Some of the most expensive wheels ever just got more expensive
(Image credit: Lightweight)
Lightweight, the German carbon fibre specialists most well known for its high-end wheels, is generally considered to sell the most expensive road wheels in all of cycling. Well, it just released a new wheelset that takes that to a whole new level.
The new Lightweight Meilenstein Evo Signature Gold Edition wheelset is adorned with 23-carat gold leaf, uses graphics by design house Rie Sel design, and will set you back, wait for it, £7,700 / $9,850 We can't think of many wheelsets, if any, that cost more than this. We recently reviewed the £5,499 Partington R Series wheels but Lightweight products tend to sit out front in a price bracket of their own.
The wheelset is said to be a tribute to Leightweights founder Heinz Obermayer and Lightweight says the gold leaf is a nod to the upcoming Paris Olympics later this year, as well as the current reigning Olympic road race champion Richard Carapaz's victory on Lightweight wheels at the Tokyo Olympics back in 2020.
The Meilenstein Evo wheelset features CeramicSpeed bearings and is limited to 99 pairs worldwide. Lightweight says 33 pairs will go to Europe, 33 to Asia and the Pacific and 33 sets will be earmarked for the America. We understand the wheels are already sold out. Interest customers should check availability with their Lightweight dealers.
(Image credit: Lightweight)
The Obermayer wheel, named after the brand's founder has been a constant in the Lightweight range for many years in various forms. Lightweight wheels have often been seen in the pro peloton over the years, appearing in high mountain stages, World Championships and Olympic road races.
It was rumoured Lance Armstrong paid for his own Lightweight wheels during the mid-2000s, and Team Ineos used them at the Tour de France in 2019 and for many other races.
The Meilenstein Evo wheels weigh a claimed 1,230 grams per pair. The wheels are handmade in Germany and use Lightweights all carbon construction with a foam rim core and twenty spokes front and rear.
(Image credit: Lightweight)
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Tom joined the Cyclingnews team in late 2022 as a tech writer. Despite having a degree in English Literature he has spent his entire working life in the cycling industry in one form or another. He has over 10 years of experience as a qualified mechanic, with the last five years before joining Cyclingnews being spent running an independent workshop. This means he is just as happy tinkering away in the garage as he is out on the road bike, and he isn’t afraid to pull a bike apart or get hands-on with it when testing to really see what it’s made of.
He has ridden and raced bikes from an early age up to a national level on the road and track, and has ridden and competed in most disciplines. He has a keen eye for pro-team tech and enjoys spotting new or interesting components in the wild. During his time at Cyclingnews, Tom has already interviewed some of the sport's biggest names including Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar and Alberto Contador. He's also covered various launches from brands such as Pinarello, Ridley, Specialized and more, tackled the Roubaix Challenge sportive aboard his own rim-brake Cannondale SuperSix Evo, tested over 20 aero helmets in the wind tunnel, and has created helpful in-depth buying advice relating to countless categories from torque wrenches to winter clothing.
