SPD pedal options

MB Lacey

I have spd pedals (shimano PD A530). They're flat on one side and clip in on the other.
I want to buy another set of pedals for another bike with the ability to click in on both sides, I'll be using same shoes/cleats.

Doing a search on wiggle under 'spd pedals' are my only options mountain bike pedals? They all seem very bulky.

I've attached pic of current shoes/ pedals.
Thanks

Hunterbiker

There's another 'touring' tyoe pedal from Shimano. Its a bit more expensive than the one you (and I use) but its double sided. I have seen it on wiggle.

Hunterbiker

There's another 'touring' tyoe pedal from Shimano. Its a bit more expensive than the one you (and I use) but its double sided. I have seen it on wiggle.

MB Lacey

Hunterbiker wrote: »

There's another 'touring' tyoe pedal from Shimano. Its a bit more expensive than the one you (and I use) but its double sided. I have seen it on wiggle.

I think I saw that, €110 or something, but maybe it's worth it, won't be changing it for years. Thanks I'll go back and look again.

Hunterbiker

PD A600 I think

Crocked

I have the same pedals as yourself on one bike. Picked these up for the second bike. I think this is what you're looking for.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-pd-m520-pedals/

Haldir

I have those Shimano Ultegra level PDA600 pedals. The best of their type, but you can clip in from one side only.

MB Lacey

I know I said I was looking for a double sided clip in and the M520s you recommend fit the bill exactly, but looking at the A600s I like the idea of the wider platform over longer distances, plus they're nearly half the weight of the M520s.
I have no experience of being able to click in on a double sided pedal so maybe I'm missing a huge advantage, but I'm not racing in cyclocross or mountain biking so I think the A600s might be more suitable.

MB Lacey

Haldir wrote: »

I have those Shimano Ultegra level PDA600 pedals. The best of their type, but you can clip in from one side only.

And do you find that a pain?

Haldir

I am on my second pair of PDA600's now. I have a pair of S-Works Mtb shoes so need SPD's. I never lost the desire to be able to walk off the bike but still have stiff carbon sole and comfort. Probably lose 5% in performance at worst. I think the PDA600's are the best SPD type pedal that I can currently buy. They also don't really look like a mtb pedal. Not a pain to use at all but I do sometimes have to look down to flick it over before clipping in. Caution advised in group rides with the looking down!

MB Lacey

Haldir wrote: »

but I do sometimes have to look down to flick it over before clipping in. Caution advised in group rides with the looking down!

That was the exact reason I was thinking of double sided, have found that the clip in side doesn't always turn to the upside, but I think I'm still going to go for the A600's.
Thanks for help everyone.

rollingscone

I routinely ride M520s in boots or runners and they were my road bike pedal until I made the jump to SPD SLs this year.

I use them on my single speed (current commuter) and a touring version (basically the same pedal with a steel frame around it) on my Tourer.

Two sided is the best, I think shoes have a bigger role to play in terms of performance and comfort over distance though

Haldir

Something else to note about the Ultegra level PDA600 pedals. They come in that nice Ultegra grey finish. Unfortunately that grey finish scratches and marks very easily (after first ride) so if that bothers you then best avoid.

cdaly_

Now, I've been thinking about going the other direction. I currently have M520 double sided so I have to hunt out dedicated shoes even to just pop down to the shop. I was thinking about the A530s for the new bike so that I could just hop on in whatever footwear.

Is it the case that the A600s cannot be used with ordinary shoes? Are they awkward to flip over? Can you pedal for a bit on the wrong side and flip over to clip in at leisure?

MB Lacey

cdaly_ wrote: »

Can you pedal for a bit on the wrong side and flip over to clip in at leisure?

Can definitely recommend the A530s for this, I used the flat side for 6 months in trainers before taking the plunge to putting on my spd shoes and clipping in on the other side.
The A600 lacks a completely flat side but still may be ok. I'll leave that to the others to comment.

MB Lacey

Haldir wrote: »

Something else to note about the Ultegra level PDA600 pedals. They come in that nice Ultegra grey finish. Unfortunately that grey finish scratches and marks very easily (after first ride) so if that bothers you then best avoid.

