I'm looking for new pedals for my crosscheck, which i will be using for everything from randoneering to commuting to trails to going to the bar. I need to use them with both clipless bike shoes and whatever else i decide to put on -- like flip flops, loafers, hiking boots. So I want a platform on one side, and the clippie things on the other -- or possibly both on both sides, if that's possible. I've looked at a few, but I'd like more input. I've seen the Shimano M324, the Mallet from crank brothers, and another dual-use Shimano pedal.
Any help would be appreciated.

I use Shimano PD-A530 pedals which work with SPD cleats, or with sneakers. They work nicely for my commute (which I do in cleats), or for just jumping on the bike in street clothes and going down the block for lunch.

crank brothers mallet/acid

I'm a big fan of the eggbeaters (or anything crank bros), so I imagine that the mallet would be just as good with the eggbeater in the middle.

I would advise against the mallet. The platform is not meant to be ridden on with out clipless shoes on. The mechanism sticks out and noticably digs into your foot. A lot of people like both of the shimano versions, I doubt you could go wrong with either one.

Yep. I've got A530's on my commuter and they're fine, though I don't actually use the platform side much at all. Generally if I'm going somewhere I much prefer to just throw on the cycling shoes.

I'll make the wildcard suggestion: forget pedals that need special shoes and go for BMX pedals. They stick to your feet like glue, give lots more position options, and not even clipless compares to the ease of getting your feet in and out. I'd use them if I ever did courier work again.

As the article on them at Rivendell bikes says, use of clipless pedals is based on something we now ***know*** to be a myth - the idea that good riders can use them to pull up as well as push down. Why keep spending money on something that makes a bike more of a pain to use when the reason we though we had has gone?

Link:

https://www.rivbike.com/article/clothing/the_shoes_ruse

Plus you could add Powergrips or Feetbelts. (Google 'em.)

That article is flawed from the get-go. Here's a quote from it:

Clipless is cool if it's for you, and if it's not it doesn't really matter. But if the benefits of foot retention are such a myth, then why a) acknowledge them explicitly in your article and b) sell so many bikes with uncomfortable and inconvenient toe clips/straps?

Edited to add: BMX pedals are actually pretty nice. I had a set on my commuter and they worked well, but I found I can spin much more effectively at high cadences with foot retention. Sure "pulling up" may not be true, but I found I unload my pedals on the upstroke enough that my feet would slip forward or back on the pedal at high cadences. As usual, your mileage may vary.

I suggest the Performance Campus pedals, a clone of the Shimano M324, and a bargain at $35.

In my experience, these are of a very high quality and attractive appearance. Good bearings, solidly built cages, can be removed with either 8mm hex or pedal wrench, fully interchangeable with standard SPD cleats. Very comfortable to ride either clipless or in street shoes. Ideal for my commuting needs.

I have also used the Nashbar Rodeo pedals, which were a steal for $12 when I got them, but I would not recommend them generally. Despite the fact that Nashbar and Performance are the same company now, the Nashbar pedals are totally different. The Nashbar bearings came way overtightened, and the Nashbar pedals are uglier and the cages easy to scratch... they worked fine once the bearings were loosened though.

Anyway, I don't think you can go wrong with the Performance Campus. Its quality is as good as the M324 pedals, in my opinion.

EDIT: In years of commuting, I have found clipless pedals to have significant advantages. Partly it is due to the stiff shoes used with them, but I find they almost keep my feet more securely on the pedals in slow-and-go traffic, help me go faster on uphill sections, and improve my riding posture. All of which results in a net boost in speed and reduction of effort.

That is an absolutely ******** article.

While true that you're not going to generate much power from pulling up on the pedals, the point is to unload that pedal as much as possible to maximize efficiency. The article mentions this, and then completely goes off the rails.

When unloading said pedal on normal platforms, there is a fine line between unloading it and lifting your foot off of it, leading to a spectacularly hilarious and tragic accident when you miss putting your foot back on it at speed. This is the reason for the evolution from platforms -> toe clips -> clipless. Each of these represents a step toward more foot retention and away from less, and the article completely misses the fact that if there was no point to retention, and it led to people having a bad time and doing more poorly at races, it would have never been invented or gathered as much popularity as it has.

You seem to be easily confused: the article says that clipless have advantages, defines them, and then suggests that for most riders - who aren't daily racoon hoppers or uphill sprinters - these benefits aren't that relevant. This called "balance". Most people don't consider it a flaw.

Because some benefits are myths and others aren't; Elron - sorry, Gary Petersom - discussed both in his article.

I'd hazard that "Customers want them" is the answer. People who buy steel **lugged** bikes tend to be traditionalists. But Peterson's best advice for commuter type riding would seem to be to use BMX pedals.

Well, yes, ymmv. But this is commuting and a Crosscheck with flipflops, not the TDF and an $8000 17lb carbon bike. BMX pedals are cheap to try - the OP can buy a pair slightly used on ebay and re-sell them if he doesn't like them. And for flops, crocs, and hiking boots, big BMX pedals are the perfect match. Worth considering, I'd suggest. And I wouldn't hesitate before using them for any offroading that didn't involve jumping, or on a rando or tour. In fact they'd be my first choice for long distance - they hold the foot securely, but let you change position.

