The Ritchey Switch System is an innovative integrated system designed to easily conceal internally routed cables, wires, and hydraulic lines from the handlebar into bicycle frames with straight 1.5" head tubes together with tapered 1-1/8" – 1.5" forks. The Switch System consists of three elements: Switch Stem, Switch Headset, and Switch Headset Spacers. This headset upper component is only compatible with IS52, ZS56, or ZS55 / 28.6mm Switch headsets.

As a primary component the new system, Ritchey's Comp Switch Upper Headset Assembly is designed to specifically work with the Ritchey Switch Stem to route cables, wires and hydraulic lines from the handlebar through to the bicycle frame. Cables are routed from the handlebar into the headset conduit, which sits on the underside of the Switch Stem and then travel through an opening on the front of the Switch headset spacers before passing through two channels on the top of the headset and into the frame. This system allows headset bearings to perform without any interference from cables, wires, or lines passing through the headtube. The Switch Headset ships with two Switch Spacers. Additional Switch Spacers are sold separately.