Mountain Biking - Clipless pedals: used OK?

I'm going to the Mill Valley bike swap this weekend, and am looking to pick up a pair of slightly used clipless pedals.

My question: are these OK to buy used? I don't have shoes yet, and I'm wondering if the cleats and the pedal need to wear in together, or if I'll be OK using what will eventually be a new cleat with a used pedal.

Also, I assume that I'll have the easiest time finding shoes/cleats if I stick with SPD-compatible pedals.

Any thoughts?

TIA

i dont think getting used pedals would be a bad thing, just make sure you get them rebuilt with and new cleats and you're set to go

You should be fine. Inspect the jaws of the pedal and whatever internals you can see for wear or damage. Expect the exteriors to be pretty dinged up if you're looking for mountain pedals. You are right in that the majority of pedals there will be SPD compatible. Some brands to look for would be Shimano, Time, and Crank Bros. (the last two not being SPD compatible). SPD is a pretty simple system to learn and most pedals will let you adjust release tension so that as you become more comfortable, you can adjust the release tension.

You also need to consider what type of riding you will be doing. If you are going to be riding more technical trails or just want a little more to put your foot on when you're riding unclipped, go for something with a wider platform around the jaws. I'm curretnly using 2 year old Shimano 536's, which provide a small platform for unclipping when I'm not comfortable with the terrain.

Don't worry about new cleats/old pedals. Riders go through many sets of cleats with one set of pedals.

-Moab

You should be fine. Inspect the jaws of the pedal and whatever internals you can see for wear or damage. Expect the exteriors to be pretty dinged up if you're looking for mountain pedals. You are right in that the majority of pedals there will be SPD compatible. Some brands to look for would be Shimano, Time, and Crank Bros. (the last two not being SPD compatible). SPD is a pretty simple system to learn and most pedals will let you adjust release tension so that as you become more comfortable, you can adjust the release tension.

You also need to consider what type of riding you will be doing. If you are going to be riding more technical trails or just want a little more to put your foot on when you're riding unclipped, go for something with a wider platform around the jaws. I'm curretnly using 2 year old Shimano 536's, which provide a small platform for unclipping when I'm not comfortable with the terrain.

Don't worry about new cleats/old pedals. Riders go through many sets of cleats with one set of pedals.

-Moab

Thanks for the word. More or less what I figured, although the bit about a bigger platform for more technical riding was a little counter-intuitive. I don't consider myself a technical rider, just all around XC.

Thanks again.

I've never seen any spd pedals with the cleat-locking mechanism wore-out. The cleats will always wear way before you wear out the pedals.... I have 2 sets of spd pedals that I've used for over 10 yrs. They still work as new. I've since lost count of the # of cleat sets I've had to buy, and the pairs of shoes I've worn-out. You can visually inspect any used pedals you find aluring, but unless you have a pair of shoes with the cleats, you'll just be guessing at their functionability.... Sorry for the big words, but I didn't know how else to say what I meant.


I currently have some Look Moab SR-2's, a pair of Ritchey Logic's & a pair of Girvin Mag's. They all work flawlessly, and have for several years now.... Buy a good brand name set, and they should be OK.

"More or less what I figured, although the bit about a bigger platform for more technical riding was a little counter-intuitive."

It's nice if you have to limp/be cautious your way through a situation thats a little too much to be clipped in through.