Want spd/flat pedal. Which one? Specific needs
 

I'm a roadie at heart. I ride SPD-SLs all the time. I love clipless pedals. Clipping isn't an issue.
I also have 2 sided SPDs on my current commuter bike. I'm getting a new bike to use as a commuter I'd like to
1. have nice SPDs that clip in I'll use a lot
2. be able to ride it to the store without putting on special shoes if I want to

Shimano 540? 530? 520? M324? Help me!

EDIT: I have shoes with recessed spd cleats I can walk in that I'd like to keep using, if that matters.

I have the A530s and are pretty happy with them. The "platform" side is not the grippiest so it would be a good idea to make sure you have your SPD shoes if it's going to rain.

They have a little bit more of a roadie look to them than some of the other platform/SPD combo pedals you see.

I used M-520s for quite a while and liked them. They're highly adjustable, reliable, easy to maintain, and do allow you to wear shoes with recessed cleats. They have clips on both sides so they don't have a platform side, but if your non-biking shoes are stiff-soled (e.g., hiking boots) you can do it for a short while no problem.

I also tried the ones with a platform on one side and a clip on the other (A-530?) and I hated them. The side with the clip is heavier than the platform side, so if you want to ride with clips, you're constantly having to flip the pedal over with your toe before you can clip in. For me, it was almost as annoying as using old-fashioned toe clips. If you mostly like to ride while clipped in, it's probably more convenient to just go with pedals that have clips on two sides.

Get the inexpensive M-520s and don't look back. I've seen other posts like bragi's that complain that the weight keeps the platform side up. I have 520s on all my road bikes.

I run M324's on my Surly and have been happy with them. The platform side is much more like a traditional platform with plenty of grip.

They don't look very aggressive, so if you are looking for a sleek aero appearance these are not the pedals for you. I went from traditional SPD-SL pedals, and it took a little getting used to (i have to flip the pedal every once in a while to get the correct side up).

I have a friend who runs A-530's on his commuter and he put grip tape on the platform side and I really like them, but I'm not going to upgrade when my M324s are working fine.

I have two sets of the PD A520, and they work great with Keen recessed shoes. I also have the PD M520 on a bike I ride in the city and they work well too.

Nashbar has a copy of the A530's that is a bit cheaper.

I am happy with my Performance's Forte Campus pedal.

NASH-FORMANCE are Welgo.
with a big enough order the company logos them for importers

I also like these. I targeted them out of hope I could ride the flat side barefoot but haven't tested it yet.

I have not had perfect luck getting shimano cleats into nashbar pedals.

I don't like A530 pedals. They clear on cornering better but the pedal just isn't wide enough and I can feel the outside of my foot is unsupported. Regular M324 or Wellgo copies fit wide shoes/boots better. I used both in a coastal situation where corrosion and salt air is common, the chromed spring on the A530 blossomed into a rusty mess whereas the oil covered steel spring on the M324 didn't.

I have those on my tandem, but also have their MTX pedals, which have a broader platform and grippy pins on the platform side. Good for a bike that will get more often ridden in sneakers.

As previously mentioned these Perfromance/Nashbar house brand pedals are rebranded Wellgos.

Bene Sugg: Look for Welgo cleats instead..

Crank Brothers Mallet will work .. maybe now they added grip pins
so a leather sole shoe may , sponge-sole trainers certainly.. work

I'd say get yourself some problem solvers decksters. I just got a pair, but haven't tried them out yet. Basically they're platforms that clip in to your spd pedal to make it like an A530 or whatever for when you want to ride with normal shoes, but then you just take it off when you don't want it on there and it's just your normal M520 or whatever you're using with clipless on both sides.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=249415http://problemsolversbike.com/images...11-390x390.png

I bought a pair of Shimano PD-M424 years ago for mountain biking but I absolutely love them on my commuter. The small cage is sufficient for short rides around town (even with sandals on they have worked fine) and the dual sided SPD is also nice so you do not need to flip the pedal each time you stop at a traffic light

The problem with these is that you can't attach clips/straps.

I have the M324 with Power Grip straps. The weight of the strap keeps the clip facing up normally but it's easy to flip over.

I was looking for a pair of the Shimano inserts like those, but they are not commonly available. The price of those is nearly what a pair of Perfromance Campus pedals goes for on sale. Are the decksters metal or resin? If metal, they may be worth the cost to have them around.

The decksters are metal. I'd also looked at the shimano resin ones, but their lack of durability was an issue for me. The problem with the deckster is you have to buy cleats separately, so you're out $30-40 for a setup with no pedal. I'd thought about going with the A530 or the nashbar knockoff of it for ~$30, but the amount of times I want to use the platform is so low that I didn't want to have only one side with clipless for only those few times (now if the platform of the A530 was enough that the backside of it would make a broader platform for the clipless side, I would have considered it). Given that I really only want to go without riding shoes once a month or so, I had just considered taking the cheap resin mtb cages off my platform pedals and putting them back on every time I wanted to do it, but then decided to splurge on these, in part because I wanted to try the multi-release spd cleats, so the singe release cleats that came with the pedals went from my shoes to the deckster and the new multi-release cleats went on my shoes.

I have these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o00_s02_i00

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg

I've been very happy with them - they're my first clipless pedals, and I have no problems getting the side I want. I've ridden them in all weather, the platform side is very sturdy.

I kinda like it. ' might try it out since I got Shimano dual entry pedals on some of my bikes.

Two problems with these:

- You either have to remember where you put them last or keep them on the bike

- You'll likely have to adjust the height of your saddle to use them.

Yeah, I knew this was going to be an issue going in. I think I know where they are right now, but not sure it'll stay that way. Will have to work on my organization.
Didn't consider this, but since my main use for them will be quick runs to the store or other short rides with the family to places I won't want to wear cycling shoes (which probably means I also won't want to arrive sweaty) I envision them mainly for rides under say 3 miles at a more or less relaxed pace so I'm not sure if having a too short of a seatpost will be that much of a problem. Definitely something to keep in mind though.

Sorry for the resurrection.

Do you notice them dragging on the ground much? Would it be easy/useful to strap the slack power-grips to the pedal so they don't drag when wearing your SPD shoes? What bike do you have them on?

I was thinking of a similar setup for touring but was worried about those issues.