About the Brand
Berd is best known for replacing traditional metal spokes with ultra‑high‑molecular‑weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) / Dyneema® fibre spokes, marketed as “PolyLight” spokes—an approach that reframes what a spoke can be by focusing on tension performance, weight reduction, and vibration damping rather than rigid metallic stiffness. In practical terms, Berd’s differentiator is not just “lighter spokes,” but an integrated system: the spokes, compatible hub interfaces, and Berd’s own complete wheel offerings (e.g., Sparrow gravel and HAWK series MTB wheels) that aim to translate material science into ride feel and durability claims.
Product Categories
- Product Categories (with examples)
- Spokes: PolyLight spokes; PolyLightX Extreme spokes
- Complete wheelsets: Sparrow Carbon Gravel wheelset; HAWK30 / HAWK30X carbon wheels
- Hubs (brand/house offerings): Talon Road/Gravel hubs; Talon Boost hubs (listed as product categories)
- Wheelbuilding tools: TRUDI truing machine; professional wheelbuilding tools
- Accessories: Spoke coloring kits; decals; hats
Products Worth Mentioning
- PolyLight / Dyneema® fiber spokes — Notable for substituting steel with UHMWPE fiber and becoming a widely discussed “string spoke” solution in independent reviews.
- Berd Sparrow Gravel Wheelset — Praised in a major review for being exceptionally light and notably smooth (while acknowledging aero tradeoffs).
- TRUDI truing machine — Positioned as a precision, efficiency-oriented wheel truing solution and promoted as a major product launch by the company
Warranty & Returns
- Manufacturing defect warranty (by product family): HAWK series rims/spokes: lifetime against manufacturing defects; other Berd wheels: 5 years; Berd spokes: 5 years; Berd hubs: 2 years.
- Crash replacement: HAWK series rims: free lifetime crash replacement; other models have fixed-fee repair/replace programs during defined periods (e.g., 5 years), with labor/shipping typically customer-responsible.
- Returns: Stock products returnable within 30 days if new/unused; spokes laced into a hub are not return-eligible.
Reviewsfrom Industry Publications
Rider feedbacksentimentreviews
Praises
Concerns
Initial settling/creep requiring re-tensioning, and concerns about wheel feel under hard cornering or high loads for some riders.
Overall
Sentiment is innovation-positive, with a split between riders who love the smoothness and those who prefer conventional spoke behavior/servicing simplicity.
Relevant Blog Articles
Sponsorships & Ambassadors
Evie Richards
Evie Richards / Trek Factory Racing‑Pirelli XC:
Berd’s site header explicitly states support for Evie Richards and Trek Factory Racing‑Pirelli XC.
Evie Richards
Henrique Avancini
Henrique Avancini
Cycling Weekly notes PolyLight spokes carried Avancini to a major world championship result.
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