M 520 or M 540 Pedals
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,498
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From: Henderson/Las Vegas NV
Bikes: Giant Defy 2
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
From: Henderson/Las Vegas NV
Bikes: Giant Defy 2
https://www.rei.com/product/810725/pe...ike-shoes-mens
After I get in some hiking today I'll ride the motorcycle over to REI and pick up a couple stealth blinkies I ordered last week. My guess is that's not all I'll walk out with.
Tomorrow I ride that River Mountain Trail. GREAT weather for the 3 day weekend.
BTW, I ride Wellpro BMX pedals on my commuter.
#28
Dirt junkie.

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 406
Likes: 6
From: Minneapolis
Bikes: Surly Ice Cream Truck, Peacock Groove road bikem, Salsa Fargo
I've had a set for 4 years now and have used them on and off on commuting bikes. I like them. If you want to take the bike out w/o cycling shoes you can, but if you want the clipped in speed you can do that as well. Good winter pedals as well.
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,498
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From: Henderson/Las Vegas NV
Bikes: Giant Defy 2
That sounded bad on my part. What I was referencing is the never ending pain in the ass of hunting the side of the pedal you want to use.
#30
The A530s hang with the mechanism side toward the back after they're broken in. To click in push the top of the pedal forward and down with the toe of your shoe. Works almost all the time. Once you've practiced it a bit, it becomes 2nd nature.
And if you do end up on the wrong side of the pedal? Big deal. Pedal on until it's convenient to flip them.
#31
A couple thousand miles is not much of a test. I would hope any quality pedal would be still considered new at 2000 miles. I still have some of the original spds that were used for at least 20,000 miles of muddy mountain biking and racing. They were then used for a 4200+ mile tour a couple other 1000-ish mile tours and a lot of general riding. They needed to be taken apart and repacked/adjusted at that point, but are still going strong.
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Pete in Tallahassee
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Pete in Tallahassee
Check out my profile, articles, and trip journals at:
https:/www.crazyguyonabike.com/staehpj1
#32
Guest
Posts: n/a
No need to hunt.
The A530s hang with the mechanism side toward the back after they're broken in. To click in push the top of the pedal forward and down with the toe of your shoe. Works almost all the time. Once you've practiced it a bit, it becomes 2nd nature.
And if you do end up on the wrong side of the pedal? Big deal. Pedal on until it's convenient to flip them.
The A530s hang with the mechanism side toward the back after they're broken in. To click in push the top of the pedal forward and down with the toe of your shoe. Works almost all the time. Once you've practiced it a bit, it becomes 2nd nature.
And if you do end up on the wrong side of the pedal? Big deal. Pedal on until it's convenient to flip them.
Last edited by brandini; 06-05-12 at 10:55 AM.
#34
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 600
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Bikes: All-City Space Horse!
I went with the M324 which looks more like a conventional pedal with platform on one side and SPD on other. So far so good. Just put them on last week.
#35
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 84
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Bikes: Trek 1000
I know it's a bit late but I would recommend A520 pedals, too. Those are what I have. It's single sided cleat, but the alloy frame makes it easy for "test rides" when you have to tweak something like a derailleur and you have street shoes on.
#36
George Krpan
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 1
From: Westlake Village, California
Eggbeater pedals are notorious for breaking. I bought a bike that came with Eggbeater Candy C pedals and the pedal spindle broke in less than 1000 miles.
I investigated on the Internet and I'm not the only one.
The M520 has been my main pedal for years and years. A great pedal.
I have have some A530s but they are not as nice to use. I only ride clipless. The A530s are kinda' bulky and it's easier to hit you leg on them.
The M520s are not bad to ride with non-SPD shoes if you're not going far.
I investigated on the Internet and I'm not the only one.
The M520 has been my main pedal for years and years. A great pedal.
I have have some A530s but they are not as nice to use. I only ride clipless. The A530s are kinda' bulky and it's easier to hit you leg on them.
The M520s are not bad to ride with non-SPD shoes if you're not going far.
#38
No need to hunt.
The A530s hang with the mechanism side toward the back after they're broken in. To click in push the top of the pedal forward and down with the toe of your shoe. Works almost all the time. Once you've practiced it a bit, it becomes 2nd nature.
And if you do end up on the wrong side of the pedal? Big deal. Pedal on until it's convenient to flip them.
The A530s hang with the mechanism side toward the back after they're broken in. To click in push the top of the pedal forward and down with the toe of your shoe. Works almost all the time. Once you've practiced it a bit, it becomes 2nd nature.
And if you do end up on the wrong side of the pedal? Big deal. Pedal on until it's convenient to flip them.
+1 I've never had a problem with "wrong side". Aside from being able to run to the store in any shoes I like switching one foot to the platform in stop and go traffic. When traffic clears up you can switch the pedal and be clipped in without looking down.
#39
I get the impression a lot of people are not aware that for 2012 Shimano introduced a full line of "All-Mountain" pedals which are all double-sided, and have a perimeter structure:
PD-M985 https://www.shimano.com/publish/conte..._mountain.html
PD-M647 https://www.shimano.com/publish/conte..._mountain.html
PD-M424 https://www.shimano.com/publish/conte..._mountain.html
PD-M785 https://www.shimano.com/publish/conte..._mountain.html
PD-M545 https://www.shimano.com/publish/conte..._mountain.html
PD-M530 https://www.shimano.com/publish/conte..._mountain.html
PD-M985 https://www.shimano.com/publish/conte..._mountain.html
PD-M647 https://www.shimano.com/publish/conte..._mountain.html
PD-M424 https://www.shimano.com/publish/conte..._mountain.html
PD-M785 https://www.shimano.com/publish/conte..._mountain.html
PD-M545 https://www.shimano.com/publish/conte..._mountain.html
PD-M530 https://www.shimano.com/publish/conte..._mountain.html
#40
Guest
Posts: n/a
I just got my a530s yesterday, and if you're pedaling with regular shoes on the clip side it isn't terribly comfortable, but it'll definitely give you time to get going to flip the pedal (so the M530 would be bad unless in clipless shoes). I wouldn't recommend it for longer than a block.
#41
I just put on a set of pd-m324's 4 days ago with some MTB clipless shoes. I love that the m324's have a bigger pedal side because it definitely helps out in some of the more technical areas of my group ride (only did the ride once with the shoes and pedals so far and it was great!) Dont have to worry about missing the pedal or the cleat sliding off






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