so, i'm currently getting into cycling. i've put ~500mi on my dad's old cannondale ST500 with clip pedals but am planning on getting a new bike this fall/winter when prices drop. in the meantime, i'm starting to do long enough rides (~45mi) that my workout shoes in the pedals start to hurt by the end so i'd like to get a clipless system now and have the time to get used to it on this bike before i change out. at this point, i love every possibility in cycling- club rides, century and maybe longer, races. i'd love to work my way into all of these things.
i know it's a naive question but is there a pedal system that will be adequate for all of the above (vs buying separate pedals)? [the follow up question would be is there a bike that will manage all of these in reasonable fashion but i'll save that as i still need to do some searching on my own, all the while assuming a "No" i probably need a fair amount of float as my knees are a bit shaky at times and like the idea that you can actually walk around in SPD cleats. any advice or thread suggestions is great. Thanks!

I use these on all my bicycles ... road, touring, etc.

Shimano PDM324 Multi-Purpose Mountain Pedals
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...60_-1___202530


And as for bicycles, if you're thinking of club rides, centuries, and other long distance riding ... think Sport Touring. But go have a look at the Long Distance forum. There's a Your Century Bicycle(s) thread in that forum which might give you some ideas.

To be candid, any good clipless pedal can be used in what you describe. Sure, roadies will look down on SPDs or eggbeaters, but you can ride and even race with them.

I can't ever imagine why anyone would want something other than Speedplay's

There are some disadvantages to having a dual sided pedal, and that is it takes a bit longer to clip in (or put your foot on the platform), since you have to constantly flip it to the correct side. At least for me, I always ride with clip less pedals, so it would not be worth having the dual sided pedals. You might quickly realize the same thing. I did have a friend ride my hybrid recently, and it only took about 2 minutes to switch him to platform pedals. I don't want to convince you that dual sided pedals are bad, but they do have downsides.

As for the bike, touring bikes work great. Cyclecross bikes would work as well. For longer rides a bike with a endurance (relaxed) geometry works as well. I recently bought a felt Z85, which I love. Other similar bikes are the Cannondale Synapse, and Trek Domane. All these bikes have 25 mm tires, and a way to absorb a bit of road vibrations.

The Domane is nice in the sense that it has fender mounts as well. You could mount some fenders, find a way to mount a rack, and have a nice bike for a century to bravet. Then take that off, and use it in a race the next weekend. As with everything, Jack of all trades, master of none, but compromises can be made.

What? The point of dual sided pedals, such as Speedplay or MTB pedals is that you don't have to flip it over to clip in.

My thoughts exactly. the SPD-SL and Look style pedals require turning them the right orientation. Speedplay, SPD and eggbeaters simply require correct location and sometimes shifting your foot forward a bit.

Except the majority of the pro-peloton that use SPD-SL and Look.

Sorry I meant dual use pedals, as in one side is SPD, the other side is platform. On those you would have to flip to the correct side depending on the shoes you have on.

Pros use what their sponsors pay them to use. I pay no attention to what the pros use.

Not sure about look pedals but SPD-SL pedals are weighted so they hang in the best position to clip in. You don't have to flip them very often once you get accustomed to them.

Not only is it what the sponsors provide and pay them for but this as well.
A pro clips in one time in order to do his entire days ride (unless he has problems). We how ever are not as lucky. I don't have a guy who gets me new water bottles everytime mine run dry. I can't grab a lunch on the fly from someone standing on the side of the road with a bag with my name on it. I can't just ride through every intersection all day long because they are closed to car traffic. When my friends and I get separated we don't just ride for hours not caring if they ever catch up.

In other words we have to clip in and out many times, maybe even more so on supported rides. I might even like the SPD's I took off my bike if I only had to get into them one time per day. In the mean time I'll stick with my no look, no fuss Speedplays.

I'm running candies and Keen sandals...
Love'm em!

https://www.crankbrothers.com/pedals_candy.php
https://www.keenfootwear.com/us/en/pr...20pedal/shadow

When the bearings aren't too tight single sided pedals always hang in the same position. When I ran single sided Ultegra PD-6500 and Ritchey SPD (not SPD-SL) pedals they'd hang with the heavier rear moving clamp + spring assembly on the bottom, I just stuck the nose of the cleat in and everything quickly rotated into position the same every time.

Double sided pedals like my Bebops are inherently balanced so there can be some variation in their orientation when you stop at a traffic light or sign so they're sometimes slower to engage. Not enough to be problematic like you're going to get run-over starting on a hill but noticeable.

I'd guess 4-sided Crank Brothers Egg Beaters are the engineering solution to that but have never tried them.

As far as I'm concerned multi-sided clipless pedals' only real advantage is the replicated wear surfaces which should make significant improvements in pedal lifetime with cleats made of metal so the required strength fits in a package small enough to recess in shoe soles.

Obviously a metal single sided "road" pedal receiving a big plastic cleat could last pretty much forever rendering that a non-issue.

Yes, but to say why using anything other than Speedplays is stupid, is stupid.

And I shall stay with my no-look, no fuss Shimano SPD-SLs.

Evidently you've never used toe clips. I grew up using toe clips and you've always got to flip the pedal to slide your foot in. It's a quick, easy, and very natural movement.

Going to dual pedals (platform on one side, and SPD on the other) was equally as quick, easy and very natural.

Agreed. I like Speedplay but everyone should use what works for them.

well I do ride SPD-SL and I suppose I really mean there is an angle of attack which is required to clip in smoothly. I touch my toe and then slide forward, but on my MTB I just mash them in and they lock in...