[Closed] Shimano SPD platform pedals - yay or nay?

I've been using these for nearly a year having switched from CB's and they have been superb. No real maintenance just fit and forget and keep clean (ish).. Regarding the platform it's not too obtrusive and I haven't clouted it on anything substantial, it is also handy just to get your foot onto the pedal before positioning the cleat securely. Compared to the standard version they just feel a bit more secure having that extra bit under your foot.

If your shoes are stiff enough there's no contact with the platform.

But it can make it a bit easier to flick the pedal round and clip in and if you're in the habit of pre-unclipping there's a bit more pedal to put your foot on.

If your shoes are stiff enough there's no contact with the platform.

Am thinking of dremmeling the "wings" off mine as they do naff-all and weigh something. I've certainly found the silvery plate bit round the clippy part give a bit of support (came from egg-beaters so maybe no surprise??).

I've got a set of each on different bikes - winged (trail) and non-winged.

For ages I thought there was no advantage at all with the trail version since your foot doesn't contact the cage once clipped in. But after a year or so comparing both I will concede that the trail version makes it very slightly easier to clip in, for reasons mentioned above. I would probably still buy the small version for the weight saving - unless you clip in/out more than average the weight penalty isn't worth it IMO.

I wouldn't bother with the XT unless you really are that bothered about weight. I've been using the Shimano M-530 platforms (which are virtually the same - 45g heavier - but less than half the price) on both bikes and find that they make it easier to clip in, but that they also give you a fair bit of support on rocky descents when you're out of the saddle, with the dropper down, and your feet are taking a battering.

I recently rode a bike with SPD's with no platform down the above and hated it! My feet were aching at the end of it. They don't at all with the platform pedal. Theres no way I'd go back to using them without the platform!

Thanks - I'll go for a platform version then. Turns out the 10% off code at CRC only applies to [i]some[/i] pedals though. Will hang off until the next site-wide event.

I use TIME pedals and have platform and non platform

I dont think it does anything personally

I use the platform to commute to school with kids in non SPD shoes

I have taken to using them on my road bike after years of moaning about road pedals. I always did this in the winter so I could use my mtb winter boots but I have now bought a 3 to 2 bolt adaptor for my road shoes so I can use them in the summer too. It may be psychological but with flat road shoes I feel there is as much support as many road pedals

Thanks - I'll go for a platform version then. Turns out the 10% off code at CRC only applies to some pedals though. Will hang off until the next site-wide event.

They're less than £20 from CRC, why wait?

Another vote for the basic pedals, especially at £20. Mine are still going strong after 18 months and I'm about to buy another pair for the hard tail.

£20 for the M520s. Think I'd rather go for XT or XTR if I was going to go back for the extra smoothness and longeivity. Always found the 520s a bit clunky for unclipping, although with hindsight that was maybe more to do with the me freezing in panic than the pedals...

Yup,switched to these a few months ago from the xtr little ones .they feel much more solid underfoot.i tried the ones with plastic cage,not good,sticky release.

The XTs on a mates bike do look nice, but I have had my cheaper 530s across several bikes and thousands of miles for two years. They are scuffed to heaven, but still spinning nicely, so know I would get another pair of them rather than spend more than double on xts. I do prefer them to my previous m540s, which are now on my roadie. They feel more supportive, but don't really notice much difference clipping in.