The brand new Berd Sparrow gravel wheels use their light-weight 2.5g Polylite spokes and a brand new hubset and rim to create an extremely mild tubeless-ready wheelset. It’s additionally robust, rated for bikepacking with a 250lb rider+bike instructed weight restrict.
The brand new rim is 25mm huge internally, designed for tires from 28-50mm huge. It will get a singular semi-hooked design, with a mildly rounded bump moderately than a tough hook, which they lets it safely maintain tires with as much as 70psi with 28c tires.
Their Talon Hubs, which use a proprietary hooked flange that the spokes loop round, now are available a gravel/highway model with 12×100 entrance and 12×142 rear hub spacing. They’ve a 36-tooth dual-sprung ratchet inside and 28 spokes per wheel. Out there with XDR, HG and Micro Spline, so it’s appropriate with the entire cassettes used on the most recent 12-speed GRX teams.
The Berd string spokes are mild, but in addition permit the wheel to be very compliant. They are saying this makes them very comfy and improves traction, however they’re nonetheless laterally stiff. They’re additionally very robust, with the next pull energy than frequent metal spokes, and have higher vibration damping. Geek out on the tech particulars right here.
Put collectively, the gravel wheels weigh simply 1,065g with out tubeless tape or valve stems. Or 1,108g shipped with tape and valves put in, able to roll out of the field. MSRP is $2,195 as described. They’re additionally accessible with Trade 9 or Onyx hubs for $100-$200 extra, respectively. The I9 choice has a Campy N3W freehub choice.