I don't care about that - but thanks for being Euro sensitive

Alek

How about these?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-m530-spd-trail-mtb-pedals/rp-prod67249

I use them myself -they're doublesided, provide bit better support for soft soles and prevent "pedal roll" that may happen sometimes with M520s.

smacl

cdaly_ wrote: »

Now, I've been thinking about going the other direction. I currently have M520 double sided so I have to hunt out dedicated shoes even to just pop down to the shop. I was thinking about the A530s for the new bike so that I could just hop on in whatever footwear.

Is it the case that the A600s cannot be used with ordinary shoes? Are they awkward to flip over? Can you pedal for a bit on the wrong side and flip over to clip in at leisure?

I moved to M520s after having used M324s for awhile. I changed because I found the single sided thing a pain. At the same time, I got M424s for the hybrid, which are grand in regular shoes. I also stick them on the road bike if I know I'm going to be using a mix of shoes with it, and am thinking of ditching the M520s altogether. While they're ugly as sin, I also find the large platform on the M424 more comfy than the M520 over long distances clipped in.

cdaly_

MB Lacey wrote: »

Can definitely recommend the A530s for this, I used the flat side for 6 months in trainers before taking the plunge to putting on my spd shoes and clipping in on the other side.

Would you be willing to swap with my M520s for a week or so to try them out?

cdaly_

Alek wrote: »

How about these?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-m530-spd-trail-mtb-pedals/rp-prod67249

I use them myself -they're doublesided, provide bit better support for soft soles and prevent "pedal roll" that may happen sometimes with M520s.

Presumably the mechanism would dig into the sole of a standard shoe/sandal? How far would you ride before regretting not having put on the SPD shoes?

MB Lacey

cdaly_ wrote: »

Would you be willing to swap with my M520s for a week or so to try them out?

Yeah go for it, I'm injured and off the bike so you can have a try of mine. I'll send you a pm, if you're Dublin based you can collect tnite ( I can't drive at mo).

Alek

Presumably the mechanism would dig into the sole of a standard shoe/sandal?

You're right, I was referring to soft soles of some SPD shoes They're not really suitable for non-SPDs, can be used in emergency with better effect than M520s but that's it.

rollingscone

Alek wrote: »

You're right, I was referring to soft soles of some SPD shoes They're not really suitable for non-SPDs, can be used in emergency with better effect than M520s but that's it.

Have I just got super feet or something?

Ole Rodrigo

I'v been using ultegra SPD SLs on the fixed gear without changing for regular shoes. No issues on short distances.

cdaly_

MB Lacey wrote: »

Yeah go for it, I'm injured and off the bike so you can have a try of mine. I'll send you a pm, if you're Dublin based you can collect tnite ( I can't drive at mo).

Did the swap this evening. Thank you very much.

They were grand on the spin home. I only had to flip a pedal once or twice to clip in and even then it wasn't a problem to pedal for a while on the flat side.

I notice so far that there's less opportunity for Alek's "pedal roll" than with the M520s. There seems to be a wider platform on the clip side on the A530.

I'll report back after the Gheimridh200 next week...

MB Lacey

Lovely meeting you cdaly, glad you got home ok on the pedals. Best of luck to you doing the audax next wknd.

cdaly_

So I rode the A530s for 200k at the weekend. Very nice to use, more side support than my M520s and no problem with choosing the wrong side, had to flip them once or twice but mostly they were ready to clip in every time.

I tried them on the commute one cold morning in hiking boots also and it was the same story. It was easy to land on the platform side most times.

New A530s ordered for the new bike...

quozl

I've got single sided SPD pedals on my hybrid and M520s on both my road bike and my drop-bar fixie. The single sided SPDs on the hybrid are because M520s are really not nice with runners or soft shoes.

I really like the M520s. For the money they're fantastic IMO.

I've used them for a couple of 200km cycles with no foot discomfort but I think that's down to having stiff soles on my shoes FLR-F55s.