Words Liam Friary
Images Riley McLay
RRP $4390
Distributor Wheelworks

I was due to head away on a southern gravel adventure in Te Waipounamu. Luckily, I had a new bike to build, but needed a gravel wheelset.

I had been aware of Berd for some time but knew more about their unique spokes rather than wheels. Tristan Thomas from Wheelworks called and suggested putting the Berd Sparrow wheels through their paces on this adventure. I agreed, and was excited to use them on the new bike. I should note that Tristan from Wheelworks has been in the wheel game for over two decades and really backs this product. This might sound a little like ‘sales and marketing’, but Tristan knows wheels extensively so his commitment to this brand speaks volumes.

The Berd Sparrow wheels have now been in use for the last few months. They’re claimed to be the lightest on the market, weighing just 1,108 grams with tape and valves. That’s very impressive for a gravel wheelset as even some of the lightest road wheelsets are 1,200g. The rims have a 25mm internal-width and are designed for anything from 28mm to 50mm tyres, and I mounted a 45mm Continental Terra Trail tyre. Berd Talon Gravel/Road hubs featuring 28 hooks work with Berd spokes to provide a clean aesthetic. The hubs also include removable end caps, centrelock brake mounts, and a dual-sprung 36T ratchet mechanism that uses the same internal design as the original non-EXP DT240/350. They work with SRAM XDR, Shimano HG, or Shimano MicroSpline freehubs for 12-speed GRX-compatible cassettes.

The biggest difference in this wheelset are the spokes. Berd spokes are made with Dyneema® (also known as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene – UHMWPE). Dyneema® has 15 times the strength- to-weight ratio of steel, and floats on water. Berd spokes have an improved fatigue life over steel and are impervious to the elements. The spokes separate Berd from other wheel manufacturers and they’re claimed to be the lightest, strongest, and most durable spokes in the current market. I mean, these statements piqued my interest a lot, but the overall outcome of using UHMWPE spokes is that they offer superior ride dampening while delivering a lighter wheel build overall. I was keen to test out this theory.

The new bike was being freshly built as the wheels arrived. I picked them out of the box and was astounded with how light they were. Once I had the wheels on the bike it remained super light, but I didn’t have scales handy unfortunately. Still, it was somewhat lighter than the other gravel bikes in my fleet, with carbon frames and wheels. The first test was riding them for 120km on the first day of our southern adventure. I should note that 90% of this ride was on gravel and some of it was badly corrugated. The compliance was immediately noticed; they just absorbed the harshness of the gravel. As I continued to pedal, the better ride dampening translated into overall comfort with less arm fatigue. I suppose the feeling is similar to a short suspension fork (which I have on one of my gravel bikes) but without the weight penalty. I could hit rowdier sections with more confidence, causing less jarring effected by the harsher terrain. The long ride started to drag on, the group lifted the pace, we needed to reach our digs before sundown. The quick acceleration of the wheels was evident; they automatically engaged and got up to speed very promptly. That quick acceleration is due to less rotational weight, or lack thereof. I also could switch lines in an instant as these small adjustments became more precise. After a few hours on this ride, and subsequently on many other rides, it clicked. On gravel rides – when the speed changes quite often and there’s a lower overall inertia so having wheels that are quick with punchy accelerations is exactly what’s needed – is where these wheels really shine over their competitors. The less fatigue you get from the instant on/off accelerations, the better you’ll ride – especially when it comes to arduous gravel events, all-day rides or overnight missions. Over several hours of riding on this day and the ones after, the saved energy added up. Put simply, I ended up saving energy whilst riding better and smoother for longer.

The lateral stiffness felt superior to some of the best carbon wheels I’ve tested but on the contrary, they also feel very compliant. I know it’s weird to have those two within the same sentence but stay with me. The UHMWPE spokes proved strong, and the wheelset is crazy light. For me, the damping and compliance were noticeable, and the acceleration was second-to-none. So, what’s the downside? Well, in all honesty, I’m not sure. I would suggest the high price and proprietary parts would put some off. I’ve had these wheels for two months now and haven’t needed to touch them – and Berd and Wheelworks makes it easy. The tools are cheap and compact, and replacement spokes are easy to order. These have seen plenty of abuse on all types of off-road terrain and I haven’t had to tighten a single spoke or go anywhere near a truing stand. As for the price, well you’ll be the judge. But I’d suggest the price of a suspension fork (which can only fit some gravel bikes) and a high-end carbon wheelset would cost a lot more. With this wheelset you’re getting both benefits within one product.