Shimano M520 clipless pedals for commuting... any good?
 

Anyone here use the Shimano M520 Clipless SPDs? They are quite affordable and so far reviews over at Amazon and REI seem +ve. Anyone used them before? I am a beginner thinking of going to SPDs.

I really like my Shimano PD-A530 pedals for commuting because sometimes I like to jump on the bike with regular shoes.

Probably one of the best values in clipless pedals around. They are a quality product that are much better than the off-brand mountain bike pedals. Look around for price, however. You can do better than REI or Amazon.

+1 another fan of the PD-A530s here

I've been commuting on Shimano M520 for about 4 years now.
I think they're good but I've never tried anything else, so I really
have nothing to compare them with. I ride in all kinds of weather,
sometimes I have to walk on the snow then ride my bike. I have
to remember to tap my cleats on the pedals first to clear the snow,
otherwise it's hard to click-in.

I've used the M520s on a daily basis for the past 6 months. No problems and I haven't had to make any adjustments to the clip tension at all. Good amount of float but not too much. I'd recommend them to someone interested in trying out clipless.

The SPD's are great pedal systems. But for simplicity's sake look into Crank Brothers Candy pedals too.

I have a set of Shimano PD-M324 Multi Purpose Pedals on my hybrid, and find they work out pretty well. These were my first experience with going clipless and the results have been very favorable. The M-324, as well as the Shimano PD-A530 have a platform pedal on one side and clipless on the other - pretty handy for short trips to the store, or if you don't feel like changing into bike shoes. I would definitely recommend giving clipless pedals a try. Just remember to practice clipping in or out in an empty parking lot or other place with minimal traffic until you get the hang of it. After you see how the whole system operates, it will become second nature to you, and won't be as initimidating as a lot of people think.

I use them. They're great for commuting. Easy entry and shoes you can walk in.

I use the 324s, and love them. By shopping around at places like Jensen, Performance, etc, they can be found on sale for $50.

As said before, two different sided is really handy, Shimano is easily rebuildable, and work very well.

Jensen USA has them on sale, right now, for $53.

I run the cheapie Shimano SPD's and they are great.

Yep... I ride the 520's! Good pedal.

Just bought mine. So far so good. I'm happy.

I run M520' on all of my bikes. Commute on them daily.
Inexpensive, durable, and not too bulky.
I have rode speedplay and eggbeaters also, but still sticking with the M520.

I first got a deal on a set of off-brand SPD clones; worked, but short-lived. Then I got a pair of 515's (several years ago); better action, and MUCH longer life! I still have them, and my daughter will be inheriting them!

I ride Time ATAC's now, and will never change, as long as I can get them. But if Time's weren't available, I'd run SPD's in a second!

Hes, I have M520s. They work fine. I bought mine on eBay for about $25, and have been using them for about 4 years.

Longevity-wise, I got my first pair around 2000. Still use them on a mountain bike. That's works out to about $5 per year.

+ like about 4

I think the two sideds are best for commuting. Use the clipped side with clipped shoes for the actual run into work and the platform side with hardsole shoes for running around town doing a few errands.

I've been running the M520's for a couple of years now and like them, but they are not that great for going any distance in regular shoes. I just got a new primary bike and put the 520's on it and bought some M524's for the older bike that are nice. Decent platform with the dual side clip fairly level with the edges so you get an even distribution on the pedal but still easy enough to clip in an out when wearing the cleats. The dual side is nice since you don't have to fiddle about when you clip in.

I'd only recommend the 520's for a bike that you would be riding more than 95% of the time with cleats, otherwise the 524's are a great versatile pedal for both cleats and regular shoes.

At REI i've seen the 520's for around $50, and the 524's I recently bought were $70. Shoes, you will be probably be starting at around $75 - $80.

I don't work for either Shimano or REI.

I wouldn't ride them AT ALL without cleats. Even with platforms, regular shoes can slip off, and that can be dangerous. I find M520s very easy to slip off of with regular shoes. I HAVE ridden them without cleats, but I wouldn't choose to if I had the choice.

Personally I don't see that much (really, any at all) improvement between cleats and platforms with toe clips, so I eventually just gave up and put the toe clips back on. It's just more convenient. I tried 2-sided platform/SPD but it was a pain getting the right side up.

The 520s are good and I've been using them for a while. Shop around and you can get them cheap to. From my source (www.merlincycles.co.uk) i can get a pair for slightly more than a pair of replacement cleats! It's the economics of madness!!!

There is one thing though. i've had one pair where the seals/bearings were not quite right. I thought the left hand M520 felt a bit suspect before I put it on but I wasn't too sure. Needless to say after about 50 miles the grease had spilled out the crank side and the bearings were dry. i got them replaced but it is worth giving them a wee spin to check the smoothness prior to putting them on your bike

They can be user serviced although you need the Shimano tool to get them apart. It's only few bucks if ordered through your LBS but it means that you can replace the bearings if you need to.

If your into looks the silver ones 'wear' better than the black ones.

REI has the m520 for $55 including cleats. Yay or Nay?

Sounds about the going rate.

If you want to make a deal I have these i'll let go for $30*** (i'll cover shipping if your in the states) including the cleats i'll pop off my shoes. Slightly worn, ~1200 miles on the pedals, more on the cleats but they are still in dece condition. Bearings still smooth and clips springs good.

http://members.cox.net/djparkr/m520.jpg

edit...

Just remembered the "pay it forward sticky", I don't need no bad voodoo doodoo kharma out on the road. You cover the shipping and there yours to enter into the clipless world.

As I said, I bought mine on eBay for about $25 with cleats. They were slightly used, but it was just a couple of scratches, no apparent wear at all.