Good pedals for both SPD clip-in and street shoe riding?

[Patrick Moore]

The Monocog gets ridden on bosque singletrack and sandy acequia roads, where I prefer to be clipped in, but also gets used to drag the dog on his 2-mile run, where flat pedals would be convenient.

I've used the standard Shimano M324 and A530 several times, and don't really like either -- they're neither fish nor fowl, and I want a pedal that is both fish and fowl.

Is there any such thing as a pedal that feels like a flat pedal when you are wearing boat shoes or walking shoes, and that works well with cleats when in your Shimano SPD shoes? 

I would not be surprised if the answer is a resounding and echoing "OF COURSE NOT!!". Perhaps the solution is one of the remade beartrap pedals with XL MKS clips and long straps, but the question is worth asking.

Thanks.

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[George Schick]

I have several, maybe even three, pairs of Performance "campus pedals" in my parts box.  They have the SPD clip in one side and a "rat trap" like surface on the other (the kind that used to be common on toe clip/strap type pedals.  They can be yours for the asking.  I just want to reduce the extra parts I have laying around.  That way if you don't like 'em you can just toss 'em.

George

[Patrick Moore]

George: You are an officer and a gentleman; thanks very much for your offer.

I think I've used those. The Campus pedals are much like Shimano's M324s and the A 530s, where each side is strictly limited to one type of shoe, and on the spd side the retention mechs sit proud of the cages, making that side uncomfortable with street shoes. I'm looking for something where either side is apt for street shoes, and each side apt also for spd clip-in.

And mirabile dictu, someone responded offlist referencing the Ticino Alloy Touring Pedals with SPD. From what I see, these look to be the exact cat's pyjamas or parrot's negligee or manitee's nightgown. Investigations are ongoing.

But many thanks for your offer.

[George Schick]

Patrick - I understand what you mean about those pedals.  I myself didn't like the campus pedals, not so much for the 'rat-trap'-like platform side, but for ease (rather un-ease) of being able to clip in and out of the SPD side.  Unlike your experience, I like and now use the Shimano A530's on several road bikes.  The one and only complaint I have with them is that the "platform" side, which has a few raised bumps and ridges that are supposed to give the street shoe traction, in fact do a rather poor job of it - they're very slick.  I've been toying with the idea of getting some adhesive-backed traction material to cover that side of the pedal to see if it will improve things.  

[J Schwartz]

Just noticed these browsing on Blue Lug last week

https://global.bluelug.com/mks-solution-pedal-siver.html

best

JS

[Benz Ouyang, Sunnyvale, CA]

On Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 6:48:10 PM UTC-8 J Schwartz wrote:

Just noticed these browsing on Blue Lug last week

https://global.bluelug.com/mks-solution-pedal-siver.html

That's not any different from Shimano A530.

In my opinion, the problem with these half-fish, half-fowl pedals is that they need a functionality to set their default side. A weight of some sort so if you won't accidentally be stepping on the clipless side if you're wearing sneakers, or the flat side if you're wearing "tap-dancing" shoes. Having used A530 on my commuter for a bit, I really don't enjoy flipping the flat platform side over, especially when I'm wearing office-appropriate shoes or boots.

[Pat Smith]

Shimano PD - T8000. They have pins on the flat side, built in reflectors, wide platform, and are weighted so they rotated to vertical when you take your foot off. Loved mine but the bike I had them on had too low of a bottom bracket and I got pedal strikes on aggressive rides. Replaced with ISSI Flip3 which I also like but probably not for you 

Pat on DC

[Patrick Moore]

Thanks, all; will take a closer look at the MKS and the T8000, but expect they'll be too similar in feel to the M324 and A530. I may just switch to clips and straps; this bike is multiply geared so I oughtn't to find myself pulling out of the straps when straining up a hill as I seem to do often with a fixed drivetrain.

[RichS]

Patrick,

Your post hits close to home. I'm looking to put my feet into the SPD clip-in waters as well. Once upon a time I tried M324s but the experiment didn't work well for me either. It's been Grip Kings ever since.

My current plan is to keep the GKs on my Hillborne. 1.) Try toe clips/MKS touring pedals on bike two and 2.) on bike three give full on clip-ins a go (Crank Bros. Candy gifted to me by pal Peter). For the sake of variety I hope the latter two options pan out. The T8000 pedals or a similar design look like they have potential as well.

What SPD shoes are you planning to use?

Good luck and please keep us apprised of your efforts. I'll do likewise.

Happy New Year!,

Rich in ATL

[Patrick Moore]

Rich: Will post choice and results. It may be clips and straps for this bike tho' perhaps the T8000s. We'll see.

I don't know the model names of my SPD shoes; I have 3 Shimano models, and my favorite was actually NNOS (near-new old stock) from the 1980s that someone very graciously gave me to replace a similar, 20-year old pair that had worn out.

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[André P]

Maybe look at some of the downhill pedals? I did some image searching, the raised portion of the spd pedal might still be too high for wearing flat shoes, but they are designed to have grip even not clipped in. They have spikes that could be extended to provide better unclipped traction.

https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/saint-m820/PD-M820.html

[Grandy]

I went through the same dilemma for years, until I finally ditched the cleated shoes and pedals altogether. 

At least that part of my cycling life is much simpler now.

On Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 12:02:35 PM UTC-8 Patrick Moore wrote:

[George Cline]

I use these,  Shimano PD-EH500's, although similar to the a530, they have a pretty flat platform with replaceable pins for "stiction" in your street shoes.\:

https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/shimano/PD-EH500.html

I've been pretty happy with them, they live on my gravel bike.

George in NoCal

[Harth Huffman]

I used a pair of Shimanos until they died, but I never liked them - the surface was too slippery when not clipped in.  Replaced them with Xpedo Duos, which I love:

https://xpedo.com/product/pedals/city/trvs-duo/

On Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 1:36:21 PM UTC-8 Patrick Moore wrote: