High-polish silver components carry a certain weight in cycling circles, signaling a deliberate choice toward classic aesthetics over contemporary stealth. Ritchey's Classic Zeta Disc wheelset channels that tradition while incorporating modern disc brake architecture and tubeless compatibility. The result bridges two eras of wheel design without compromising on either front, pairing the visual warmth of polished alloy with the stopping confidence of hydraulic disc brakes.

The alloy rims measure 19.5mm at the inner width, accommodating tires from 25mm road rubber up to 45mm gravel casings. That range positions the Classic Zeta Disc as a crossover wheelset capable of handling pavement duties and mixed-surface adventures alike. Ritchey applies their OCR technology to the rear rim, offsetting the spoke holes by 3mm to equalize tension across the drive and non-drive sides. The geometry correction compensates for the asymmetric forces created by the cassette and disc rotor, producing a wheel that holds true under sustained load and resists the gradual spoke loosening that plagues conventionally drilled rims. At 23.4mm deep and 24.4mm wide at the outer edge, the rim profile balances aerodynamic considerations with the structural depth needed for tubeless tire bead retention.

Each wheelset ships from a Ritchey technician's bench rather than an automated assembly line. The 24-spoke count front and rear relies on DT Competition double-butted spokes laced in a two-cross pattern, with brass nipples adding rotational mass where it aids spoke thread engagement and corrosion resistance. Double-butted construction thins the spoke midsection while maintaining full thickness at the stress points where the spoke meets hub flange and nipple, shedding grams without sacrificing fatigue life. The forged thru-axle hubs run sealed bearings and mount rotors via the six-bolt interface. Inside the rear hub, a four-pawl freewheel mechanism delivers engagement without the complexity of ratchet-ring systems, simplifying long-term maintenance.... Read More