High-end carbon wheel manufacturer Atomik Carbon has announced its partnership with Berd Spokes to introduce its all-new Atomik Carbon Ultimate Berd Wheelsets.
The company adds that its Atomik Carbon Ultimate gravel and mountain wheelsets are ultra lightweight, starting at just 1,200g per pair. And by combining ‘the uniquely compliant ride offered by Berd Spokes with the damp and precise characteristics of Atomik Carbon rims’, the Ultimate Wheelsets claim to offer ultimate ride quality.
Berd spokes, typically available only in white, are available on Atomik Carbon Ultimate Wheelsets in a limited edition Stealth Black. Custom colours exclusive to Atomik Carbon will also be available – including red, blue, orange and olive green.
Claimed to be ‘the world’s lightest spokes’, Berd patented spokes are made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, or UHMWPE – the same material found in bulletproof body armour. This advanced polymer has superior damping properties to minimize impact and vibration. It has a claimed 12x strength-to-weight ratio of the steel used in traditional spokes, and a superior fatigue life.
“We were blown away with the ride quality, especially on a hardtails and fully rigid gravel bikes,” said Atomik Carbon co-owner and founder Wayne Lee. “We didn’t think there was a way to drastically improve the already impressive damping of our carbon rims, especially models featuring our HDP Foamcore. And steel spokes have always been such a given, that we didn’t consider the potential for other spoke materials and how they could improve weight, performance and ride quality – until now.”
Atomik Carbon Ultimate Wheelsets start at US$1,699 per complete wheelset. (Berd spokes alone normally retail for US$600 per wheelset.)
Like all Atomik Carbon wheelsets, the Ultimate Wheelsets are hand built. But unlike builds using traditional spokes, Berd builds are notably labour intensive, with most hubs requiring a chamfering and polishing process, and three tensioning sessions. This includes a ‘rest’ period of 24 hours during which the Berd’s UHMWPE material naturally relaxes by up to 50% before being re-tensioned. They then relax by up to 25% before reaching their maximum length during a third and final tensioning.
Wayne Lee added, “In every test, Berd spokes had a higher breaking limit than every spoke we tested. The strength to weight ratio is truly impressive.”
Mountain
29” XC33 w/I9 Boost Hydra Hubs, 28 Holes: 1,410g
29” AM35 w/I9 Boost Hydra Hubs, 32 Holes: 1,610g
27.5” AM35 w/I9 Boost Hydra, 32 Holes: 1,530g
Gravel
700C XC26 w/I9 Road Torch Center Lock Hubs, 28 Holes: 1,220g
700C XC33 w/I9 Road Torch Center Lock Hubs, 28 Hole: 1,290g
650B XC33 w/I9 Torch Center Lock Hubs, 28 holes: 1,260g
Atomik Carbon Ultimate Wheelsets are available now as complete builds or rim-only options through local bike shops and via Atomik Carbon’s consumer direct program at AtomikCarbon.com and at BerdSpokes.com.
www.AtomikCarbon.com
www.BerdSpokes.com
