Since 1995 Lightweight wheels have been handmade in Germany, and in their 13 short years of existence they have amassed a phenomenal, almost cult-like following and astonishing racing success. With several world championships and multiple major tour victories under their belt, this small southern German manufacturer of supremely light racing wheels has proven that less can be more.
And as their name implies, Lightweight is all about making less. Even though Lightweight makes the lightest production wheels available they are assuredly also the strongest and most durable. How can these two seemingly opposing properties be realized in Lightweight's wheels? Through
a) congruent rim and spoke angle
b) complete lack of mechanical joints and,
c) use of carbon/Kevlar spokes.
First, the rim angle of each Lightweight wheel is congruous with its spokes' angles. This means that forces applied against or away from the rim will be consistently applied against or away from the entire length of the hub, spoke, and outter rim. With no articulations where pressures or stresses can load, there are no areas on the wheel which are particularly vulnerable to failure.
Second, Lightweight wheels have no mechanical joints. In other words, the rims, spokes, and hubs of a Lightweight are, essentially, one piece (in fact, all parts are laminated). In a manner of speaking, it really makes no sense to speak of rims, spokes, or hubs with Lightweight wheels. The rim of a Lightweight just is an extension of the spoke, just like the hub is an extension of the spoke, and the rim an extension of the hub. In short, Lightweight wheels are essentially seamless, one-piece carbon/Kevlar structures. Hence, Lightweight wheels avoid the pitfalls of traditional spoke wheels; namely, where the spoke and flange join, and where the spoke and rim join. Because they lack mechanical joints--one of the weakest links in any mechanical system--Lightweight wheels are already that much stronger and as such, that much more durable than traditional spoke wheels.
Lastly, Lightweight's "spokes" are made from a carbon/Kevlar composite. These structures have phenomenal tensile strength and as such are virtually 100% resilient to the typical loads a wheel in motion undergoes. That is, they simply don't compress or stretch. A wheel in motion undergoes a number of stresses: one of which comes from the pulling load caused by centrifugal force, while another comes from the compressing load (weight being exerted by the rider). The degree to which a wheel can resist these forces means greater power--specifically, the wattage the rider is generating--is transfered to the road. Simply put, Lightweight wheels lose less of the power the rider generates making them--and by extension--the rider much more efficient: less power is lost in starting, sustaining, or increasing motion. For a less efficient, traditional spoke wheel, the same amount of energy would generate less power conversion towards momentum; essentially, that's a waste of the rider's precious and limited energy stores.
It's no wonder, then, that Lightweight wheels are so coveted among the pros. Lightweight wheels are incredibly strong, durable, and phenomenally light. They waste no rider energy in transfering power to the road, and, because of their light weight, they don't waste rider energy keeping their rotational weight in motion. In a sport where efficiency is prized above all else, Lightweight wheels justify every penny it takes to own a pair. And, believe it or not, no pro has ever been sponsored by Lightweight wheels. When you see a pro riding a pair of Lightweights (Ullrich, Armstrong, Cipolini, Valverde) know that they were paid for by personal funds.
Extremely light Samarian-Cobalt magnates are laminated into each Lightweight rim. These .8 gram magnates in no way disturb the aerodynamics of the wheels. An individual microchip is also laminated into each wheel: this microchip is like the wheel's fingerprint so that the history, warranty issues, and other essential data can be stored for future reference.