Lightweight wheels
CYCLING WEEKLY|January 09, 2020
The high-end hoops that embody the best of German engineering
Simon Smythe
Lightweight wheels



Starting life in a garage is not necessarily a barrier to a company’s success: look at Apple, Google and Amazon. But the Munich tractor garage where Heinz Obermayer and Rudolf Dierl made Kevlar parts for sulkies — horse-racing carts — in the 1980s, was an impossibly humble beginning for the legendary carbon wheels that would be ridden to World Championship and Tour de France victories by Johan Museeuw, Jan Ullrich, Lance Armstrong and, most recently, Team Ineos.

The story goes that Obermayer and Dierl, engineers who were interested in sports cars and horse racing but not bicycles, accepted a bet that they couldn’t make a bike wheel.

This story is from the January 09, 2020 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 09, 2020 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM CYCLING WEEKLYView All
FRED WRIGHT TRUST THE OFF-SEASON PROCESS
Cycling Weekly

FRED WRIGHT TRUST THE OFF-SEASON PROCESS

This time of year is always my favourite, training wise.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 28, 2024
Richardson hits the ground running in GB colours
Cycling Weekly

Richardson hits the ground running in GB colours

Track sprinter wins two from two on opening night of Track Champions League

time-read
3 mins  |
November 28, 2024
Claims against Wiggins's estate double to £2m
Cycling Weekly

Claims against Wiggins's estate double to £2m

Briton’s efforts to pursue money through courts have been paused

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2024
Volunteers needed to revive UK scene
Cycling Weekly

Volunteers needed to revive UK scene

In the second part of our series on the domestic scene, we ask how a shortage of volunteers is impacting road races

time-read
3 mins  |
November 28, 2024
CLASSIC BIKE BOB JACKSON TANDEM
Cycling Weekly

CLASSIC BIKE BOB JACKSON TANDEM

Leeds legend's racing bicycle made for two

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2024
“I even tried hiding my power readout - it made no difference"
Cycling Weekly

“I even tried hiding my power readout - it made no difference"

Watt's up? The Doc's stuck in a threshold rut

time-read
3 mins  |
November 28, 2024
UK SCENE BARNES AND EEDY WIN IN EAST MIDLANDS
Cycling Weekly

UK SCENE BARNES AND EEDY WIN IN EAST MIDLANDS

Hudson and Mills win North of England Championships in regionals weekend

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2024
WATT WORKS FOR ME ZOE BACKSTEDT
Cycling Weekly

WATT WORKS FOR ME ZOE BACKSTEDT

The youngest member of the storied racing family talks about her first pro victory and juggling the demands of road and cross

time-read
2 mins  |
November 28, 2024
MAKING TIME! 14 WAYS TO SQUEEZE MAXIMUM GAS FROM MINIMUM TIME
Cycling Weekly

MAKING TIME! 14 WAYS TO SQUEEZE MAXIMUM GAS FROM MINIMUM TIME

Short on time for training? Rob Kemp shares smart hacks to stay razor-sharp on the bike while showing the schedule who's boss

time-read
8 mins  |
November 28, 2024
SHIMANO RC703 SHOE
Cycling Weekly

SHIMANO RC703 SHOE

Mid-tier performance shoe that behaves like a contender

time-read
2 mins  |
November 28, 2024