No more steel: the fabric spoke is here
This is clearly about numbers: Spoking a wheel with Berd spokes made from a polymer fabric results in a weight saving of around 250 grams per wheelset. A Berd spoke with a length of 265 millimeters weighs around 2.3 grams. For comparison: A DT Revolution spoke in this dimension weighs around 4.4 grams, a DT Comp spoke around 5.9 grams.
It's not possible without steel after all
The weight saving is not the only advantage, however. Wheels that are spoked in this way are said to be more vibration-damping and more comfortable to ride. Defects are also virtually impossible, as the polymer cords are said to react more elastically to load peaks.
In terms of hub compatibility, the spoke substitutes function as J-Bend and Directpull counterparts, as the loop of the cord is held in place with a small additional piece of cord for threading into the hub. Incidentally, even the exotic spokes are not completely metal-free. So that conventional nipples can be used to tension the cords, there is a familiar 2 millimeter thread at the end of the polymer cord.
Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.