Originally Posted by cyccommute

It's hard to beat Shimano M520 SPD pedals. Stupidly cheap (less than $25 from Nashbar) even at full retail (about $40). They are rugged and durable. The dual sides means that you clip in no matter where you put your feet.

I wouldn't suggest using the platform/SPD pedals, however. Especially not the A520. The 520 is very slick on the "platform" side and wet shoes tend to slip on them...sometimes painfully!

The M324 has a more stable platform but it increases the "fiddly" factor of getting into the pedals. You usually have to flip the pedal to clip in. The dual sided M520 is just there. If you don't want to clip in, just don't align your foot. Otherwise, put your foot on the pedal and you'll eventually be clipped.