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What pedals for my road/commuter?

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  • March 22, 2014 at 5:14 pm #21004
    Singletrack

    Hi

    Just put my deposit down on a Whyte Suffolk and trying to decide what pedals to get for it.

    I have a pair of VP 133 combined SPD/flat pedals on my old bike and I know they may not be the best but I get on really well with them whether in my cycling shoes or any other footwear.

    I was thinking this would be ideal for the new bike as I could use regular shoes during the week and SPDs at the weekend for fun stuff.

    Looking around, I’m really not sure what to go for. It’s either this style or flats… I’m already £200 over budget with the bike so don’t want to go to a diffrent clipless system and get new shoes as well!

    That said, I want to get something reasonably lightweight and efficient. Any thoughts?

    Thanks for reading, James

    Edit: If I do go for the combination SPDs, I’m not sure about the one sided (cleat on one side, flat on the other). Think I’d prefer the double sided option like I have now, but elsewhere people seem pretty scathing – what do you think?

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Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)
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  • April 7, 2014 at 11:52 am #782323
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    Singletrack

    Sniffer wrote:Thought you

    Sniffer wrote:
    Thought you might like the Whyte Suffolk. Let us know how it works out for you.

    I commute on the A-530 pedals mentioned a couple of times. Work well for me. I think the issues of one sided pedals are overstated and you will get the hang of them very quickly.

    Good luck with the new bike.

    The Suffolk is wonderful. I took it out the day I got it for a gentle twenty miles and it was a joy to ride. True, I’m used to slogging up hills on a heavy old hybrid, but it seemed way easier than I expected. There’s one particularly evil hill on that route which I was dreading, but halfway up I was changing up gears.

    Thoroughly recommended.

    March 24, 2014 at 2:27 pm #782321
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    Sniffer

    Sniffer wrote:Thought you

    Sniffer wrote:
    Thought you might like the Whyte Suffolk. Let us know how it works out for you.

    I commute on the A-530 pedals mentioned a couple of times. Work well for me. I think the issues of one sided pedals are overstated and you will get the hang of them very quickly.

    Good luck with the new bike.

    I realised on reading your comments I should have said that I ride A-520s rather than A-530s. Same principle applies though. The A-520s are unsuitable for riding without cleats, but are slightly sleeker.

    March 24, 2014 at 1:47 pm #782319
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    Maggers

    +1 for the A-530. Suits me on
    +1 for the A-530. Suits me on a 20m+commute and pootling down to the shops at the weekend. I can’t afford loads of systems so I fit them to my road bike at the weekend too. Yes I know it looks daft but they suited me fine on several 80m+rides.

    March 24, 2014 at 1:14 pm #782317
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    mooleur

    Simon E wrote:The

    Simon E wrote:
    The double-sided M520s are cheap, are the easiest to clip into and last ages, mine have survived their 5th winter of commuting.

    +1 on those, I had some when I was commuting in LDN and they’re handy as, nice that you don’t have to faff, you’re just click in and away!

    Also they’re ace because if you ever buy some of those commuting sneakery pump things (I had some for work they’re brill!) they work very nicely with them, small profile 🙂

    March 24, 2014 at 12:55 pm #782315
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    Jimbonic

    I use M424s. They’re a
    I use M424s. They’re a double sided SPD pedal. But, they have plenty of flat, if you want to use them with trainers. They’re not quite as comfy as a proper flat. But, good enough for a trip to the shops / short commute.

    I also use Shimano AM45 shoes, as they’re reasonably comfortable to walk in.

    Both last well and can cope with all sorts of conditions – I use them on and off road on SS MTB and fixed road bike.

    March 24, 2014 at 12:30 pm #782313
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    MKultra

    userfriendly wrote:Ghostie

    userfriendly wrote:
    Ghostie wrote:

    Shimano A530s? About 30 quid. I think they include a set of SPD cleats too.

    They do.

    That said, they’re mountain bike pedals. Maybe that’s just me, but for a road bike you should get road pedals & shoes. :B

    Have a look at, err, Look. Or Time, the Xpresso 2 are reasonably cheap and popular.

