Brett Lindstrom is a former U.S. Pro rider and hill climb champion. Brett may have hung up his wheels but remains affiliated with cycling as the face of Lake Cycling Shoes in the United States. This isn’t the first time he’s appeared at the Taiwan KOM Challenge. In 2014, Brett and the rest of the field suffered on the gradients and the endless rain that doused the mountain. Two years later, the 2016 edition of the race was run under near perfect weather conditions. Perfect for riding fast, provided you have the legs.
Magura USA are the importers of the Lightweight brand into the United States. Known mostly for their premium hand-made carbon wheels, German based Lightweight expanded their portfolio to include high performance frames. The Urgestalt came into existence around 2012, and is a frame Lightweight feel is the perfect chassis to match the performance of their wheelsets. Magura USA kindly loaned a 13lb Lightweight Urgestalt for a period of review to Brett – less than ideal, I snapped pics of Brett’s bike in a hotel room – ultimately the bike that Brett would use to conquer the 2016 Taiwan KOM Challenge. Click on through for more info about the bike…
Lightweight claim the Urgestalt facilitates optimal power transmission, allowing a rider’s power to flow through the frame and into the wheelset with no losses.
It’s designed in Germany, but Lightweight keep manufacturing costs and retail prices down by shifting frame production to Asia. It is well known that many companies in this region of world are at the forefront of carbon fiber frame production.
It wouldn’t be a Lightweight bike unless it was shod with a pair of Lightweight wheels. In the case of Brett’s bike, the Gipfelsturm wheelset with its rim depth of 27mm, was one of the factors that aided Brett’s fantastic ride to the summit. Relatively low profile by today’s carbon rim standards, the Gipfelsturm weigh a little over 1,000 grams and is reasonably aerodynamic considering its shallow rim depth. Vredestein’s Forteza Senso all-weather tubular tires handled the rubber.
CeramicSpeed bearings are at the heart of the Gipfelsturm wheelset, held securely in place with Lightweight’s carbon handle skewers, tipping the scale at a scant 44 grams… for the pair.
Shimano’s ultra-reliable Dura-Ace Di2 9070 groupset is fitted to Brett’s Urgestalt. Compact 50 / 34 chainrings are fitted.
No chain catcher or other form of chain retention was used.
The Ultegra 6800 cassette on the rear Gipfelsturm wheel is an 11-32. A few inward turns of the B-screw allow the short cage Di2 derailleur to accurately and reliably shift on a cassette that Shimano says is beyond the capacity of the derailleur.
Handarbeit fur Beinarbeit translates to Hand Finished Handcrafted to be Leg Powered. German speakers, please correct me if I am wrong.
Regardless of a mechanical or wired electronic drivetrain, all cables on the Urgestalt, including the rear brake cable, are routed discreetly inside the frame.
In the case of Shimano’s 9070 Dura-Ace Di2, only one of the downtube cable ports is utilized.
No direct-mount brakes or other aero fork tricks for the Urgestalt.
The standard Dura-Ace 9070 brake is easy to install, easy to adjust and has plenty of stopping power.
Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 Di2 shifters fitted to a Lightweight branded handlebar, wrapped in Lightweight branded handlebar tape.
3T’s ARX Team stem in a 100mm length / 6 degree angle keeps the handlebar securely connected to the steerer tube of the Urgestalt.
Lightweight’s combination spacer / control box hanger for electronic, wired drivetrains.
Lightweight branded carbon fiber bottle cage. MSRP on one of these is $US 150.00.
Difficult to see from this angle, the seatpost binder is tucked beneath the top tube of the Urgestalt.
A slightly used Selle Italia Superflow saddle is perched atop the aerodynamic, setback, Lightweight seatpost.
The Lightweight Urgestalt frame and fork is available in six sizes and retails for $US 6,500.00. Brett was astride a 58 with a 57.5cm top tube.
Don’t underestimate the difficulty of the Taiwan KOM Challenge. Brett is an accomplished rider and pushed himself hard, suffering badly from altitude sickness in the final 10 kilometers. Once across the finish line in a time of 4:15:25, Brett was tended to by paramedics and given oxygen. A short time later he was transported down the mountain a little to a lower elevation.
For an account of my 2016 Taiwan KOM experience, check out Part One, Part Two, Part Three and my Race Day video.
Lightweight Wheels and Urgestalt Frames
Article and photos by Gravel Cyclist. Jayson O’Mahoney is the Gravel Cyclist: A website about the Gravel Cycling Experience.
