The all NEW Berd Sparrow50 Gold is Berd's most aerodynamic and best-damping gravel wheelset yet, engineered to be genuinely faster over a full gravel race or long day out, not just quicker in a straight line. It replaces the standard Sparrow as Berd's flagship gravel wheelset, and the numbers back up the upgrade: 14 percent more aerodynamic than the previous-generation Sparrow, at just 1,298 grams for a 50mm deep wheelset, making it the lightest production 50mm depth gravel wheelset available.
That combination matters because aero and light weight usually come at the cost of comfort, but the Sparrow50 Gold doesn't make that trade. Berd's signature spokes use viscoelastic damping (a property no steel or carbon fiber spoke can replicate) to filter out the high-frequency vibration that wears riders down over a long ride. Independent testing measured roughly 5 watts of savings from the vibration damping alone at 30km/h, on top of the aerodynamic gains from the deeper 50mm rim. The result is a wheelset that's both measurably faster and noticeably smoother, letting you finish long gravel days fresher and with more left in the tank.
Everything about the wheel was tuned around real gravel-riding data. Berd's wind tunnel testing (done in collaboration with Schwalbe) found 45mm tires deliver the lowest drag and fastest times on smooth gravel, while wider 55mm tires can actually be faster on rough terrain despite worse aerodynamics on paper, so the Sparrow50 Gold's 30mm internal rim width and 40 to 60mm tire compatibility are built to let you choose the right width for the course rather than locking you into one setup. A super wide 4mm hooked bead keeps tires locked in place and guards against pinch flats at low pressure.
At the hub, the new Talon ESL-R is Berd's fastest gravel hub yet. Precision-machined TriCoat aluminum resists cassette bite and surface marking, a new lightweight dual-sprung 36-tooth ratchet delivers instant engagement the moment you hit the pedals, and Equal Spoke Length engineering (varying the hook flange widths so spoke lengths match across both sides of both wheels) genuinely simplifies service, spares, and race-day repairs. Front hubs also feature tool-free removable sleeves that convert between 12mm and 15mm axles in seconds.
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Technical Specifications - 700C:
| Wheelset Weight: | 1,298 grams (without rim tape and valves) |
| Front Wheel Weight: | 600 grams (without rim tape and valves) |
| Rear Wheel Weight: | 698 grams (without rim tape and valves) |
| Rim Material: | Carbon Fiber |
| Internal Rim Width: | 30 mm |
| Rim Depth: | 50 mm |
| External Rim Width: | 38 mm |
| Wheel Size: | 700c (29″; 622 mm Bead Seat Diameter) |
| Rim ERD: | 541 mm |
| Hole Count: | 24 Holes Front and Rear |
| Hub: | Berd Talon ESL-R |
| Front Hub Dimensions: | 12 x 100 mm or 12 x 110 mm (both convertible to 15 mm) |
| Rear Hub Dimensions: | 12 x 142 mm or 12 x 148 mm |
| Freehub Compatibility: | SRAM XD, Shimano Microspline, Shimano Hyperglide, or Campy N3W |
| Freehub Material: | TriCoat™ Aluminum |
| Freehub Mechanism: | High Engagement 36 Tooth Ratchet |
| Disc Brake Type: | Centerlock |
| Front Hub Bearings: | 2 x 6803 bearings (17 x 26 x 5 mm) |
| Rear Hub Bearings: | 2 x 15267 bearings (15 x 26 x 7 mm), 2 x 6802 bearings (15 x 24 x 5 mm) |
| Front Spokes: | Berd PolyLight Spokes, 259 mm |
| Rear Spokes: | Berd PolyLight Spokes, 259 mm |
| Lacing Pattern: | Two-Cross Front and Rear |
| Nipples: | Sapim Aluminum Double Square Secure Lock, Black |
| Tubeless Ready: | Rim Tape and Valves Installed |
| Tire Compatibility: | 40 mm – 60 mm (1.50″ to 2.35″) |
| Maximum Tire Pressure: | 60 psi (4.14 bar) |
| Intended Use: | Gravel Racing and Riding |
| E-Bike Approved: | Yes, up to 60 Nm/500 W |
| Weight Limit: | 280 lbs / 127 kg |
| Assembly Method: | Hand Laced in Hopkins, MN, Trued by TRUDI |
| Warranty: | Limited Lifetime Warranty and Free Crash Replacement |
Technical Specifications - 32":
| Wheelset Weight: | 1,541 grams (without rim tape and valves) |
| Front Wheel Weight: | 718 grams (without rim tape and valves) |
| Rear Wheel Weight: | 823 grams (without rim tape and valves) |
| Rim Material: | Carbon Fiber |
| Internal Rim Width: | 30 mm |
| Rim Depth: | 50 mm |
| External Rim Width: | 38 mm |
| Wheel Size: | 32″ (686 mm Bead Seat Diameter) |
| Rim ERD: | 607 mm |
| Hole Count: | 24 Holes Front and Rear |
| Hub: | Berd Talon ESL-R |
| Front Hub Dimensions: | 12 x 100 mm or 12 x 110 mm (both convertible to 15 mm) |
| Rear Hub Dimensions: | 12 x 142 mm or 12 x 148 mm |
| Freehub Compatibility: | SRAM XD, Shimano Microspline, Shimano Hyperglide, or Campy N3W |
| Freehub Material: | TriCoat™ Aluminum |
| Freehub Mechanism: | High Engagement 36 Tooth Ratchet |
| Disc Brake Type: | Centerlock |
| Front Hub Bearings: | 2 x 6803 bearings (17 x 26 x 5 mm) |
| Rear Hub Bearings: | 2 x 15267 bearings (15 x 26 x 7 mm), 2 x 6802 bearings (15 x 24 x 5 mm) |
| Front Spokes: | Berd PolyLight Spokes, 291 mm |
| Rear Spokes: | Berd PolyLight Spokes, 291 mm |
| Lacing Pattern: | Two-Cross Front and Rear |
| Nipples: | Sapim Aluminum Double Square Secure Lock, Black |
| Tubeless Ready: | Rim Tape and Valves Installed |
| Tire Compatibility: | 40 mm – 60 mm (1.50″ to 2.35″) |
| Maximum Tire Pressure: | 60 psi (4.14 bar) |
| Intended Use: | Gravel Racing and Riding |
| E-Bike Approved: | Yes, up to 60 Nm/500 W |
| Weight Limit: | 280 lbs / 127 kg |
| Assembly Method: | Hand Laced in Hopkins, MN, Trued by TRUDI |
| Warranty: | Limited Lifetime Warranty and Free Crash Replacement |
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Technology:
Berd spokes are made from an advanced polymer, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), with 12 times the strength-to-weight ratio of steel and impervious to the elements. Combined with viscoelastic damping, they're the only spokes on the market that reduce vibration through the fiber itself rather than through frame or tire tuning alone.
Backed by Berd's Lifetime Warranty against manufacturing defects, plus free Lifetime Crash Replacement if you damage your rim while riding, a meaningful upgrade over the outgoing Sparrow's 5-year warranty.