Shimano PD-M520 SPD pedal

Ah, Shimano PD-M520. You've got a bit of a clunky name and you're nothing special to look at, but is there a better all-round budget pedal than you out there? I think not.

M520s are technically mountain bike pedals of course, but you'll find them everywhere from full sussers to expedition tourers via Audax and commuting bikes. These pedals have been around in one incarnation or another for a long time; this is the third set I've owned and the other two are still going, somewhere, although one set got nicked with a bike out of the shed. They're pretty cheap at a list price of 35 quid (and you'll certainly find them cheaper than that), but that's not reflected in the build quality, which is excellent, or the performance, which is also excellent.

The M520s are alloy-bodied with steel mechanisms and axle. They run on cup and cone bearings which are easily accessible and replaceable with a £2.99 lockring tool. They're designed for the rigours of off-road and cope admirably there, shedding mud and knocks with ease. On the road they're solid and dependable and my top-of-the-list choice for, well, practically anything. I've had them on the road bike, the fixer, a couple of CX test bikes, my mountain bike, an urban bike, a tourer... okay they're a bit deep for super-fast cornering at race speeds, but aside from that you can pretty much use them for anything. The range of cleat tension adjustment is very good, and the entry and exit is positive.

Whenever the issue of SPDs versus 'road' pedals comes up, there's normally plenty of discussion as to whether you need that bigger platform. It's fair to say that at the level I ride the small SPD cleat has never been an issue for me in terms of function or comfort - all my longest rides have been on SPDs - and the convenience of having the same system on every bike outweighs any tiny incremental gains in efficiency. Plus, MTB race shoes look fine with a road bike* and you can walk in them at the caf. Everyone's a winner.

At 374g they're a decent weight for the money, and most of the bikes they get attached to won't be weight weenies. They're not the most beautiful pedals but they're not bad looking either, and they're available in white, black and silver to match your bike. Anyway, they're under your feet most of the time, so who cares?

*Don't tell VecchioJo I said that.

Verdict

A classic and one of the best value pedals out there if you want a no-nonsense double sided SPD pedal for any type of riding