About us

We shape icons of performance

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Cyclist standing with a Lightweight-equipped gravel bike on volcanic terrain, wearing a navy Rapha kit and helmet.

ABOUT US

Driven by a spirit of innovation and decades of engineering mastery, every Lightweight wheel is handmade in Germany with absolute precision. What began in the 1990s with a pioneering idea and a Leberkäse oven has become the global benchmark in carbon performance.

Drawing on expertise from aerospace and medical engineering, our mission is singular: to create the most responsive, lightweight, and technically advanced wheels in the world. Each wheel is a purposeful creation, built to transform effort into speed with nothing lost along the way. Lightweight is more than a name. It is a promise of excellence, a mark of true craftsmanship, and a statement for riders who expect more from every ride.

HISTORY

Heinz Obermayer and Rudolf Dierl, pioneers behind the first full carbon wheel, smiling together in a workshop setting.

1994

Heinz Obermayer and Rudolf Dierl build the first full carbon wheel.

Peloton climbs a mountain pass during the Tour de France, with a rider on Lightweight wheels.

1995-1996

Lightweight wheels became a sensation following victories at the Olympics and Tour de France, propelling demand to skyrocket.

Jan Ullrich racing during the Tour de France, where he won riding on Lightweight wheels.

1997

The name Lightweight was officially adopted, and Jan Ullrich won the Tour de France riding their wheels. Both moments cemented the brand’s place in cycling history.

Lightweight ALPE D’HUEZ wheel with carbon rim, alternating yellow and black carbon spokes, and Lightweight branding on the rim.

2006

Launch of the ALPE D’HUEZ model.

Close-up of the Lightweight FERNWEG wheel showing deep-section carbon rim, carbon spokes, and branded hub detailing.

2012

The product range was reorganised under iconic new names including MEILENSTEIN, GIPFELSTURM, FERNWEG, AUTOBAHN and RUNDKURS, marking a new chapter in the brand’s evolution.

INEOS rider climbs during a stage of the Tour de France, racing on Lightweight wheels with enthusiastic fans cheering from the roadside.

2019

Inoes using Lightweight wheels at Tour de France.

2020

Richard Carapaz won the Olympic road race at the Tokyo 2020 games, riding on Lightweight MEILENSTEIN OBERMAYER wheels.

Close-up of the OBERMAYER EVO carbon wheel with tan wall tire mounted on a road bike.

2021

The OBERMAYER EVO was introduced as one of the lightest disc wheelsets on the market. With PFADFINDER EVO, Lightweight expanded its expertise into off-road performance.

Black and white photo of a cyclist’s arm raised high, holding a rear MEILENSTEIN ART wheel against the sky. The image captures a bold, celebratory moment for the wheelset launch.

2025

Launch of the MEILENSTEIN ART, Lightweight’s most advanced all-round road wheel to date. Designed with Alpha Rib Technology for better aerodynamics and riding precision.

Behind Lightweight

Black and white portrait of Heinz Obermayer holding a Lightweight wheel.

A Visionary Start

Heinz Obermayer’s first carbon wheel began as an experiment, built from scrap materials and cured in a Leberkäse oven. That same spirit of ingenuity drives us today. From unconventional origins to industry-defining breakthroughs, Lightweight continues to explore the full potential of carbon. Our engineers are dedicated to creating wheels that are lighter, stiffer, and more responsive.

Lightweight wheel undergoing aerodynamic testing in a wind tunnel with visible smoke flow.

Built to the Highest Standards

Every Lightweight wheel is made in Friedrichshafen and tested under strict quality controls. Full in-house production and short transport routes ensure quality while reducing environmental impact. What began in Heinz Obermayer’s garage lives on today, with each wheel shaped by care, built for performance, and made to be felt in every ride.

Engineer inspects the new MEILENSTEIN ART wheel.

German Engineering

Lightweight is built on a legacy of German innovation and craftsmanship. What began as a foundation in carbon wheel design continues to evolve, driving breakthroughs that reshape performance. Today, our engineers remain guided by the same commitment to precision, quality, and innovation.

Jan Ullrich climbing during the Tour de France, riding on Lightweight wheels.

From the garage to the podium

Lightweight began with two skilled automotive workers, a garage, and an idea. What started as a project for harness racing quickly shifted to cycling, where carbon’s potential led to early wins with top athletes. Recognition grew with riders like Jan Ullrich, who won the 1997 Tour de France, and reached a peak with Lance Armstrong’s 2001 Tour de France victory. Lightweight was officially born and continues to push performance forward, driven by the same passion that started it all.

Performance-Driven Engineering

EXCEPTIONAL STIFFNESS-TO-WEIGHT PERFORMANCE

Lightweight is the choice of riders who understand the difference every detail makes. Each wheel is the result of exacting craftsmanship and engineering that prioritizes performance above all. The unique stiffness-to-weight ratio is not just a number; it is made possible by custom carbon materials and handcrafted production. To ride Lightweight is to experience a product made with purpose and built for performance.

EXCEPTIONAL STIFFNESS-TO-WEIGHT PERFORMANCE

Lightweight is the choice of riders who understand the difference every detail makes. Each wheel is the result of exacting craftsmanship and engineering that prioritizes performance above all. The unique stiffness-to-weight ratio is not just a number; it is made possible by custom carbon materials and handcrafted production. To ride Lightweight is to experience a product made with purpose and built for performance.

FULL CARBON CONSTRUCTION

Lightweight wheels are built entirely from carbon, without hybrid materials. The proprietary Rim-to-Rim design forms a continuous structure that runs spokes across the Penta-Fly Hub, increasing torsional and lateral stiffness. This unified monocoque construction achieves an exceptional stiffness-to-weight ratio, ensuring direct power transfer with minimal energy loss.

EXCEPTIONAL STIFFNESS-TO-WEIGHT PERFORMANCE

FULL CARBON CONSTRUCTION

Lightweight wheels are built entirely from carbon, without hybrid materials. The proprietary Rim-to-Rim design forms a continuous structure that runs spokes across the Penta-Fly Hub, increasing torsional and lateral stiffness. This unified monocoque construction achieves an exceptional stiffness-to-weight ratio, ensuring direct power transfer with minimal energy loss.

PERFORMANCE, ENGINEERED

For over two decades, our team in Friedrichshafen has focused on building the most advanced wheels possible. Every component is handcrafted from premium materials, aligned with precision, and tested under rigorous standards. When performance demands more, parts are redesigned and reengineered. We use aerospace-grade carbon fibers to achieve the highest levels of accuracy, consistency, and control.

EXCEPTIONAL STIFFNESS-TO-WEIGHT PERFORMANCE

PERFORMANCE, ENGINEERED

For over two decades, our team in Friedrichshafen has focused on building the most advanced wheels possible. Every component is handcrafted from premium materials, aligned with precision, and tested under rigorous standards. When performance demands more, parts are redesigned and reengineered. We use aerospace-grade carbon fibers to achieve the highest levels of accuracy, consistency, and control.

Each wheel is built with a unique stiffness to weight ratio, made possible by custom carbon materials and engineering at its highest level. To ride Lightweight is to experience a product made with purpose and built for performance.

Cyclist riding on the new MEILENSTEIN ART wheels, captured in motion on a forest road.

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Two cyclists riding on a gravel road through a rugged landscape, with mountains and overcast skies in the background.