Pedals - best of both? or not?

chris_bass

Hi

I have just ordered my first road bike, had previously been using my mtb for the commute with flat pedals on, and thought i would try some spd type pedals but having never used them before i am a bit worried about diving straight in!

would these be good to start on?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-m324-combination-pedals/
or
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-m424-spd-pedals/

(i think i prefer the second option, lighter, cheaper and i like the look of them a bit better too)

means i could take the bike out in ordinary shoes too if i wanted too

mikeeye

I have 424s on my mountain bike.

They're fine as SPDs, but the mechanism is proud of the cage, so they're not great when wearing trainers. I've not actually tried them, but I'd for for the 324s.

bobbygloss

I'm on my second pair of 324s on my MTB. The first pair lasted around 8000 miles before the bearings wore out.

Quite a few people at my work also use them , or the Wellgo equivalent.

jonny_trousers

Dive straight in and don't waste your time with half measures. You just need to get into the habit of clipping out as you are coasting to a stop. That twisting motion will be second nature in no time.

Although I'm sure the above pedals are fine, I can't help but feel they would spoil the aesthetic of a nice road bike. M520s are very popular here (I have them on my SS) and look a little more subtle, or there are some more road specific ones available also.

nation

The cage on the 424s is really for situations where you're unclipping your inside foot when cornering on loose surfaces. It's just a larger target to hit when you try to clip back in, so even if you don't quite manage to clip back in you still have a reasonable amount of control.

It's not really much use for riding in ordinary shoes, despite what the description says. You can, but it becomes really uncomfortable in fairly short order.

If you really think you'll be using both ordinary and SPD shoes then go for the 324s. Otherwise, I think M520s look better on a road bike.

chris_bass

thanks for the advice

i think i may just put my flat pedals on for now, then when i'm used to riding a road bike i'll just go in the deep end and go for some clipped in pedals!

mrobbie

Just picked up my 1st road bike today. Have a set of m520 pedals to go on but going to do a week of normal pedals to adjust to the bike then go SPD next week. Unless I chane my mind again later this evening...

Buckled_Rims

I've a pair of M324 that I used many years ago whilst commuting. They are bullet proof but a bit heavy for anything other then the commute.

In principle they sound great, SPD one side and flatties on the other, but after a while can get on your nerves trying to flip the side you need over after stopping in traffic. Basically the more stops the more annoying.

I've no experience of the 424, but they look a better option for me.

EKE_38BPM

I used SPD-SLs on my road bike, but now I'm riding fixed I use the 324s and I think they're great. For a road bike though, I'd dive straight in the deep end (easy to say when you're already used to SPDs though).

If you need to be able to wear normal shoes as well as cycling shoes, I'd go for the 324s as the 424 cleat is proud of the platform.

Bobbygloss, can't the bearings on 324s be replaced and the pedals rebuilt?

bakerstreet

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

Although I'm sure the above pedals are fine, I can't help but feel they would spoil the aesthetic of a nice road bike. M520s are very popular here (I have them on my SS) and look a little more subtle, or there are some more road specific ones available also.

Seconded. I bought the 520s and I was a SPD beginner. They have been brilliant. I went back flats on my old MTB and I found myself twisting my foot out of the non exsistant SPD when I was coming up to roundabouts!

My point is that you do get used to twisting in and out of the SPDs.

mine came from Evans

nwallace

If you're going flat then MKS GR-9s and Zefal clips and straps, unlike most other designs of flats I've seen there is nothing to wreck the soles on.

Had a toe clip come loose and riding without was horrible.

I'll need to try clipless some day :oops:

shouldbeinbed

I've got a set of both.

I love the 324s like my children. They are excellent on both sides and the flat side is comfortable & induces confidence whatever footwear you have on. If you're stop starting you can even pedal on the flats with spd cleats.

The 424s meh, as others have said only work properly with spd cleats or they get very uncomfortable very quickly in normal footwear and don't give a safe & secure feeling with non cleated cycle specific shoes. You may as well just use smaller lighter better looking dual spd pedals.

I would not have another pair of 424s even if they were half price.

the_spooks

Sorry to but in but been offered a set of 324's and cleats second hand but unsure what a good price would be for em, any ideas?
Love my DMR's i have on my bike but will be doing a C2C later in the year and the idea of that amount of mileage on flats doesn't sound good.

meanredspider

M520s here too. Really robust (especially the cleats) and easy to use.

bobbygloss

EKE_38BPM wrote:

Bobbygloss, can't the bearings on 324s be replaced and the pedals rebuilt?

They can, but it was my first attempt at servicing them that eventually led to them failing. I didn't realise how small the ball bearings were until I'd lost some, then I couldn't tighten the locknut properly against the cone so it was always a bit wobbly after that.

SmellTheGlove

Have recently started using some 324 'clones' on the commuter. Very good I find. If you miss a clip-in, the shape of the 'wrong' side lets the cleat sit below the surface so the sole (on my shoes at least) will still grip the serrated cage. That's also handy when you're coasting up the outside of a queue and might need to get a foot down pronto. I think shouldbeinbed made the same point.

Mine are made by VP, came from my LBS and I think were a few quid cheaper than the 324 at Wiggle.

chris_bass

how about these? seem to be a combination of the two?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-a530-spd-single-sided-touring-pedals/

the description says good for commuting?

hstiles

I read that the cage on the 424s is resin and will break quite easily if you drop the bike. They're meant to be replaceable, but good luck finding spares. I have 324s on my cross bike and they're good for recreational riding and commuting.

Twostage

I've got 424s which I swap between my commuter/trainer and MTB. Had them for quite a few years now. I've used them without spd shoes and they are ok, admittedly wearing wellies which are thick soled. I like the fact they are spd on both sides as you never need to look down to clip in.

jedster

I've got the 424s on my station bike. They are fine but TBH I'll go with standard SPDs when they need replacing. I bought them because I thought I might use them with normal shoes sometime but as other have said. theyare really not very good for riding with normal shoes and in practice I don't do it. Personally I wouldnt go with single sided pedals. It's so much easier clipping in to double sided.

Applespider

I've got 424s too.

I like that if I miss clipping in (since I'm relatively new at it) or if I'm in an area with lots of pedestrians round, I can still pedal relatively easily without being clipped in (although you'd get that if you flipped to the pedal side of the 324 too).

I agree though that if you want to use them without the clips, your other pair of shoes needs to have sturdy soles and you don't want to be going too far.

nigglenoo

Be aware the 324s require a very expensive (more than the pedals cost) Shimano tool for servicing, i.e. setting the cones, virtually impossible with normal tools. OTOH the 424s, 520s, and from the look of them those A530s, just need a cheap little plastic widget ~£5 to undo them then can be serviced with normal spanners.

My experience of cheap copies of Shimano pedals was not good due to less effective sealing and similar issues with servicing to the 324s, though to be fair this was Riva brand, not VP.