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I know they are generally rubbish at being both a flat and an spd
The answer for me though, is not pick one or the other.
I’m building a new mountain bike and will be jumping on it for quick blasts with the kids etc etc as often as I will be off on big rides.
I get on well with eh500’s on my gravel bike for the same reason.
Swapping pedals isn’t realistic, as this is non stop swapping of riding use.
Question is, what is generally the best if the options fit an mtb (nordest britango, as a hint to the style of riding)
The new dmr versa look the best but pricey!
Cheers
Just use flat pedals.
Hols2... that’s the point! I only want flat pedals for rides with kids etc
I prefer to be clipped in for my rides, I don’t like riding flats
I assume you wear shoes when going for a quick blast with the kids? Just get some spd shoes that don't look like 'cycling shoes'.
I have some 5 ten district that look pretty normal. I think Scott do some that just look like trainers and Decathlon as well??...
I (genuinely) think that N+1 is the answer.
As you’ve already noticed, changing pedals is a ballache, and spds are crap when used with normal shoes.
So your options are flats, or N+1.
Not got any experience of these but might just be what you want.
https://problemsolversbike.com/products/pedals/deckster_-_26970
Hols2… that’s the point! I only want flat pedals for rides with kids etc
Get a pub-bike/cruiser/gopper/shopper/retro ride?
You’re having fun with family. Posh new pedals or shoes will probably cost more than a drop-on-the-floor-then-ride-some-more beater with pedals already on it.
I don’t care about the look of spd shoes... it’s just it’s constant jumping on and off bikes... we all ride a lot and most of the time it’s just not realistic to be packing kit..
It’s also a massive pain, to be constantly clipping in and out every five mins on kids/pub/shop/surf check rides.
I genuinely need a double sided pedal, so I can wear standard shoes when needed.
N+1 is not an option, as I would have the same problem with any bike... whatever bike I jump on, it will have to suit different purposes, plus I don’t need more than 3 bikes (gravel, road, mtb), that’s just getting silly! Haha
I just need some double sided pedals a bit better suited to mtb than eh500’s
I’m not a fan of double sided pedals, but if you must, the Shimano T8000 look better than the EH500 you mention.
The other option is just to use normal SPD’s and wear normal shoes on top. It’s not ideal but I’ve done it for a pop to the shops or a mile or 3 to the pub. As long as the shoes you wear have a rubbery soft-ish sole and you don’t go throwing the bike around then you’ll be fine.
I have thought about something like xt trails or other spd with a cage, just to make riding spd’s with flats a little more comfy For short rides
The t8000 look ok though
You want to go for some MTB flat pedal style ones. I got some for my knock about bike but when using the flat side the platform is not quite wide enough if you've got proper shoes/boots/rainers on - they're just a bit narrow and grip is rubbish, so go for the broadest pedal you can with some studs for grip. The only problem then becomes when using with SPD's the Q factor is much wider than normal pedals and that feels a bit odd. You get used to it but it is noticable.
I use shimano a-530 dual sided pedals and shimano mt7 spd mtb shoes. The pedal paltforms are large enough for normal shoes in non gnarly conditions like commuting or pootling with the kids. The mt7 shoes are good as you can walk in them quite easily and use with flat pedals if you need to.
I've used the xt trail dual sided for nearly the same reasons (I also scoot to the pub).
Work perfectly and the pedals hang so it's always foot forward for flat and backwards to clip.
There is a newer version than mine with pins on the flat that would be better again for wet cycling after a few pints.
It’s also a massive pain, to be constantly clipping in and out every five mins
Really? Doesn't that happen on a typical MTB ride in varied terrain anyway?
Cheers all
I think it’s between another pair of eh500’s, xt trails, or more mtb Flat style Orientated DMR versa/funn mambas
@rocketdog Really?...Probably about 90% less than goofing around with a 5 year old on rides...I just rode yesterday and probably unclipped, no more than, 3 times in 5 hours.
Funn Mambas are the pedals you’re looking for.
I use XTR trail for the same reason and have used XT Trail I think any Shimano Trail will be fine. Its not unusual to see me riding in my converse when going for a quick blast or to shops.