    Now you see I wouldn’t describe a commuter as being something that is used the same way as a bike you are taking on the weekly club run. I mix it up, I ride my fixed or the cheapy fixed hybrid and the route takes in not only roads but towpaths, packhorse bridges and steps as well. It’s very much like urban cyclocross and I find that SPD pedals and MTB shoes are a must and also far more practical for shopping on the way home. MTB race shoes are identical to most road shoes apart from the tread and pedal drilling anyway. I remain puzzled as to why people want to commute in road shoes that you can’t do a cyclo cross carry in.

    March 24, 2014 at 5:30 am #782311
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    Forester

    Have always used Shimano SPDs
    Have always used Shimano SPDs for touring/general use and generally prefer double-sided, would recommend a bigger platform version and shopping around, some are cheaper in white, and although you are buying a decent bike it isn’t a work of art so don’t worry about the aesthetics! Go for the lightest you can stretch to.

    March 23, 2014 at 10:29 am #782309
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    Singletrack

    Thanks for the advice
    Thanks for the advice everyone.

    I guess I will try the A-530. I think maybe the slight annoyance of having to flip them will be offset by a better grip on the non-SPD side.

    They are notably cheaper on-line than the ones at my LBS, but I guess that’s just typical on-line vs. retail.

    March 22, 2014 at 9:55 pm #782307
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    Sniffer

    Thought you might like the
    Thought you might like the Whyte Suffolk. Let us know how it works out for you.

    I commute on the A-530 pedals mentioned a couple of times. Work well for me. I think the issues of one sided pedals are overstated and you will get the hang of them very quickly.

    Good luck with the new bike.

    March 22, 2014 at 9:55 pm #782305
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    Sniffer

    Thought you might like the
    Thought you might like the Whyte Suffolk. Let us know how it works out for you.

    I commute on the A-530 pedals mentioned a couple of times. Work well for me. I think the issues of one sided pedals are overstated and you will get the hang of them very quickly.

    Good luck with the new bike.

    March 22, 2014 at 9:55 pm #782303
    0
    Sniffer

    Thought you might like the
    Thought you might like the Whyte Suffolk. Let us know how it works out for you.

    I commute on the A-530 pedals mentioned a couple of times. Work well for me. I think the issues of one sided pedals are overstated and you will get the hang of them very quickly.

    Good luck with the new bike.

    March 22, 2014 at 9:18 pm #782301
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    Simon E

    A530s are single-sided with
    A530s are single-sided with no platform and wouldn’t be my first choice for ease of use. The double-sided M520s are cheap, are the easiest to clip into and last ages, mine have survived their 5th winter of commuting.

    If you want another set of VP133s or a pair with flats on one side then ignore the fashion sheep and buy what works for you.

    If you later want to try a different pair then it won’t break the bank.

    March 22, 2014 at 6:59 pm #782299
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    Ghostie

    userfriendly wrote:That said,

    userfriendly wrote:
    That said, they’re mountain bike pedals. Maybe that’s just me, but for a road bike you should get road pedals & shoes. :B

    Are they? Shimano and a number of retailers call them road touring pedals (PD-A530). Perhaps you are thinking of M530s, similar looking and retail at about 19 quid. Nevertheless, seem ideal for commuting if you want a double sided flat surface pedal for trainers, while using cleats for weekend stuff. There’s also M324s. In my case though, I want them for my second bike (the first being a roadie with normal SPD SLs) as I don’t like riding off road on bridleways, etc clipped in.

    March 22, 2014 at 6:28 pm #782297
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    userfriendly

    Ghostie wrote:
    Shimano A530s?

    Ghostie wrote:

    Shimano A530s? About 30 quid. I think they include a set of SPD cleats too.

    They do.

    That said, they’re mountain bike pedals. Maybe that’s just me, but for a road bike you should get road pedals & shoes. :B

    Have a look at, err, Look. Or Time, the Xpresso 2 are reasonably cheap and popular.

    March 22, 2014 at 6:17 pm #782295
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    Ghostie

    Shimano A530s? About 30 quid.
    Shimano A530s? About 30 quid. I think they include a set of SPD cleats too. Been looking at them myself, as I have an awful set of Wellgo pedals I’m using at the mo. I suppose if you like your current VP 133s, keep with those.

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