The Sparrow50 Gold is 14% more aerodynamic than our previous-generation Sparrow, with the same vibration damping no aero rival can match — a combination that, in our finish-time modeling, pulls ahead of wheels like ENVE and Zipp as the gravel turns rough.
Super Aerodynamic with Vibration-Damping Spokes
The Sparrow50 Gold is 14% more aerodynamic than our previous-generation Sparrow, with the same vibration damping no aero rival can match — a combination that, in our finish-time modeling, pulls ahead of wheels like ENVE and Zipp as the gravel turns rough.
Gold Medal Winning Spokes
With two Olympic Gold Medals, two Olympic Bronze Medals, and over 50 XC World Cup podiums in the last 2 seasons, Berd spokes are the winningest XC MTB spokes in the world. Lightweight, strong, vibration damping. "If you're not riding Berd spokes for mountain biking, you're at a disadvantage."†
Wind Tunnel Tested +
14.3% more aerodynamic than the standard Sparrow — tested at the A2 Wind Tunnel against the leading aero-gravel wheels. Fast through the air, quiet over the ground.
Wind Tunnel Tested +
14.3% more aerodynamic than the standard Sparrow — tested at the A2 Wind Tunnel against the leading aero-gravel wheels. Fast through the air, quiet over the ground.
Features
Optimized for Aerodynamics
The Sparrow50 Gold wheels are compatible with 40 mm – 60 mm tires and were optimized in the wind tunnel with 45 mm to 55 mm tires in close collaboration with Schwalbe. The Schwalbe G-One RS PRO in 45 mm is the fastest, most aerodynamic tire we have tested for Cat 1 gravel.
5 Watt Vibration Savings
Berd spokes have a rolling efficiency savings of 5 watts at 30 km/hr which was independently measured by John Karrasch.
Unmatched Smoothness
Berd spokes are the only spokes that use viscoelastic damping to dissipate high-frequency vibration, absorbing energy from gravel through time-dependent strain relaxation in the fiber. No steel spoke can do it.
Less Fatigue, More Endurance
Berd spokes filter the high-frequency vibration that wears riders down, so less buzz reaches your hands, arms, back, and saddle. You finish long gravel days fresher and stronger.
30 mm Internal Rim Width
The Sparrow50 Gold wheels are tubeless ready with a 30 mm internal rim width. A super wide 4 mm hooked bead locks the tire in place for confident retention with all tire types and protection against pinch flats at low pressure.
Lightest in Class
At 1,298 grams, the Sparrow50 Gold wheels are the lightest production 50 mm depth wheels on the planet, thanks to the lightweight rims, hubs and Berd spokes weighing only 2.4 grams each.
Talon ESL-R Hub with Tri-Coat™ Freehub
Our new Talon ESL-R hubs are our fastest gravel hubs ever and feature precision machined Tri-Coat™ aluminum that resists cassette bite and surface marking.
Equal Spoke Length (ESL)
Engineered with varying hook flange widths to maintain identical spoke lengths across both sides of both wheels, simplifying service, spares, and race-day repairs.
High Engagement 36 Tooth Ratchet
The ESL-R hubs feature a new lightweight dual-sprung 36 tooth ratchet freehub for instant power transfer and explosive acceleration the moment you hit the pedals.
Easily Convertible End Caps
The ESL-R front hubs feature innovative removable sleeves that easily convert between 12 mm and 15 mm axles in seconds with no tools needed.
700C and 32″ — Available Now
Bigger wheels roll faster and smoother, so we built a 32″ gravel wheel to put you on the cutting edge: aerodynamic, low rolling resistance, and ready for where gravel racing is going.
Lifetime Crash Replacement
If you damage your rim while riding, you're covered under our free crash replacement program. In addition, every Sparrow50 Gold wheelset is backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects for complete peace of mind.
The Sparrow50 Gold wheels were designed from the ground up to be fast on gravel. We combined wind tunnel aerodynamic testing at the A2 Wind Tunnel with Berd’s vibration-damping spoke technology and modeled real-world finish times using the data from our engineering whitepaper. The model accounts for aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance, and the vibration-induced losses that Berd spokes uniquely reduce.
Ride inputs
Berd Sparrow50 Gold Finish Time
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Finish time vs. Sparrow50 Gold
Surface categories:Smooth pavement is clean tarmac with negligible vibration losses. Cat 1 (Hard Packed) is hard-packed fire roads and smooth dirt. Cat 2 (Common Gravel) is typical mixed-surface gravel with moderate roughness. Cat 3 (Chunky / Rough) is chunky, loose, or washboard surfaces where vibration losses dominate.
Rims
Rim Material
Carbon Fiber
Internal Rim Width
30 mm
Rim Depth
50 mm
External Rim Width
38 mm
Tubeless Compatibility
Yes
Wheel Size
700c (29″; 622 mm Bead Seat Diameter)
Rim ERD
541 mm
Rim Weight
420 grams
Angle Matched Spoke Holes
Yes
Hole Count
24 Holes Front and Rear
Brake Compatibility
Disc (Centerlock)
Hubs
Front Hub Type
Berd Talon ESL-R
Front Hub Dimensions
12 x 100 mm or 12 x 110 mm (both convertible to 15 mm)
Rear Hub Type
Berd Talon ESL-R
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
Hub Manufacturer
Berd
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)
Spokes & Nipples
Add a Berd Service Kit to your new Berd wheel order and receive all of the tools and supplies needed to service your wheels — including spare spokes!
† Based on both the highest number of Olympic gold medals and the highest percentage of UCI World Cup cross country wins achieved by any spoke brand during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Berd stands for Bike + Nerd, because that's exactly who we are. We use real engineering, real testing, and real data to build the best bicycle wheels in the world. BE A BIKE NERD.
Wind Tunnel Tested Aerodynamics
The Sparrow50 Gold was tested at the A2 Wind Tunnel in Mooresville, North Carolina, against the leading aerodynamic gravel wheels. Every wheel was tested with the same Schwalbe G-One RS Pro tire to isolate the wheel’s aerodynamic contribution. Drag was recorded across a full sweep of yaw angles, then weighted to reflect real-world riding conditions.
Yaw-Weighted CdA Comparison — Lower is Faster
CdA Across Yaw Angles Versus Sparrow (2025)
The Sparrow50 Gold has 14% lower weighted average aerodynamic drag than the Sparrow (2025).
Sparrow50 Gold CdA by Tire Width
Tire choice has a significant effect on aerodynamic drag. The Schwalbe G-One RS PRO 45 mm is the most aerodynamic combination we tested.