It’s also a massive pain, to be constantly clipping in and out every five mins
Are you not comfortable unclipping? I'd have thought the best option would be to just go clipless, no extra expense - use the same cleats and pedals between bikes. Same service kit/bearings, same shoes. If one gets buggered, you can swap between bikes.
If I'm riding clipless on the XC bike I'm quite often unclipping every 5 minutes for gates, cows, or chatting.
I have a friend who uses them pretty much for the same purpose you and he likes to be unclipped for some of the more technical mtb sections. He bought a new pair of Shimano M324s from evans this week and I have to say he spent our whole ride complaining about them. They also looked pretty cheap and nasty.
Wellgo QRDs and swap them? Not sure how well they'd cope with proper mountain biking, though.
I've got some old Shimano SPD pedals on my On One which are platform with SPD built in for just this purpose.
They're not great with trainers for long distance, but something like up to 10 miles they are fine.
SPD bit works fine when wearing my cycling shoes...
Edit - These ones:
These Ones...
Can you really use the xt as a true dual pedal? It looks like it would be uncomfortable in trainers due to the protruding SPD mechanism
I have shimano double sided pedals. Have the square set previously but now the more oval one (can't remember the name)
Has been used for many thousands of miles, they're ace
Flat side is not very grippy but is fine. Gets used for lunchtime Errands and other local stuff. Buy mainly used spd side for commuting
All my other bikes have flat pedals, but are much grippier
Jjxray - T8000 trekking not the trail, sorry. I'm pretty sure they were called trail but it was a while ago.
I tried the m324 and they are heavy clunky messes, the xt trekking wee wee all over them.
I've just bought a set of these
for the gravel bike. Commuting to the workshop in my work boots and longer rides on the weekend /day off.
Not so much clipping in and out/stop start on the gravel as with mtb.
Other option is a set of these..... Available in decathlon.
I had single sided pedals, the ones with the old style cage not modern flats. I did plenty of long road and mtb rides with them using the SPD side, it wasn't really any bother to flip them because they are easy to flip.
Sounds like a good choice for the OP, ignore the wafflers.
Cheers @molgrips, cheers all who have given feedback on what you have used...
I know they are all a compromise but it’s my best option for maximum flexibility in use.
Think I may stick with another pair of eh500’s as they serve that purpose so well on my gravel bike, even if I have to have the tension cranked right up to use them in anger.
Thinking about it, I don’t really need the flat side to perform particularly well, as I will always be clipped in when riding for myself.
Ive spent more time thinking about pedals, than any other component on the build 🙄
I used mine on the bike I took to work. I was working away as a consultant so I'd ride to the station and then to the customer in my work clothes, using the flats, but in the evenings I'd go on proper rides, with cycling shoes and kit on. Worked really well, but that was road.
Other option is a set of these….. Available in decathlon.
I have those. Fine for a short journey in the dry but wouldn't want to do it in the wet, nowhere near enough grip and the platform is tiny. Emergency Use Only.
I've found the Eh500's fine, although that's tended to be for gravel/Road use. Just come back ftom a c2c on them, clipped for the majority but really enjoyed the flexibility of the flat side around town.
It's more faff checking that you've got the correct side up than just clipping in and out.
I've had a pair of Shimano M647s on my hardtail for years.
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-m647-clipless-spd-mtb-pedals/rp-prod4516
Decent platform for when you don't want cleats, but can easily clip in when you do.
Very good; won't change them till they die
I ended up with flats on every bike for the reasons the OP wants a set of dual sided. It took a long while to fully adjust and I think he clearly does a lot more bigger rides than I do.
I was also partly motivated by the need for a wide toe box in my shoes which is harder to find in disco slippers and fairly easy to find with shoes for flats.
Those XT things that Alpin posted up look the best I've seen over the years. Proper SPD and some decent pins the other side.
Frankly though if it's 5miles pottering with the kids and cycling to the pub the platform really isn't that important. I rode those kinds of rides on some very cheap plastic pedals that would have looked more at home on a kids bike for a few weeks when we had a pedal shortage at home due to kids wreckage!
