pbass

I have been perusing threads here where these pedals are discussed, but I'd just like to inquire with folks who have tried both: between these two pedals, is one more prone to a certain side (platform or clip side) coming face up consistently, i.e. is weighted such that a certain side usually ends up on top?

hamster

I don't know about A530, but M324 tends to end up vertically. The heaviest piece is the rear clamp of the SPD cleat and it tends to end up at the bottom.

pbass

Interesting--thanks. So there is some degree of consistency to how it ends up. I don't really care how it lands, but would be nice to think it's somewhat predictable. A guy at a bike shop who was trying to talk me out of them was saying they just flop around totally randomly. FWIW, I use platforms and straps currently, so I'm used to flipping the pedal over to slip into the strap side, as obviously it always ends up with the strap hanging down, I know where it is without having to fiddle. That's what I'm curious about with these pedals--which is the least "fiddly"

hamster

There's always some unpredictability with asymmetric pedals. M324's center of gravity isn't all that off-center, so it can stop in different positions.

Unless it is a hard requirement to have a platform side for use with sneakers, I'd skip both of these and get M540's, or, better yet, eggbeaters.

pbass

Yeah, for now I've got just the one bike, and I like to be able to use it on casual rides with the family and just wear sneaks. But for my fitness rides I'd like to try clipping in. I've been generally happy with the platforms/straps but I have the itch to try clipless.

cgreenoh

I ran the A530's. I never really saw a deep consistency on which side came up... often they would come up on their side with the flat (non clip) facing forward which made it slightly awkward to clip into but manageable. When trying to ride the flats I would get annoyed that I almost always had to flip them every time I stopped to get the flat facing up... annoying if you have to start/stop a lot. They were new and well greased.

Frankly, I got rid of them quickly because they just weren't great pedals at either job. They were bad pedals for the flats, I was highly annoyed because they slipped like heck even on dry soles and offered almost no forward pressure (you'll slip off them trying to press forward). This was the most annoying. With a flat pedal that has some traction I find that I can press a little forward while I press down, creating a bit of that forward pressure that helps make a flat pedal slightly more efficient without being clipped/strapped in. You cannot do this with these pedals, so I always felt like I was just mashing down. They just weren't great pedals to clip into, either. I was always fiddling with them to get them in the right spot.

Now, it's worth noting, I'm kind of a more serious rider than most, I think. I like to be efficient, even on my daily commute (which I now do on $15 well-tractioned flat pedals, no clips/straps because I do not want to clip in all the time). My wife now has the A530's on her road bike, she much more casually rides once a week or so for ~10 miles and has no complaints other than the occasional gripe that they don't come up in an easy position and she has to fiddle to get them in the right spot.

ArizonaAdam

The 324s are totally random. Mine, if anything, tend to come up perpendicular to the ground.

ThermionicScott 

Of those two, I've only used the M324's and it got to be really annoying to have the wrong side come up half the time. Just get some comfortable SPD shoes and some 520/540 pedals, and you won't have to worry about which side of the pedal comes up.

bleui

I'm using A530 for about 6 months now, and the cleat side always ends up at the top, the platform side is heavier

Machka 

I have the M324s on most of my bicycles ... and I've never found them "fiddly". I've always found them very simple and easy to use.


I grew up using platforms with toe clips and straps (possibly why I find the M324s so simple and easy to use), and then switched to clipless pedals. Clipless pedals were OK, but I never really liked them, so when I discovered the M324s, they were the perfect solution.

There's only one thing which might make them better ... but it doesn't exist.


(I've never tried the A530s)

znomit

Have both. Generally they end up vertical with the flat side forward.
No problems clipping in with either.

I did buy a set of used/abused beat up 324s that were fairly random once.

Drago1010

I also use both (A530 on my road bike and M24 on my hybrid) and find the same positioning. No problems clipping in. I commute daily (road bike in spring/summer/early fall, Hybrid the rest of the time) and start & stop a lot. No issues.

pbass

Thanks for all the replies folks. I may lean towards the 324 simply because it looks like a grippier platform, and I will be doing enough riding in casual shoes to warrant that.

AdelaaR

I've got A530's on my hybrid and like them very much.
They're easy to clip into as the clip side likes to point almost up.
Don't use the platform side in the rain or mud, though.
They're less grippy than the M324's, but they're lighter.
For normal riding the A530's are fine though ... I haven't slipped of them yet when riding with my family.
Whenever you want to do some heavier biking ... use the SPD's.

ragnar.jensen 

My M324s do the same.