Paris, France – At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot of France and Tom Pidcock of Great Britain clinched Mountain Bike gold medals using a groundbreaking product from Berd, a Minnesota-based company. This remarkable achievement highlights Berd's journey from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of Olympic success, showcasing the convergence of athletic excellence and technological innovation.
A Path of Innovation and Perseverance
Founded in 2015 by University of Minnesota alumni Charlie Spanjers (Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering), Brad Guertin (M.S. in Mechanical Engineering), and Kyle Olson (Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering), Berd embarked on a mission to revolutionize bicycle spokes. Their innovative idea of flexible spokes made from Dyneema, also known as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), has transformed the cycling industry.
The inspiration for Dyneema spokes came from the world of slacklining, where the material's exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and resilience were well recognized. Early prototypes, crafted in Charlie's apartment, were rudimentary, but the trio soon discovered the "finger trap" effect. By leveraging this principle, they could bond a threaded metal rod to the braided fiber, creating a remarkably strong connection. This pivotal innovation was patented, and the name "Berd" emerged, a clever fusion of "bike" and "nerd."
From Basement Beginnings to Breakthroughs
In 2017, Berd's operations were still confined to Brad's basement, where the process of hand-making spokes was painstakingly slow and unreliable. A significant breakthrough came in 2018 when Berd secured a grant from the United States National Science Foundation. This funding enabled the company to transition from basement operations to a more formal setting, accelerating research and development of an innovative automated manufacturing process. After about six months of development, Berd introduced its first product, PolyLight spokes, in mid-2018.
Challenging the Status Quo
Berd's Dyneema spokes were met with skepticism in an industry dominated by stainless steel for over a century. Concerns about stiffness and long-term tension stability posed significant hurdles. However, as the cycling industry evolved towards more compliant components for off-road riding, Berd's spokes found their niche. The shift from prioritizing stiffness to engineered flexibility played to Berd's advantage, as their polymer spokes offered the needed compliance.
A key concern with Berd spokes was whether they could maintain tension over time. Berd addressed this through a meticulous multi-day process for pre-stretching spokes during wheel assembly. The traditional process involved tensioning the spokes, letting the wheel sit overnight, and repeating this process multiple times. This method pre-stretched the spokes so that they only lost about 30% of their tension before reaching long-term stability after about six months. In 2022, Berd further refined this with an accelerated pre-stretching method using wheel stress relief machines. These machines push on the wheel with up to 635 pounds for up to four minutes per cycle, significantly enhancing the tension stability, and eliminating the need for any tension maintenance.
Rising to the Top
Berd's journey from hand-made spokes to a full catalog of wheels for on- and off-road cycling is a testament to their innovation and persistence. Partnerships with innovative wheel companies (and professional race teams) including 9th Wave Cycling (Henrique Avancini Race Team), Full Speed Ahead (Cannondale Factory Racing), and P1 Race Technologies (Ineos Grenadiers) have propelled Berd spokes to the top of professional mountain biking. The results speak for themselves: three Cross Country World Championship wins in 2023, seven World Cup XCO and XCC wins in 2024, and now three of the six 2024 Olympic Mountain Bike medalists (including both gold medalists) rode wheels with Berd spokes.
Olympic Glory
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, a total of eight athletes from six countries rode wheels equipped with Berd spokes:
- Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (France): Women's Olympic Mountain Bike Gold Medalist
- Tom Pidcock (Great Britain): Men's Olympic Mountain Bike Gold Medalist
- Alan Hatherly (South Africa): Men's Olympic Mountain Bike Bronze Medalist
- Mona Mitterwalner (Austria)
- Ella Maclean-Howell (Great Britain)
- Simon Andreassen (Denmark)
This remarkable feat of three Olympic medals underscores Berd's commitment to pushing the boundaries of cycling technology.
Embracing the "Nerd" in Berd
Berd's success story is rooted in science and engineering, combined with unwavering perseverance. The company prides itself on exceptional customer service and a relentless drive to innovate. From enthusiasts to Olympic champions, Berd's contributions to cycling are a testament to the power of embracing the "nerd" and pushing the limits of what is possible in the pursuit of excellence. Berd's most popular products include their HAWK30 all-mountain wheels, HAWK27 cross country wheels, and their ultra-lightweight Sparrow gravel wheels. Berd's products are available through over 400 bicycle retailers worldwide.
