What makes a great gravel bike wheel?

Just about every aspect of gravel bike wheels — apart from the fact that they’re round — has been significantly tweaked in the past decade. Wheels are getting bigger and fatter, and they’re made from unusual alloys or proprietary carbon fiber recipes. Tubeless technology is a given among gravel cyclists pushing for faster wheels on mixed terrain, but not everyone has a need for speed. Gravel riders also place a premium on strength, durability, and affordability.

What matters most in choosing your gravel bike wheels is what kind of riding you do (or plan to do). In the past, if racing was your ambition, a lightweight, narrow rim with a low spoke count would’ve been your best bet for going fast. Now, wider rims have gained favor as race routes have become harsher. If your gravel adventures take you away for days over unknown terrain, then a wider rim with a higher spoke count will keep you happily rolling along.

There’s a lot more to wheels for gravel riding than just going round and round. Let’s explore what makes a gravel bike wheel to help you decide which type is right for you.

Wheels are non-negotiable when it comes to bike components — they must be circular with the ability to accept rider input. Rims, spokes, nipples, hubs, and bearings come together as a reminder that there are no new ideas, just ingenious improvements on the original idea (which were horizontal slices of tree trunks poked through with an axle). We’ve come a long way in wheel technology, yet instead of rolling forward in a smooth, paved line, we’ve veered off onto more primitive riding surfaces, like gravel roads. Wider rims, a sturdier build, and greater versatility stand out as coveted features for when the pavement ends. Here’s what makes for great gravel wheels when it comes to choosing yours.

Rim material

Ritchey only offers aluminum alloy rims because of their formidably high quality-to-price ratio.

Rim diameter

650b and 700c have become standard among gravel wheels. As a matter of preference, 650b wheels are usually paired with wide mountain bike tires (2.0-2.6”); 700c wheels are paired with narrower ‘cross or gravel-specific tires (35-47c). These wheels are also recognized by their imperial measurements: 27.5” and 29”. Ritchey offers its Zeta GX wheels in either 650b or 700c.

Rim width

There are two important numbers to pay attention to with respect to rim width. Internal rim width (IW) is the total width in millimeters between the innermost edges of the rim wall. External rim width is the distance in millimeters between the rim wall’s outer edges. Wider rims will accommodate the wider tires preferred by gravel riders who prioritize more air volume and a flatter tire tread profile. Generally speaking, increasing or decreasing the inner width by 2mm will result in a 1mm tire width increase or decrease. What was once a daring inner rim width (21mm) for gravel riders now seems overly cautious and conservative, unless the goal is to go fast. “Gravel riding” is still somewhat subjective within the rapidly growing community of gravel biking enthusiasts, but wheel rims help us think big, as in what’s the maximum tire width I can install on my gravel wheels? While this number varies by manufacturer, what’s below is Ritchey’s tire allowance for our wheels. The first number in this list is the internal rim width, which dictates the maximum tire width that your wheels will accommodate.

Internal rim widths for Ritchey’s gravel wheels range between 21mm for Zeta Disc wheels to 25mm for Zeta GX.

Rim depth

Rim depth affects stiffness, stability, and speed. Mid- and deep-section rims (35mm and up) offer greater stiffness and aerodynamics but less agility, which is an issue for gravel riders who need to navigate abrupt changes in direction. Deep rims have historically been favored by riders covering long distances on paved roads (triathletes, time trialists), where stiff, narrow (and often heavier) wheels improve riders’ pedaling efficiency as they slice through the wind.

Rim depths for Ritchey’s gravel wheels range between 19mm for WCS and Comp Zeta GX to 24.4mm for WCS Zeta Disc.

Tubeless-ready

These wheels typically have bead locks that hook tubeless tires to the rim and become airtight when fully inflated. A tubeless system offers better traction with lower tire pressure, and a virtually puncture-free ride experience. All Ritchey wheels are tubeless-ready. All WCS wheels come with tubeless valves and tubeless tape already applied to the rims.

Off Center Rim (OCR)

Spoke holes are drilled into the rim off of the centerline of the rim’s internal circumference. Ritchey has chosen this design to provide more equilibrium between right and left spoke tension. The resulting wheel is stronger and easily dished (centered to the midplane of the bike), and less likely to go out of true with regular hard use.

