Pedal choice help pls

pbracing

Hello all. I want to use my winter training bike as a general runaround too, instead of my mtb. I've currently got spd's on. I'm after something spd on one side with flat on the other, but with the provision to fit toe clips and straps.

Does such a thing exist? I can't find any up to now.
Cheers

robbarker

I have these on my fixie for the same reason:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Shim ... ls-708.htm

And they're fine. Serviceable too, so ideal for winter.

pbracing

Thanks for that. Hope I'm not being too fussy, but do they look big and clunky on a race bike?
After the minimalist spd's s'pose anything will look big.

markos1963

I use these on my winter/commuter bike and they are pretty good. Especially as my bike is a 80's racer so it fits in well with the look. I don't use clips/straps any more so I can't comment on that but using the spd's I haven't had any cornering problems with them even though they are quite tall.

doyler78

If you don't want something bulky the shimano a530 are much better looking:

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/7 ... er=froogle

pbracing

I like the look of those Doyler, cheers. Of course I've now realized the flaw in my plan. I can't have toe clips on the flat side cos they'll be hanging down and scraping when I use the spds. Doh!
The upside is I'll be able to use my overshoes with my trainers when it rains.
Job's a good un. Ta.

fatfreddy

there's a big difference between the M324s and the A530s - the M324s use mulit-release cleats, where as the A530s use single release. This might be important if it's your first experience of clipless.

I started with M324s and have now switched to the A530s for my commuter. Only drawback is that my shoes (non-cycling) slide around a bit on the non-spd side.

ff

alfablue

fatfreddy wrote:

there's a big difference between the M324s and the A530s - the M324s use mulit-release cleats, where as the A530s use single release. This might be important if it's your first experience of clipless.

I started with M324s and have now switched to the A530s for my commuter. Only drawback is that my shoes (non-cycling) slide around a bit on the non-spd side.

ff

Can they not use either cleat? Most Shimano pedals come with single release, and you by multi-release cleats as an accessory, I have found both types work fine on all the SPD's I have used.

I gave up with single sided pedals, I don't like the flipping, and I would rarely use non-bike shoes, but if I do I can still pedal quite happily for short shopping or pub trips.

doyler78

alfablue wrote:

fatfreddy wrote:

there's a big difference between the M324s and the A530s - the M324s use mulit-release cleats, where as the A530s use single release. This might be important if it's your first experience of clipless.

I started with M324s and have now switched to the A530s for my commuter. Only drawback is that my shoes (non-cycling) slide around a bit on the non-spd side.

ff

Can they not use either cleat? Most Shimano pedals come with single release, and you by multi-release cleats as an accessory, I have found both types work fine on all the SPD's I have used.

I gave up with single sided pedals, I don't like the flipping, and I would rarely use non-bike shoes, but if I do I can still pedal quite happily for short shopping or pub trips.

They can indeed. There are 2 versions of the multi-release SH-55 & SH-56 and as far as I can remember it only could use one of those. All I know is that my cleats were fine when I swapped pedals this way and they were multi-release. I now have gone spd-sl so don't use either now.

I would agree that the m324 has a better platform for cycling in ordinary footwear however the a530 is plenty stable enough for a quick tootle down to the shop. It's not designed for you to do a long ride exclusively on it. The m324 can be used to travel long distances very effectively on the platform only. I've done 100km @ average speed of 16mph so I would disagree with those that say you can't use any flat pedal safely for long rides. I managed it for 3 years before I changed over to spd-sl exclusively - not that my knees thank me for it

fatfreddy

OK folks - I pedal corrected.

ff

pbracing

mmm. More food for thought. As well as a quick mile run into the village, I'll also use them for a 12 mile return trip to town regularly, and don't want to walk around in my spd shoes, but also don't want to carry another pair of shoes for walking in.

Do you guys think then that the m324's will give a better platform for trainers? Don't fancy shinning myself in the middle of a traffic light beating sprint :shock:
Cheers for the comments.

alfablue

I think the best bet is to get some SPD shoes that yo are happy to walk about in, there are plenty of more casual designs (specialized Soma for example). I am happy to walk abot all day in my Specialized Taho's and Shimano MT90's. I would never fancy riding in trainers, soles are soft and power-sapping.

Wappygixer

I use spd's with those plastic platforms clipped into one side just for cycling to work in my trainiers
Then at weekends I can remove them and have both sides available to clip into

Rhods

Sorry if this might seem as if i'm hijacking the thread but where do you get the plastic clips to make an spd a platform, what are they called, and which spd pedals do they fit on.

Am in a similar situation to the OP and was considering A530s but this may also be an option.

Thanks

Wappygixer

They fit all mtb spd's but not sure about the older road style.
I've looked on wiggle and crc but they don't sell them
They are available here if you have a Decathlon store near you http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/mtb-cages-3885152/

pbracing

Think we have a winner. Thanks Wappygixer the plastic platforms will do nicely. I can't justify another pair of shoes as Ive got spd-sl's as well for my No.1 bike.

Thanks to all who posted on this, much appreciated.

doyler78

pbracing wrote:

Think we have a winner. Thanks Wappygixer the plastic platforms will do nicely. I can't justify another pair of shoes as Ive got spd-sl's as well for my No.1 bike.

Thanks to all who posted on this, much appreciated.

Those platforms, which guess what, I have used as well and they are fine however they can be extremely difficult to get off once you have them clipped in. Takes a fair amount of force so if your current spd's are single sided then bare this in mind. If you are double sided then you have no worries. Just watch it in the wet as they can be a bit slippy but only if you really try and put a sudden burst force through them in the wet so if you are in the wet just increase speed slowly.

pbracing

Spd's are double sided. Point about the wet noted, ta.

It's funny lots of folk write about being nervous of using clipless pedals for the first time. I've used them for that long now that I feel a bit odd at the thought of riding a road bike not clipped in.

doyler78

pbracing wrote:

Spd's are double sided. Point about the wet noted, ta.

It's funny lots of folk write about being nervous of using clipless pedals for the first time. I've used them for that long now that I feel a bit odd at the thought of riding a road bike not clipped in.

Cool your flying then. Yeah I got rid of my platform versions and now run spd-sl on all my bikes and it is a bit a strange riding around on the odd ocassion on the top the pedal. Just wait until you come to a stop you'll be twisting to try and get out of the platform :oops: force of habit.

Wappygixer

I find them easy to get on and off.The answer is to use a 3mm allen key to prise the spring clip back.
If you just try to unclip like a shoe you will wear them big time.
Use the allen key to fit them to don't mess about changing spring tension

rally200

I have the the m324s on my commuter they are excellent. not problem filpping them (and anyway whichever side you hit there'll be enough surface to pedal on). The cage grip is excellent on all shoes (except strangely my shimano mt41s which slide right off wet or dry).

I put them on my Allez for a brief period and they did look a bit clunky - now changed to a520s which I've yet to try on a decent run but am hoping will give a better platform than standard spd's.

Merlin do the 324 very cheap