I am finally going to invest a few bucks in the kind of pedal with clipless on one side, and a platform on the other. Any good suggestions? I am currently looking at the standard Shimano PD-M324, which I'm sure is a solid bet, but I'm open to other options including quality/budget, if that exists!
Thanks.

Check out the Nashbar Highlander. My GF has the 324s, which are nice, but my Highlanders are more, ahem, manly.

Other than that, I like the Highlanders more because the platform is bigger than the 324s and pinned. Jeez, I guess that's manly sounding too.

I have these on my road bike: Shimano A530

They're nice but really more for if you'll be clipped in 95% of the time. I now sort of wish I went to a straight road pedal, but oh well. They were my first clipless and I was a bit intimidated... "You mean there's no platform??!"

My other bike (commuter/utility/bad weather/whatever) has the large BMX-style platforms with pins, and I don't think I'll ever bother with clipless on that bike - the current pedals just work too well.

Those Nasbar pedals look interested. Do you know if those are SPD? Site doesn't say.

I've used the 324's and like them. Those A530's are freaking expensive!

Yeah, I was actually looking at the Highlanders too. They look exactly like some Wellgo's that my friend has, but I can't find the Welllgo's so far.

Have you been happy with the quality of your Highlanders? I am skeptical on most Nashbar brand products because they tend to be on the el-cheapo side. I'm not dissing, just saying from experience.

No such thing as best, but personally, me and my bike like our Shimano M324s. They work fine for clicking in, or for when you want to take a short ride in sneaks or sandals.

Eh, they're $65 on ebay or other sites, which is pretty much what the m324s cost.

How far do you plan on riding without bike shoes?

I ride my 2 mile commute on eggbeater candies, usually without bike shoes unless the weather is really horrendous.

X2--I have them on mine---whileI go clipless 95% of the time, these are nice to have in the rare case that you just want to pedal with the old Converse Chuck Taylors...

TSC

+1

I have been told that one advantage of the 530s over the 324s is that the 530s will tend to come to rest with the platform side down, whereas the 324s will tend to come to rest with the SPD side down.

I've used clipless for touring, but for commuting in urban traffic, I very much prefer wide platforms with pins. Right now, I'm using Speedplay Drillium pedals, and I love them. They're as good as clipless in most situations, and you can wear whatever shoe you want, plus you don't have to mess with un-clipping and re-clipping-in at every intersection. IMO, clipless pedals are vastly overrated.

here's a good summary thread on clipless pedals

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/401343-clipless-pedal-spd-bebop-vs-rest.html

I agree with Bragi but that reasoning led me to Nashbar's Mini Toe Clips.

Platform pedals for any shoe, 90% the retention of clips or clipless, stop and go commuting and only SIX BUCKS!

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product..._200316_200409

They are indeed SPD.

Looking at pics of the A530s, the SPD isn't recessed into the pedal, sticking up more than their MTB clipless offerings. Not sure I'd like that...

The clip is just above the pedal axle, pretty much the same as the m324 and any MTB pedal I've seen. They look higher because the body curves to the platform side.

And yes, after breaking in the A530s will hang platform-down. Very easy to enter.

I use plain old R540s.