I use these also...... I was too cheap to get the shimano....but this style spd on on side and platform on the other is just great........

I use the clipless on commutes and longer rides and just throw my leg over the saddle with whatever is on my feet for errands and short rides.

I second the BMX pedal vote- I feel a lot safer with no clips or straps on my feet, and would never ride with them in the city again.

For my first experience with clipless I went with the Shimano M324. The price was right (becauase I wasn't sure if I'd like being clipped in or not) and they looked like I could use them as clipless or platform. They are great as clipless as they have shown me that I like being clipped to my bike. As far as using them as platform pedals, they are only OK. By that I mean you can use them, but the clip mechanism does stick up. With hard soled shoes this probably wouldn't matter but I usually wear Chuck Taylors when I'm knocking around and can feel the mechanism through the bottoms of these shoes. It isn't bad because they seem to feel natural after a minute or two on the bike, but the first few times out it was annoying. I'd be reluctant to go any long distances in regular shoes, however.

If you can spare the money and are looking for some versitility go with the the Shimano PD-A530 or something similar.

You state that we "know" that no one pulls up on the pedals, and then the article you posted states that in some conditions people can use foot retention to pull up on the pedals. Hmm, who's easily confused?

So in your daily riding, you don't:

ride in slippery conditions
sprint
hop the bike
climb

I'd venture that most people in this forum do these pretty regularly.

It's silly to imply the benefits of clipless being a myth and then recommend alternate means of foot retention to achieve the same benefits.

The clipless mechanism sticks through onto the platform side?? I have tried Shimano M324's and did not have that problem... with the Performance Campus and Nashbar Rodeo pedals it's certainly not an issue.

Those do look intriguing! They're basically SPDs on one side with very large platforms on the other. Hmmm...

Yeah, I definitely do all of these sometimes/often when commuting. And even beyond that, I just find that clipless pedals allow me to hold my feet in a more comfortable and efficient position since I don't have to worry about front-to-back motion of my feet.

crank brothers candy get my vote

Another vote for BMX: Shimano PD-MX30

Anyone tried Pyramid clipless/platform pedals? Price is even better than the Performance Campus ones and the reviews seem good but I'm in the same boat as the OP and I'd like to try something on my commute too.

https://www.amazon.com/Pyramid-Bicycl...d=Z0137MEYPVYA

I like the idea of a rubber grip on the platform side. Clever, but not sure how durable it is. And from the photos, it appears that the cage is forged/welded to the body of the pedal, which ought to be very strong. Looks nice. Any idea about how good the bearings are on these things?

That being said, the Performance Campus pedals are about $30 with the current 15% discount code, more aesthetically pleasing in my opinion, and you can use an ordinary 8mm hex wrench to install/remove them. Hard to beat that, but these Pyramid pedals look good too if the quality is there.

That study was picked apart on this forum a few months ago. It's not very clear exactly how or what conditions they were testing under.

I can tell you from my own experience that I do pull back and up but that I don't do it automatically or all the time. When riding in my cleated shoes sockless one day I nearly pulled my right foot clear out of the shoe. I also have had some weird moments on platforms since I've gotten used to clipless. When I try to pull up my foot comes off the pedal instead of pulling the pedal up with it.

I do agree with the study in that it's entirely possible to use clipless pedals and see little or no benefit from them. For me the most frequent benefit comes while I'm standing, -which I often do starting out or when climbing hills.

As for Powergrips, I used them for a couple of years and you can get some of the same benefits for a cheaper price but they have their downsides as well. Since the goal of the OP is to be able to use a variety of footwear, Powergrips may not be the best choice because you need a tool to adjust them.

I also have the A530s. They work pretty much as I expected they would with no unpleasant surprises. The platform side isn't toothy like a cage type pedal would be and that has made me worry that they may be slippery when wet. It hasn't been a problem in the couple months I've owned them. The worry is still lurking there for some reason even though I've ridden in the rain with them several times.

During the 1st month I didn't use the platform side at all which made me wonder if I should have just gone ahead and gotten a dual sided pedal. In the last month however there's been several instances that having platforms on one side has been handy.

When the subject of pedals comes up you'll usually find people whole heartedly recommending this pedal or that. While I can't really think of any faults with the A530, I'm not in love with the pedal either. Maybe it's just the compromise nature of having a platform on one side and a clipless mechanism on the other.

Then how can you "pick apart" the study? Did you mail Peterson asking for the reference?

Between Peterson's opinion of a study he has actually seen, and your opinion of one you can't identify... I'll take Petersons.

No, you can't tell me that. You can tell what you *think* you do, which is something different.

Good point. Although I suspect one size would fit all the shoes - this is just one guy - except the hiking boots.

Time ATAC Aliums have been bulletproof all around pedals, for me. Commute and race XC in one day, no problem.