Paul Lew developed an innovative technology to manufacture an ultra-light high-tech wheel from unidirectional graphite.  The wheel, with several tubular and clincher versions was undeniably the lightest, strongest, and most aerodynamic wheel in the world.  The wheel was manufactured through Lew Composites, Inc. of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1997 to 2000.  During this time period approximately 20,000 wheels were manufactured and sold nationally and international.  With fourteen years of experience working in composite material applications and ten years of experience in building and designing bikes and bike parts, Paul Lew developed the first graphite wheel in the cycling industry.

Graphite was the optimal material in terms of cost, strength, weight and durability.  Obstacles to using graphite in the past were twofold (1) difficulty in processing the graphite material because of its unidirectional properties and (2) difficulty in conforming the graphite to a hoop design.  The proprietary high-tech process developed by Paul Lew eliminated the obstacles in using the preferable graphite material.  This unique process required a minimum use of graphite and produced no waste or pollution.

After the introduction of the graphite wheel, the company sold rims and wheels to Olympic, World and National Champions who set numerous records worldwide.  Rims manufactured by Lew Composites were ridden in various stages of the 1999 Tour DeFrance by Lance Armstrong, the eventual winner, as well as by George Hincappie, a world-renowned cyclist.  The Lew wheels were also raced in the Firo D’Italia, Femme Tour De France, Femme Giro D’Italia and in countless multiple day stage races in Europe.  The Lew wheels won a Pro World Championship, and Amateur World Championships, a U.S. Pro National Championship, Hawaii Ironman (women’s) Switzerland Ironman (men’s), triathlon World Championship and numerous Amateur National and International Championships.  Lew Composites received, without solicitation, numerous testimonials from cyclists throughout the world raving over the performance of the wheels.  In just a few years athletes racing and winning on Lew Composite wheels read like a “who’s who” list of world-class cyclists.  Some of these athletes included:

“I have three sets of wheels.  One set is a light set for climbing, one set is an aerodynamic set for time-trialing and one set is for training.  But, now I have my LEW Wheels.  They are lighter, faster, and stronger than all of my other wheels.  Now that I have my LEW Wheels I don’t need any other wheels.”

“Thanks for sending me your LEW Composite wheels.  I have been racing and training with them and they are truly special.  I have won numerous races using them and find them to be an extra advantage.  They’re winners!  Thanks for all your help!”

“In all my work with carbon rims with my spoking pattern I have found none to be as good as yours and I have experimented with product from all over the globe.”

            “The Nutra-Fig Cycling Team would like to thank you for your wonderful wheels.  We would not have had the results we had without your wheels.  Thank you very much.”

            “Well I must say that I’m enjoying my wheels.  Tell Paul everyone is jealous and that he makes great stuff!  Thanks again.”

            “I’ve only raced 32 spoked tubular wheels so as you can imagine the difference between my old wheels and my Lew’s is incredible!  I raced the Fitchberg Stage Race and had my best ever day of climbing in the road race.  I even rode them in the criterium! (Finished 7th)  I was turning everyone’s head in the road race because in British Columbia I’m known as only a sprinter.  With the help of your super light wheels, I’m changing that because now I can climb!  Your wheels were the talk of the race-everyone was asking me about them.  Thanks again!!!!!!”

            “I rode my new wheels home tonight.  Beautiful!  After about 50 yards they were like old friends.  Besides the responsive and light feeling I immediately noticed how well they tracked.  I dropped down on the aero bars and felt like I was in a groove… very steady and fast.” 

            “I thought your wheels were incredible.  They certainly captured the attention of many people, a notable potential client is Tom Weisel, Montgomery Securities.  I used to work with Harvey Nitz, who is a close friend and coaches Tom.  Harvey was in awe of your wheels.  That is saying a great deal considering Harvey’s race resume as well as his extraordinary knowledge of technology.  Thanks.”

            “After months of researching various race wheels from discs, three spoke, and deep rim wheels. I finally purchased a pair of LEW Tri-light wheels, which dropped the weight of my bike by almost 900 grams (2 pounds!).  I rode them at Ironman Lake Placid for the first time and still can’t get over how awesome they make my bike feel.  Whether it was the 50-mph descent or the l2 miles of climbing at the end of the course, the wheels were solid as a rock yet very agile, just ask the 280 people I passed on the bike portion of the triathlon.  Every gear seemed to be one gear easier with the LEW Tri-lights.  Thank you very much for your patience in answering my many questions about your wheels…you guys are right on target.”

            “…I e-mailed Lew to ask if I could re-build my Mavic Cosmic wheels using their rims and they said “no problem.”  I had put off this project to wait for some feedback on the Lew rims from other racers, but now I’ve decided to go through with the project.  These rims are the best available.  By my calculations I will be saving more than ONE POUND in my wheels, and this is a weight reduction AT THE RIM!  And, of course, because they are tubulars I will have the additional benefit of using a lighter tire.  Lew wheels—here I come!”

            “I held a Lew wheel at the Interbike Show in Las Vegas.  I had to check to make sure I had something in my hand!”

            “We have had the Lew wheels in our shop since September 1998.  They are everything they claim.  I know many companies have made sub 1kg sets, but understand the production models are heavier.  I also believe that ADA and many others achieve their low weight by using fragile carbon spokes and hubs.  The Lew wheels do not sacrifice safety to achieve their lightweight.  They’re incredible!”

            “Here’s the scoop on LEW Wheels.  I chose them over Corima and Zipp.  I did my homework before buying, and this is one company that I am glad to be associated with.  Their customer service and technical knowledge blows everyone else away.  The rims are graphite and as light as claimed.  Here’s the best part.  A mechanic I know got a pair to build for a customer – Lew production rims.  He pulled them out of the box and weighed them on an electronic scale.  They were within ½ gram of each other and they were right on the manufacturer’s specification weight.  As he built them he said they were the best wheels he ever built in terms of their trueness and he said they were perfectly straight to within, in his estimation 1/10th of a millimeter before he even finished truing the wheel.  He said that they are so much better than any other rim, it’s silly.  If I wasn’t so phenomenally impressed by this company and their product I wouldn’t be saying this.” 

            “This is just to let you know how your wheels performed.  The acceleration with those things is amazing.  They are definitely an advantage in match sprint competition.  I own a set of Zipp wheels, but prefer your wheels for head-to-head competition.  During the California State Championships, my opponent gave me an opportunity to crash test them (I really had no choice).  I lost skin and trashed a tire, but your wheels stayed true after the 30-mph sliding to zero on concrete test.  Thank you again for designing a set of super-fast wheels!”