam, unfortunately I cannot comment on the FSA wheels you have linked as I have no experience of them.
However, I have loads of experience with many campagnolo and fulcrum variants so allow me to clarify:
At a £300 price point and without sounding irritatingly repetitive, I would expect the 2008 shamal ultras to be in extremely good condition.
Aside from that, if you're looking at second hand wheels and again from personal experience, you could have immaculate fulcrum 3's or new unused 1's for that price. £400 would get you zeros if you were lucky.
of all fulucrums (there are many... 7,6,5 you get the idea) the 3 has the most awkward and odd spokes and tension - speaking from personal experience.
As for campagnolo wheels, I was able to get some shamal ultra 2's that were as new for only £500. they were the 2012 model.
Campagnolo and fulcrum wheels are fantastic with the hubs being silky smooth and bearings being the best sealed in the business for the money (i have no experience of stuff like lightweights or enves but will do hopefully soon).
If you can be assured the wheels have been well looked after, I would have no hesitations.
On another note, I ride a De Rosa Protos. No integrated seat post but perhaps i can give you some geometry as i see you're looking at a de rosa? I'm 6 ft 2.5 so similar to you too.
Ollie, very good of you to take the time to explain your experience..
So the shamals will be of similar performance to fulcrum 3's or 1's, I might have a look around and see if there's any available.
Re: de rosa, I treated myself to a 2012 merak which doesn't have the ISP (2011 model did), it's a great bike and I thought the shamals would finish it off nicely
So the shamals will be of similar performance to fulcrum 3's or 1's, I might have a look around and see if there's any available.
Re: de rosa, I treated myself to a 2012 merak which doesn't have the ISP (2011 model did), it's a great bike and I thought the shamals would finish it off nicely
No problem Sam, happy to help. The latest Merak, and any De Rosa for that matter, does look absolutely fantastic.
Do have a look at the fulcrums. I assume you're running a campagnolo groupset? I would suggest some 1's if I were you.
I have the 3's but am looking to revert back to some 1's or zeros as I loved them! FYI, i had approx 2008 zeros and they were excellent. No issues that they were 5 years old and they were extremely solid.
Do have a look at the fulcrums. I assume you're running a campagnolo groupset? I would suggest some 1's if I were you.
I have the 3's but am looking to revert back to some 1's or zeros as I loved them! FYI, i had approx 2008 zeros and they were excellent. No issues that they were 5 years old and they were extremely solid.
Have a look for Campag Zondas, they are easily found for around £300 and are superb wheels for the money. They weigh 1550gs and have super smooth hubs, I love mine to bits and upgraded from Fulcrum R7s too. The way they pick up speed under acceleration is incredible compared to the Fulcrums and they hold speed whereas the Fulcrums dropped noticeably.
The other wheels I was looking at at the time where the Campag neutrons (too much £££!), Vision T42 trimax (not enough reviews to make a decision) and some handbulits from wheelsmith using the IRD Aero 30mm rim and Novatec hubs (got loads of wiggle vouchers for christmas!).
I'm very happy with the Zondas though I appreciate they are not quite in the same league as new Shamals... but then if the Shamals are s/h there may not be much in it?
The other wheels I was looking at at the time where the Campag neutrons (too much £££!), Vision T42 trimax (not enough reviews to make a decision) and some handbulits from wheelsmith using the IRD Aero 30mm rim and Novatec hubs (got loads of wiggle vouchers for christmas!).
I'm very happy with the Zondas though I appreciate they are not quite in the same league as new Shamals... but then if the Shamals are s/h there may not be much in it?
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 1st March 08:23
Yes I am running a campag groupset.
Popped in for a look at the Shamals today, genuine guy who still had the original box/recipt/tool/wheel bags which all come with the wheels. They also have a 10spd cassette which saves swapping mine over.
The wheels are in excellent condition, but have some minor pitting on the braking surface of the rear wheel.
