staehpj1

Interesting comment... Do you mean that you use the platform side for technical riding? That is when I most value having good foot retention.

Back in the day I did a lot of MTB riding and racing in very technical terrain and much preferred SPD over either clips and straps or platforms. That is where I really appreciate the security of a reliable retention system that is quick and easy to get out of. I had one of the first pairs of SPD pedals to hit the stores. It took a few single track rides to get fully used to them but they were very quickly my favorite setup especially for more technical riding. I considered a retention system a must and found clips and straps more difficult to get out of if the straps were tight enough to do much good.

kingston 

I think I remember reading somewhere that the 600's have better bearings, but who knows. I got them mostly because I think the look cooler. I'm sure the 520s are fine. I have a pair of m520s that I got in the late 80's that are still going strong.

spectastic

I feel like nowadays, manufacturers are making cost saving decisions in their production that results in lower quality products than decades ago, and people having to go back to buy more.

djb

I just looked up shimano spd history and it appears that they started selling them in 1990. When I bought mine in 1992 (would have been in the spring sometime) they were pretty new, and here anyway in Montreal, stores had two models. The top model which I think was about $100 and the "lower" model which I think was $80, maybe it was 70 and I'm remembering cost with tax, I dunno.
It was the cheaper model I bought and they are the ones still happily spinning away.

kingston 

This is consistent with my experience. Anyone who races or rides aggressively XC is going to be clipped in all the time. Flipping back and forth between clipped in and not clipped in on the same ride is not something that has ever occurred to me, but it could be more appropriate for someone with a less aggressive riding style.

kingston 

You inspired me to do some research of my own, djb! I started by looking at the pedals and reading the number. I actually have the original M737s which according to MOMBAT came out in 1990. As I recall, they were priced more like $180, but who knows. I couldn't even remember what decade I bought them in. According to the same source the M525s came out in 1993. Both a pretty good buy considering at least two people are still using them over 20 years later. Not that this has anything to do with what's the best touring SPD pedal.

djb

I suspect you are right, prob the lower ones were around 80 and a hundred more for the other ones. I have a vague memory of not being able to afford the more expensive ones, not even sure if I would like clipped in pedals, but very quickly appreciated them.

as for "flat on one side" vs not, I would have to say having only had two sided ones ever, its nice not ever to have to muck about flipping a pedal over or whatever to position it to click in. Seems to me an advantage in commuting where you are in and out often, and starting on steep hills, but I can see it being handy to be able to use regular shoes easily. I ride both my old and new spd s with reg shoes once in a while, but as others have said, I wouldnt want to do it for long.

I had a pair of Welgo spd pedals gifted to me once, and lordy they were hard as hell to get into and out of, and the bearing mechanism really did feel cheap and natty, clearly not of the same quality of the shimanos--hence my prejudice towards Shimano.

rifraf

Riding an off road section where the going is very slow with perhaps rutty and large stoned terrain (technical) with loaded panniers is where I appreciate not being locked to my pedals and where I value the ability to be able to quickly put my foot down (to the ground) to save toppling to one side.
What can feel stable on the road can feel decidedly shaky when fully laden with perhaps my Extrawheel trailer behind me. Its easy going slow to become a little unbalanced and lose the inertia to keep forward momentum going when off the tarmac.
The ground seems to come up a lot faster when laden than unladen it feels like.
When on the tarmac I prefer to be clipped in, but appreciate the ability to make a dash to the shop for milk in my jandals/thongs
Urban Dictionary: jandal
Jandals | Kiwianarama

Bezalel

I have a set of A530s on my touring bike and for a short while had A520s on my road bike. The A520s were the hardest pedals for me to clip in.

Carbonfiberboy 

I like double-sided. So nice to just put your foot down and click in. The above commenters are correct: only the shoe's cleats are in contact with whatever SPD pedal. Modern bike shoe soles are so stiff that it doesn't matter, at least not at touring bike pedal forces. Yes, easy to pedal SPDs with regular shoes. One of our riders showed up to the group ride with just tennies, having forgotten his bike shoes. He did fine on the day's fast 60 mile ride. Would have been more comfortable in his bike shoes, no doubt. Pedal weight doesn't really matter: buy for durability.

Roadbikedude

A600's are a great commuter pedal. Good platform for the sole of the shoe. Toe clips are a no-no unless you like the vintage old school look. I found them to be harder to get into and out of then clipless.

veganbikes

I will say I like my A-530s quite well for commuting and touring. I have the PD-M785 (XT level trail pedal with cage) on my fixed gear and I do a decent amount of commuting on that and I like those and would happily use them for touring if I was using just cycling shoes.

I would never want to use toe clips for any reason unless they were the litle Bruce Gordon half moons. I want something I can easily get in and out of and strapped toe clips used properly cannot be gotten out of easily.

fietsbob

I consider that since they had to Move the cost of the High End parts Past what many are Willing to Pay , in order to have something for the Other folks

they geared up the Automated Manufacturing to make the lower cost ones in Higher Volume , removing the human work Costs.



FWIW I just have a different interpretation of the 'Used Properly'.. where I dont feel a need to ever reach down and tighten the straps , when touring ...

It's Not A Race, after all..