Bicycle Mechanics - Cleat help.

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.
I finally got around to going clipless for commuting and I got an old pair of Ritchey's that are identical to these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Ritchey-clipless-mtb-pedals-w-cleats_W0QQitemZ330277997269QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item330277997269&_trkparms=72%3A1423|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
http://cgi.ebay.com/Ritchey-Red-Clipless-Pedals-Vintage-SPD-Compatible_W0QQitemZ170270428133QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item170270428133&_trkparms=72%3A1423|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
I've been riding around with them with my roommate's shoes (for now) and cleats which are SPD that came with these:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000108&subcategory=60001123&brand=&sku=14392&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Road%20Clipless%20Pedals
The fit wasn't perfect and I thought it was the fact that my Ritchey pedals are worn, but further research on here seems to point that "SPD-style" cleats are not necessarily universal.
So, does anyone know the exact cleats I would need for optimal fit - kind of getting tired of thinking I'm clipped in and actually being not and vice-versa.
Thanks.
Litespeedlouie
10-12-08, 12:36 AM
According to Ritchey:
------------
What Cleats should I use?
2003 and newer: Ritchey and Shimano pedals will share the same cleats. 2002 and older: The Ritchey pedals are designed to run with Ritchey cleats. The Shimano cleats will clip in but will not perform properly. Your ingress and egress performance will be hampered.
------------
So I think you need the old Ritchey cleats. I had a pair of those red Ritchey Logic pedals from about 1997 on my MTB, and wanted to change 2 of my bikes to SPDs (1 pair of shoes; MTB and commuter bike). Because of this problem, I ended up buying 2 pairs of new Shimano PD-M520 pedals. Sorry, I don't want to part out the cleats. There are significant differences to the pre-2003 cleats. Here's a pic, Ritchey on the left in silver.
Torchy McFlux
10-12-08, 06:46 PM
If you find a source for pre-2003 Ritchey cleats, I'd like to know. I get people asking for them regularly, and the importer/distributor for Ritchey stuff up here doesn't carry them anymore.
Yea, I am having a hard time finding them. Nashbar, Performance, AEBike, Price Point, Universal Cycles, bikeparts, and Competitive Cyclist are nada.
HillRider
10-12-08, 08:33 PM
It might be easier just to get newer pedals. Nashbar has two versions of their house brand (made by Wellgo) selling for $25 and $35. These come with brand new, and guaranteed compatible, cleats. Considering the difficulty you are having finding the older model Ritchey cleats and that they will be nearly the price of these pedals if you do find them, go with new.
Here's Nashbar's listing of MTB pedals FYI:
http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?category=6000108&subcategory=60001078&storetype=&estoreid=&init=y&pagename=Category%3A%20Pedals
Ok, well someone on mtbrforums said that they called Ritchey (this was a 2007 posting) and was told that pre-2003 cleats are no longer made.
Someone on there also said this:
I believe those old Ritchey's originally used the Wellgo 97A cleat which was non-floating. Should be able to use the 98A cleat which has 4 degrees of float.
He was replying to an OP that was asking where to find cleats for some older Ritcheys (non-split release), but ones that were not as old as the ones I have.
Torchy McFlux
10-13-08, 02:30 AM
I know for sure that the 97A cleats were compatible with Shimano pedals, so that would make them as compatible with old Ritchey pedals as Shimano cleats are.
Pretty pathetic that Ritchey won't support a popular product only a few years old.
I've been riding around with them with my roommate's shoes (for now) and cleats which are SPD that came with these:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000108&subcategory=60001123&brand=&sku=14392&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Road%20Clipless%20Pedals
Can anyone tell me the cleats that come with those pedals? Those work (not well) for the Ritcheys, but they unclip fine which is most important to me. I know Shimano has a few SPD cleat styles so any help would be appreciated, thanks.
NEVERMIND, I figured it out.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.12 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.