With all the features and choices packed into road wheels these days, the costs keep going up. If you are doing some road or sprint to half-Ironman distance triathlons and need a set of mid-section aero carbon wheels that are Road Tubeless compatible and built for disc brake use, we strongly recommend you consider the Ritchey WCS Apex 38 Carbon Clincher Disc Wheelset. Fast rolling, sporting a smooth ride quality, with a 19mm wide internal tubeless ready clincher rim bed, and weighing in at 1735 grams for the set, this is a competitive wheelset for any race or event that lists under $1600. The 38mm section UD carbon disc brake rims take advantage of a special resin/carbon layup process that keeps the rotational weight low, where it truly matters.

Ritchey has tremendous experience with wheel building, having pioneered many features applied in wheel building today. The company also has a prominent Taiwanese factory that has long made the fantastic and reliable Ritchey carbon forks, seatposts, handlebars, framesets and other components, so you know the quality is there. The 19mm internal rim width sits within a 26mm external width, shaped structure, so running 25-30mm tires is not only feasible, but desirable for ride quality, aerodynamics and stable handling. Ritchey rates the Apex 38 Carbon Disc for cyclocross as well, so this is a true all season wheelset.

Innovation for Ritchey has included hub development, lacing patterns and spoke bracing angles. This is the company that pushed the off center rim (or asymmetric) design to create ideal spoke tensions side to side for rear and disc wheels. With this wheelset you find a stiff, forged two-piece WCS disc hubset that feature with offset flanges. The hubs are built for Center Lock disc rotors (which can be adapted to 6-bolt models), and flexibility for 100 front - 135mm rear standard quick release hubs (as these are set-up) and come with 12/100 front -12/142mm rear thru-axles endcaps. The oversized alloy axles and premium sealed cartridge bearings ensure greater hub stiffness, and the rear gets side specific bearings based on load requirements (28mm drive side, 24mm non-drive), as well as a patented 6-pawl, 12-point micro-clutch engagement system that reacts quickly to input and feels solid when you dig into the pedals.

The offset flanges deliver increased spoke bracing angle for strength and durability, and both front and rear wheels feature 24 spokes, laced 2x all around. You get zero wind-up or deflection under the hub based disc brake system. Ritchey favors a higher tension build using DT steel -bend spokes and brass nipples for resilience and security. The wheels are shipped with all the optional end caps and a set of forged quick release skewers. The rim strips are Ritchey's durable fibrous band for standard clincher tire use, not tubeless tape.

Try not to think of this wheelset as a great value, but as a great wheelset. Handbuilt, with impeccable quality and a stealthy, understated graphics package against the matte UD carbon rims, the WCS Apex 38 Carbon Clincher Disc Wheelset will not only surprise you, but far exceed your expectations.