RITCHEY's First Flat Pedals
RITCHEY has released their very first flat pedals, and they have arrived at Circles! They are called the Bigfoot Pedal. I fell for the name, but then I thought, "These look good!" and ordered them immediately.
RITCHEY Comp Bigfoot Pedal
Color: Black
Size: 105mm wide, 108.5mm long, 18.5mm thick
Weight: 360g
Material: Nylon
Spindle Material: CrMo
Bearing: Sealed cartridge
Price: 8,580 yen (tax included)
Wallet-Friendly Reinforced Nylon Pedals
These flat pedals, which can be used for everything from trail rides to gravel riding and touring, take various approaches depending on the manufacturer, with some using resin or aluminum for the main pedal body. For the new Bigfoot Pedal, RITCHEY has opted for reinforced nylon.
Naturally, as the name suggests, they have a large platform and use a chromoly spindle. They are wallet-friendly pedals that combine durability and affordability, making them highly recommended for those using pinned flat pedals for the first time.
Comparing Them to the SimWorks Taco Pedal
A pinned pedal I use often is the SimWorks Taco Pedal. Since it uses an aluminum body, it has a catalog weight of 498g. In contrast, the Bigfoot Pedal is lightweight at a catalog weight of 360g (my own measurement was 358g) thanks to the reinforced nylon.
| RITCHEY Bigfoot Pedal | SimWorks Taco Pedal | |
| Weight | 360g | 498g |
Also, the platform size is 105mm wide x 108.5mm long, large enough that even those with larger feet can feel confident while pedaling. In terms of size, the Taco Pedal is roughly the same, but the deciding difference is its thinness.
| RITCHEY Bigfoot Pedal | SimWorks Taco Pedal | |
| Size (W x L x H) | 105mm x 108.5mm x 18.5mm | 105mm x 110mm x 33mm |
I sometimes put Taco Pedals on my SKLAR PBJ when hitting the trails. While there are rarely any major issues, there are extremely rare cases when descending where the pedal hits the ground or rocks. (Since this depends on the bike's design and specifications, I can't strictly blame the pedals alone.)
Of course, since the Taco Pedal isn't a pedal specifically designed for trails, comparing them might be unfair, but the thinness of 18.5mm is something I highly recommend for those who want to ride trails aggressively.
A Life-Hack (？) / Using Pedal Straps
Since there are 9 spike pins on one side, they catch the sole of your shoe securely. You can also reduce the number of pins as you like. (⚠️ Although I don't think it will happen, please be aware that with leather shoes or running shoes with soft soles, there is a possibility that the spike pins may damage the soles. ⚠️)
While looking them over closely, I noticed something.
The openings on the side of these pedals look like they would be great for passing through pedal straps... So, I tried it out.
By removing the pins on both sides, you can pass pedal straps through perfectly. Many pedals that can accommodate straps are relatively thick, so personally, I think this setup is a great way to enjoy riding a track bike. I also recommend this for the tracklocross crowd.
This is just a guess, but it's a detail that makes me think they might have incorporated the input of Fergus Tanaka, the RITCHEY marketing manager with a background in track bikes.
By the way, looking at the packaging, I noticed it said "Mojave" for the color variation. I thought, "What is that color? I want it!" and it turns out it will be added as a new color in about six months. I'm looking forward to that too!
Anyway, I have uploaded them to our webshop, so please check them out.
RITCHEY Comp Bigfoot Pedal
Color: Black
Size: 105mm wide, 108.5mm long, 18.5mm thick
Weight: 360g
Material: Nylon
Spindle Material: CrMo
Bearing: Sealed cartridge
Price: 8,580 yen (tax included)
