Editor’s Note: Grannygear returns with his second set of pedals in the Round-Up series from Ritchey. Please check out his introduction to this series by clicking HERE.
The Riding Gravel Pedal Round-Up: Ritchey WCS Pedals- by Grannygear
Ritchey seems to think the WCS Micro Road is bang-on for the Gravel Bike set and just looking at it makes you go, “Hmmmmm…they might be right“. It is a tiny little thing with an open structure; a sort of road pedal-ish shape in a single sided design…like if an SPD mtb pedal and a typical roadie pedal met at a bar and had too much to drink, etc.
From the Ritchey website:
“The perfect gravel bike pedal is back. Standard road pedals and cleats will get jammed with rocks and mud, and mountain bike pedals are heavier and offer less cornering clearance, which is critical when combined with a road bike’s lower BB height. Enter Tom Ritchey’s personal favorite pedal, the Pro Micro Road—the only road pedal that can keep going when the pavement ends.”
- Proven retention system offers fast, predictable entry and release and excellent mud-shedding characteristics
- Superlight one-sided stainless steel body
- Incredible cornering clearanceSPD cleat and shoe convenience for those occasional dismounts
- Low profile design offers exceptionally low axle-to-cleat height for optimal pedaling efficiency
- Upgraded axle and bearing system – bushing, needle and cartridge bearing system for long service life
- Only 208g (pair)
- Body: Stainless steel
- Axle Material: CroMo
- Claw: Alloy
- Inner Bearing: Bushing
- Outer Bearing: Needle/Ball
- Float: 5 degrees
- Finish: Nickel
With it’s all metal build, it looks rugged despite the diminutive size. It is darn light too. I weighed them as a pair at 208g and the cleats at 50g a pair. Compare that to the Time XC8s, already a lighter pedal than the typical SPD, and the WCS Micro Road is a bantam weight contender.
Obviously the weight is less than it would be if this was a two sided pedal, so it does give up that to other designs and it might have less shoe contact/support outside the immediate cleat area as well. We shall see show it looks when clicked into a shoe.
The cleat is totally ‘walk-able’ in it’s SPD-like design and it mounts to the typical two bolt pattern. I have to say that I am very intrigued by these and have to wonder if they would not also be a good commuter or even touring pedals. The mud shedding abilities are still to be determined, but they sure look capable in the muck and mire.
I will say that they are good looking in a “non-fantastic plastic” sort of way and they seem ‘right’ for a slim tubed, steel framed gravel bike, or at least to my eye they do. That does fall well into the Ritchey way of doing things. I have been using Ritchey road pedals (Look/Keo type) for a couple of years and they have been a solid choice. I also have run Ritchey bars, stems, and seat posts on a couple of road bikes with great results. They have been a good balance of weight, value and performance.
These are next to be ridden as I wrap up the Time ATACs. Stay tuned as we introduce the next set of pedals yet to be announced. Then we will talk about the results of our findings.
Note: The Ritchey WCS pedals were sent to Grannygear for test and review on RidingGravel.com at no charge. We are not being paid nor bribed for this review and we will strive to give our honest thoughts and opinions throughout.
