Looking for a serviceable, practical, Tubeless Ready mid-section carbon clincher wheelset at a good price? You need to consider the Ritchey WCS Apex 38 Clincher Tubeless Wheelset. The 38mm profile is perfect for road or cyclocross, and with it's 18.4mm internal width is well suited to tires from 25-34mm, and able both the higher pressures of clincher tires, or handle the lower pressures of tubeless use. Ritchey built their Phantom Flange design hubs for aerodynamics and practicality, hiding the fact that they utilize j-bend spokes. The UD carbon rims are built with a thermal grade carbon composite and resin system that optimized to handle the heat of rim brake use without compromising tire or seal integrity. With an outside width of 26mm, a 25-28mm tire choice on the road delivers excellent aerodynamics and a fast but forgiving ride quality with serious overall stability and handling properties.

While suitable for any road, cross or light gravel application, this stable and strong wheelset features a rear axle/ freehub system that was designed with Ritchey Break-Away or other travel bikes in mind. The tool-free design allows for quick dis-assembly, but is made of self-contained parts. The 6 pawl, 12-point micro clutch engagement system does not have any small, loose parts that could be easily lost or misplaced. You can remove the axle and freehub for travel, creating an almost flat-pack rear wheel. Anyone who has ever packed a travel bike will understand how valuable space is, and how this immediately makes packing easier while reducing potential damage. The process is simple, quick, and effective.

The hubset itself is sleek and the bearing action is silky smooth. These hubs are called the Phantom Flange design, and on first appearance they appear to be for straight-pull spokes. The Phantom Flange actually hides the fact that j-bend spokes are used, and are easily accessible when a spoke change is required. Anyone who has traveled or lives without a seriously equipped shop nearby knows that finding a j-bend replacement is much easier than any other style, and have a reputation for excellent tensile strength. When truing, the spoke will not spin, again making it easier to service when having to carry tools when space and weight are at a premium.

The superlight alloy hub shells are forged, then machined for strength and precision, and at 70 grams for the front and 207 grams for the rear, these beauties are light. The rims feature proprietary Ritchey design which creates a rim shape balances ride quality, stiffness and aerodynamics. The rear rim is designed to mate with the rear hub at staggered drive side flanges, which increase the spoke bracing angle and eliminates interference between crossing spokes, resulting in a stiffer, stronger wheel. Brass nipples and DT's New Aero J-bend spokes keep the assembly strong, serviceable, and reliable.

Anyone who is looking for a sub 1600 gram road wheelset with a wider footprint, moderate aero profile, excellent ride quality, lateral stiffness and fast engagement should seriously consider the Ritchey WCS Apex 38. You also get the flexibility to run tubeless tires and, if you are a bike traveler, you have the advantage of the simple axle/ freehub removal system to create space and simplify packing. You get all that in a carbon clincher/Tubeless Ready wheelset at a great price from this industry leader in component design.