He says he used the wheels in the winter for about 3 months and when he noticed the pitting start, he removed them and has stored them in the loft ever since. He seems genuine.
Think I'm going to go for it, good idea? Or are the fulcrum 3's better?
Popped in for a look at the Shamals today, genuine guy who still had the original box/recipt/tool/wheel bags which all come with the wheels. They also have a 10spd cassette which saves swapping mine over.
The wheels are in excellent condition, but have some minor pitting on the braking surface of the rear wheel.
He says he used the wheels in the winter for about 3 months and when he noticed the pitting start, he removed them and has stored them in the loft ever since. He seems genuine.
Think I'm going to go for it, good idea? Or are the fulcrum 3's better?
I've had a pair of shamals for about 5 years ...back then they retailed at about 350 in most shops, but as with just about everything else the price shot up in 2008.
I picked mine up for just £290 as they where the slow selling gold colour... I was a bit dubious about the colour but I've lost count of how many times I've been asked to sell them.
These 'Blingchers 'only used in summer as the anodising does pick up the muck. On a stealth black bike with amber walled Veloflexes, they work quite well
...would buy again in a heartbeat.
I've got lots of campag wheels and they have always run true, hibs need a the old tweak but thats easy peasy these days ... look out for the nucleons and neutrons, they are also good
Also tried fulcrum racing 5s & 7s both of those gave a harsh ride in comparison, not a problem for racing but no so good for all day rides
I picked mine up for just £290 as they where the slow selling gold colour... I was a bit dubious about the colour but I've lost count of how many times I've been asked to sell them.
These 'Blingchers 'only used in summer as the anodising does pick up the muck. On a stealth black bike with amber walled Veloflexes, they work quite well
...would buy again in a heartbeat.
I've got lots of campag wheels and they have always run true, hibs need a the old tweak but thats easy peasy these days ... look out for the nucleons and neutrons, they are also good
Also tried fulcrum racing 5s & 7s both of those gave a harsh ride in comparison, not a problem for racing but no so good for all day rides
If those Shamals where in as good condition as you alluded to i hope you went for them, you seriously won't find anything close to them for £300!
They are so stiff, you really can feel them putting the power down in a sprint with no flex, but light with it, perhaps a little harsh but not massively so. I seem to recall mine being about 1380gr when i bought them which was about the lightest set of clinchers you could get at the time.
I've been running them since 2009 and in that time have racked up circa 15,000 miles and love them to bits. In that time i've had to replace front, rear and free hub bearings and snapped one spoke ( i may or may not have bunny hopped a speed bump once too often... ). Now in my opinion that is bloody good for a high end set of wheels that have been abused in all weathers and on some truly dreadful road surfaces!
I am heading down to the LBS tomorrow to look at something to replace them - the brake track has finally worn away to a noticable concave and replacement rims, although available from Campag are silly money. If they were a sensible price then i would simply rebuild them again and run them for another 15,000 miles.
I'm actually in a bit of a quandry as i fancy something different, but know that even bought new at current retail prices - circa £700 on line, they are hard to beat.
They are so stiff, you really can feel them putting the power down in a sprint with no flex, but light with it, perhaps a little harsh but not massively so. I seem to recall mine being about 1380gr when i bought them which was about the lightest set of clinchers you could get at the time.
I've been running them since 2009 and in that time have racked up circa 15,000 miles and love them to bits. In that time i've had to replace front, rear and free hub bearings and snapped one spoke ( i may or may not have bunny hopped a speed bump once too often... ). Now in my opinion that is bloody good for a high end set of wheels that have been abused in all weathers and on some truly dreadful road surfaces!
I am heading down to the LBS tomorrow to look at something to replace them - the brake track has finally worn away to a noticable concave and replacement rims, although available from Campag are silly money. If they were a sensible price then i would simply rebuild them again and run them for another 15,000 miles.
I'm actually in a bit of a quandry as i fancy something different, but know that even bought new at current retail prices - circa £700 on line, they are hard to beat.
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