Two-bolt clipless pedals split into two camps: the Shimano SPD ecosystem and everything else. Ritchey's Comp XC pedals land squarely in the SPD camp — the metal cleats included are identical to Shimano SPD cleats, and you can save yourself a few bucks replacing cleats in the future with Shimano models, which are more widely available. If you already have SPD shoes set up, these drop in without any cleat swap.

The Comp XC is the budget version of Ritchey's WCS XC pedal, and the spec sheet reflects where the cost-cutting happens. The body is cast alloy with a CroMo axle running on inner and outer ball bearings, with 4° of float, a 52.5mm crank-to-center distance, and a 17.1mm pedal stack height. Ball bearings instead of cartridge bearings is the main concession to price — you give up the dedicated service kits that the WCS pedals get, but the pedals are still serviceable if you want to keep them running.

What sets the Comp XC apart from a standard SPD copy is the tension adjustment system. The dual-sided mechanism features an entry and release tension adjustment on either side, linked to a small panel with a moving gauge — so instead of counting Allen key turns and hoping both sides match, you can dial each spring to the same visible mark. For riders who run loose tension for easy bailout on technical terrain, or tight tension for sprinting, getting all four springs evenly set actually matters.... Read More