Spoke type

J-bend — Tom’s personal preference, J-bend spokes feature a j-shaped bend where the spoke connects to the hub. Simple, reliable, and repairable, J-bend spokes are easier to lace, tension, and true, but more than that, J-bend spokes are easier to find no matter where you are in the world, which is inline with Tom’s belief in self-reliance and one’s ability to get themselves home safely after a ride.

Straight-pull — As the name states, these spokes are straight where they interface with the hub.

Spoke count

The number of spokes on your wheels is referred to as spoke count. In simple terms, a lower spoke count helps reduce weight and improve aerodynamics. A higher spoke count lends itself to an inherently stronger wheel. Given that gravel riding often takes you over unpredictable terrain, a higher spoke count can manage impacts and fatigue better than wheels with a lower spoke count.

These are some typical spoke counts and what they’re used for:

Spoke lacing

If it weren’t for strong opinions about spoke lacing, we might actually be able to achieve world peace. Many authoritative voices have weighed in on the topic and they haven’t always agreed about what’s an ideal spoke lacing pattern: 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x (x = cross), interlacing, or radial. Tom Ritchey himself has determined the optimal spoke count and lacing pattern for each of his wheels to enable you, the rider, to live your cycling experience without worrying if your wheels are up to the task as well.

Spoke material

Aluminum, stainless steel, carbon fiber, and even fabric each have their pros and cons as a spoke material. Aluminum has largely been abandoned as a spoke material for higher quality bikes. Carbon fiber spokes are prized for their light weight and powerful lateral stiffness, yet they’re expensive to make and are usually reserved for top end carbon fiber rims, which are also expensive. Stainless steel has emerged as the material of choice because it’s strong, impact resistant, and won’t rust.

Spoke butting

Stainless steel spokes can be straight-gauge, or single-, double-, or triple-butted, each of which provide specific performance benefits related to their intended use. Ritchey uses both straight-gauge spokes, which have the same thickness all along their length, as well as double-butted spokes, which are 2.0mm at each end and 1.8mm in the middle. By varying a spoke’s thickness, strength is increased in the areas that need it the most (at the head and at the nipple) without adding weight to the rest of the bike.

Spoke nipples

These are what hold your gravel rim to each spoke. The threaded end of your spokes is screwed into the threaded interior of your spoke nipples. Ritchey uses nickel-plated brass nipples because they can be made with smooth threads and don’t often corrode.

Perhaps the hardest working part on your bike, your wheel hub is always in motion and must withstand force that’s exerted during accelerating and braking.

Tom Ritchey doesn't carry a mobile phone when he rides. Nor does he bother with the hassle of following GPS coordinates on a cycling computer. A firm believer in self-reliance, one of Tom's guiding design principles is that every Ritchey product needs to be reliable enough to get you home. He’s built this ethos into his wheels for gravel riding so that you too can get to where you’re going when and how you want to. Ritchey offers two models: Zeta Disc and Zeta GX.

Zeta Disc: The Versatile Performer

Ritchey Zeta Disc wheels give you the option to transition easily between racing and light adventure riding. Their lightweight design makes them an excellent choice for those of you who value speed and agility over varied terrain.

Zeta GX: Built for Rugged Trails

The more rugged sibling to Ritchey’s range of gravel wheels, Zeta GX has been designed to support wider tires for increased stability and traction on the toughest gravel terrain. The wheels’ robust construction features sturdier rims and spokes to withstand the rigors of off-road cycling, yet Zeta GX maintains balance between durability and weight to ensure that they are tough yet not overly heavy.

When you shop for wheels — regardless of brand — you’ll have to know what kind of cassette you have because you’ll have to select the compatible freehub body. Ritchey’s wheels are compatible with:

The best gravel wheels are the ones that will enhance your riding experience. Same as you wouldn’t put a square peg in a round hole, you need to choose gravel wheels that fit your riding aspirations. Whether you’re racing, light touring, going off-road, or bikepacking, you’ll find that a set of Ritchey wheels is perfectly aligned with your riding style.