Aluminum road wheels still have a real argument to make in 2024 — they're serviceable, replaceable, and don't ask you to think twice about parking the bike against a curb. The Ritchey Zeta Classic V2 Disc wheelset leans into that case with a hand-built, tubeless-ready alloy build wrapped in a high-polish silver finish that looks right on a steel frame or a modern disc bike trying not to look too modern. Updated for 2024 with a 4-pawl freewheel and DT Competition spokes, the tubeless-ready Classic Zeta Disc wheels combine decades of historic ride-proven research, testing with modern standards, and a sophisticated aesthetic to deliver the legendary Ritchey ride quality at an attainable price.

The disc-specific, tubeless Zeta OCR rims are light, stiff and wide with a 19.5mm internal width. That puts a measured 28mm tire close to its labeled width and gives 30-35mm rubber a proper seat for mixed-surface riding. Rim depth measures 23.4mm with a 24.4mm outer width, and the suggested tire range runs 25-40mm — a useful spread that covers everything from a fast road build to a light gravel or cyclocross setup. The OCR offset is the Ritchey trick worth knowing: the off-center rim design reduces wheel dish to balance spoke tension for a stronger, stiffer wheel, which matters more on the disc rear than it does on a rim-brake build.

Hub-wise, this is where the V2 update lands. The Classic Zeta Disc wheels feature forged alloy two-piece WCS disc hubs, with forged, machined and staggered flanges that increase spoke bracing angle to build a stronger, lighter wheel. The disc brake rotor mount is 6-bolt — worth flagging up front, because the higher-tier WCS Zeta uses Centerlock and the two are not interchangeable without new rotors. Compatibility covers Shimano 9-11 speed and 12-speed road cassettes, SRAM XD/XDR, and Campagnolo N3W, with freehub conversion kits available separately.... Read More