They are rubbish, drive you insane as you always find your self on the wrong side of the pedal.
Easy to flip on the flat/road but you have to think and do it EVERY time rather than the muscle memory of clipping on or landing your foot in the right place. You go to flip on some tech and its too late or it flips all the way over....
Any dual pedal is rubbish at both so just choose your compromise - how pedally are your clipped in rides vs how bimbly are your non clipped in rides?
I just run spds and got some shoes I can walk and drive in as I can deal with clipped in bimbles but can't abide not pedalling properly on long rides.
It’s more faff checking that you’ve got the correct side up than just clipping in and out.
IME, you soon get used to this.
I find the pedals will gravitate to one side so the muscle memory is either flip & clip or just clip depending on how it works.
Those plastic SPD / flat converters are rubbish as the plastic gets chewed and they become very hard to get off. Has anyone tried these (see below). I have the same issue as the Op but ten d to just pedal my SPDs with normal shoes on.
Hmmm interesting. I may swap out my a350s then as the flat platform side is pretty small especially for use on an MTB and didn't have pins. The eh500 looks about the same size but has pins whilst the t8000 looks like a much bigger platform, far more suitable for off-road.
I do ride clipped in on all my long rides and as I mentioned mainly use the flat side in emergencies or pootling with the kids in the park.
If the flat side performance of the t8000 is good enough for proper off-road riding, then I may get them instead so I have real choices. Cheers, good thread.
I have been using Funn Mambas for a few years. Being an "older" rider , I do like my feet not clipped in when doing steeps / rough/ rooty stuff ...
However long uphills etc are better clipped in.
The Mambas work well generally - but SPD platform is not recessed, so you have to really ride that side clipped in ( as you would) - but they do not clip in a smoothly as shim offerings.
Riding on the flat side - with SPD cleat on, so when you do not want to be cleated in, does tend to chuff up the pedals finish quickly - so they end up scarred.
But they have been resilient - so I would recommend
That said, I have just changed over to dome DMR V12s, as I am using SPD less and less. Ging balls out fast is really a huge issue.
I have some of those plastic clip on flats on one side of the da bike. There are better ones now. Eg.
i usually ride flats
i grabbed a set of these
https://xpedo.com/product/pedals/mtb/ambix/
the only shoes i have that work with them are Shimano AM7
they seem ok.. but, i feel less secure clipped into them than i feel i should... I wonder if its the shoe choice being a little more flexible than ideal
on the plus (should have said flip side, pun intended) side, the flat pedal side is ok for the less optimized sole of the AM7
some of these pedals, like the XT ones, cost a bomb for something that's probably going to be a bit shit. I had some of the old Shimano Trekking pedals on my Tripster briefly. Soon got rid of them.
How about something a darn site cheaper - the Look Geo pedals - seem to me that they'd be just as good/shit as any other, but a lot cheaper (and composite, so prob lighter too) -
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/look-geo-trekking-pedals
Quick look at the new Funn Mambas on this pinkbike vid.
Simano A530's are really pretty good if you're primarily wearing cycling shoes as they usually rotate to be naturally cleat side up so you don't really have to mess about finding the right side when you've set off from the lights. Plus if it isn't cleat side up then you can just stomp on the flat side until you've got going.
They feel flawed when wearing regular shoes as they aren't very grippy which can be a problem in the wet, and if the pedal is cleat side up it's even slippier so you need to flip the pedal a bit more urgently. That said I have them on my commuter and stopped wearing cleated shoes with it over a year ago due to knee issues and haven't bothered to take the pedals off so it can't be that bad.
some of these pedals, like the XT ones, cost a bomb for something that’s probably going to be a bit shit.
They're excellent pedals. I have them on my commuter so that if I have to take my bike during the work day I don't need to switch shoes and they also enable me to use the bike when I wouldn't want to wear cycling shoes or bring another pair of shoes. Any dual sided pedal involves some compromise and flipping the correct side up but the payoff is the flexibility. They're worth it for me.