Lightweight Pfadfinder EVO Schwarz Edition Disc Gravel Tubeless Wheelset

The Lightweight Pfadfinder EVO Schwarz Edition Disc Gravel Tubeless Wheelset is hand-built in Friedrichshafen, Germany — a 1,430-gram carbon wheelset designed for gravel racing, not touring. Pfadfinder translates as "pathfinder" in German, a name that reflects the design intent: fast on open gravel roads, stable on deteriorating terrain, and light enough to feel the difference across a long day. Lightweight builds these to the same construction standards it applies to its road race and triathlon wheels, adapted for the conditions disc gravel riding actually imposes.

The Schwarz Edition differs from the standard Pfadfinder EVO in two ways: matte black decals and CeramicSpeed bearings throughout. CeramicSpeed's ceramic balls are harder and smoother than steel, producing less friction at the hub under load — a difference that accumulates over hours of riding. Ceramic bearings also run longer between service intervals than conventional steel, which matters on wheels that regularly see mud, sand, and wet roads. At this specification level, the bearing choice is worth noting. A steel-bearing wheel at this price point would feel like an oversight; the CeramicSpeed spec is consistent with everything else in the build.

The rim runs 36mm deep with an 18.2mm internal width and 24mm external width. That depth sits in a practical range for gravel racing — enough to return aerodynamic benefit on fast, exposed roads without the handling complications that come with deeper sections in crosswinds or when the surface suddenly degrades. The 18.2mm internal width supports tires up to the wheel's 40mm clearance limit and pairs well with the 700x35–40c tires common in competitive gravel events. The rim bed is hooked and closed, tubeless-ready out of the box. Thru-axle spacing is 12x100 front and 12x142 rear.

R2R Carbon Spoke Construction

Lightweight's R2R design runs each carbon spoke continuously from one rim to the other — without bends, mechanical connectors, or traditional metal nipples. In a conventional wheel, each spoke terminates at a threaded nipple seated in the rim bed. Each nipple is a stress concentration point, an additional component, and a source of weight. R2R eliminates the nipple entirely. The spoke runs as a single uninterrupted piece of carbon, distributing load along its full length and removing multiple mechanical interfaces from the system. Carbon spokes are also stiffer in compression than steel of comparable weight, which contributes to the wheel's lateral rigidity and makes power transfer feel direct. The Pfadfinder EVO runs 20 full-carbon spokes front and rear — a low count by conventional standards, made structurally viable by the load properties of the carbon construction. The result is a wheel that's lighter and simpler than a traditionally laced carbon rim on alloy spokes.

Pentagon Hub and LCC Carbon

The Pentagon hub takes its name from the hub body's five-sided cross-section. Lightweight's stated intent is improved rigidity under the lateral loads disc braking generates — the polygonal shape reduces flex at the disc mount during hard braking on descents, where gravel riding demands consistent modulation over rough ground. The rear hub uses DT Swiss 240 internals, a well-established and easily serviced ratchet freehub system available in Shimano HG11, SRAM XDR, Campagnolo, and Campagnolo N3W configurations.

The rim and spokes are built from LCC — Lightweight Custom Composite — the brand's proprietary carbon formulation used across its road, triathlon, and track wheel range. Lightweight doesn't publish specific layup or resin details, but the stated objective is a balance of stiffness and durability appropriate for the load variation gravel riding produces: sustained pace on pavement, repeated impact on gravel, and the torsional stress of disc braking over long events.

Final Take

The Pfadfinder EVO Schwarz Edition is for gravel riders who treat wheel selection with the same attention they give frame selection. The CeramicSpeed bearings, R2R carbon spokes, Pentagon hub, and handbuilt German construction produce a wheelset with no obvious weak point in the build. It's tubeless-ready, covers four freehub standards to match most drivetrains, carries a 5-year warranty, and weighs 1,430 grams for the pair. At $5,650, the investment is substantial — and the specification holds up to that number.