[Closed] SPD virgin. Advice needed.

I've had a few attempts at clipping in but never mastered it. I like the look of the Giro Chamber II as the cleat is further back and to the side so you don't feel like you're perched on your toes which is my problem with everything else I've ever tried. If it offers the foot position of a flat pedal with the security of clips I might give them a try.

1. Shimano PD-EH500 may be an option - clipless one side, flats the other side.

You can also get flat form type clipless pedals (Crank Brothers Mallets etc) but they aren't really designed for using without clipless shoes, more of a support/security thing for longer or rougher rides - the mechanism digs onto your foot with standard shoes

2. This depends on what pedal you go for. The shoe you'd want with a Crank Brothers Mallet could be very different from with a egg beater or shimano xt etc.

hike a bike, bikepacking and pub visits

XC riding and comfortable pub shoes sound like opposite ends of the spectrum to me. Others may be able to suggest something. XC winter riding with goretex socks, I'd be looking for a fast drying shoe. Comfort tends to be slower drying and the smell may keep your mates away from you in said pub...

Pedals must be spd and flat shoe compatible as i dont want to have to put on cycling shoes to do the school run, pub/shop trip, etc

I'd rather ride SPD's in flat shoes or flats in SPD shoes than use a pedal I never really know whether I am in or out. They're the devils work those two sided pedals.

I'm not sure you'll get the compromise you want, as above xc and pub are opposite ends of the spectrum. Also skate style DH focused shoes are much better for walking on the flat but tend to lack grip on wet ground and don't play so well with non platform SPD pedals. Half and half pedals are a complete pain as they will inevitably always be on the wrong side to what you want, you can get plastic platforms that you can clip into spd pedals for when going to the pub. Personally I find enduro focused shoes the best compromise of stiffness Vs comfort and walkability off the bike.

I started on Shimano SPD's, but wish I'd started on Crank Brothers (which I use now). I've found them better for all purposes aside from fast road work.

If you're set on dual sided pedals then you can get the 50/50 which I think do that, but honestly I'd just get a platform clipless pedal (highly recommend Crank Brothers Mallet) which I find fine for short spins with normal trainers, and are great for 'proper' riding too. Standard answer for shoes would be whatever 5:10 offering appeals.

Personally I find SPD the better option for xc shoes with stiff soles and crank bros better for more flexible shoes where the platform comes into play.

Are the Crank Bros pedals better for people with knee pain? I've always struggled to get a comfortable position on SPD's.

It's hard to tell if my foot is in the right place because it doesn't hurt at the time but it aches later.

Pick your first ride with care. Choose a set of tricky, deep water filled ruts, ideally off camber. Take all your mates and ensure that they follow you closely. Take the laughter on the chin like a man when you end up in the bog.

Thanks folks.

I like the look of the crank brothers mallets.

Can any shoe brand be used and the crank brothers cleats be added?

Also thinking of shoes with a flush cleats.

As you could tell I'm a complete newbie to this. I've been on v12's for years but planning on some very long bikepacking/touring trips so that's why I'm looking.

Accept the fact that at some point early in the SPD experience you will keel over at a set of traffic lights still clipped in.
This may happen more than once.

Yeh I'm fully expecting to be embarrassed at some point.

Everytime this comes up the best answer is to get good at swapping pedals.

Most days I can generally swap the pedals quicker than I can find my shoes

Crank Brothers mallet dh, personally using shimano me7 shoes at the minute but I've used am9's for years before them with no complaints. They do require more maintenance than Shimano pedals but its not hard to service them, and the only other downside to Crank Brothers are the brass cleats which wear out a lot faster than steel ones used by most other brands

Stock answer I know but.....

Go to Decathlon and try out the SPD shoes they have (fit is important with SPD shoes), they often have more variety than a bike specific shop. I'd go for something semi trainer type as I find the xc type crap for walking in and the Enduro/downhill type too bulky and heavy for long days out in the hills.

These Giro pair look decent.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/all-mountain-shoes-for-clipless-pedals-giro-clutch/_/R-p-X8626939

I've used Shimano stock spd pedals for years and really rate them. I also have had a pair of Time Atac pedals for the last 18 months which have been fine too. But I'd look at something with a bit more support like the ones in the below link.

https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/shimano-pd-ed500-light-action-spd-pedals

Out of stock currently, but PX Das Boots aren't bad, I use them with my 2006 Time ATAC XS Carbons on my commuter when it's wet or cold.

I wouldn't bother with single sided SPD pedals. As others have said, sod's law always comes into play and they're inevitably always on the wrong side for the shoes you're using when you want to clip in.

Shimano PD-530 pedals with some "trainer style" trail / enduro style shoes are a great place to start off.

+1 don’t bother with single sided spd.
Go for one with a platform as a half decent compromise, but it’s definitely a compromise.
Shoes, fit is more important than brand. More so with spd, as your foot is in the same position over the axle all the time. You want stiff soles for clipless.
Yeah you’ll almost certainly do the traffic light thing.
Most people only do that once though.

Single sided SPD's are W**K
except, if it doesnt matter if your clipped in or not, think commuting
my experience of single sided was ride u pa hill clipped in, try to get on the platform side before descending, have my foot mis positioned, go to readjust and somehow the pedal has turned 180, spend the next few seconds with one of my feet skating o na ball bearing type surface... go home, try a different set of pedals...
rinse and repeat 3 times (single sided, magnetic, DMR V twins)
decide the only real good solution is a decent set of dual sided with easy clipping in (for me, the DMR V twins)
also, realise that i get zero benefit from being clipped in, except maybe the very occasional bit of rough trail, OR some ridiculous sprint hanging over the front of the bike
Also, realise that trying to navigate sections of trails, or climbs which are at walking speed or below is just bloody stupid

my conclusion, resigned the dual sided to my gravel/commuter and only clip in once in a blue moon

Single sided SPD's are not great in my view, you don't know which side is up and I suspect you'll end up hating them.
The default answer to these questions is:
Shimano pedals, M520 or M530. Both are cheap, very reliable and work well.
Then add a pair of shoes from Shimano or Specialized. Both do good shoes that fit a range of feet in a range of prices.

Horses for courses!

In my last employ, EH500 (flat/clip-in) was the biggest selling pedal by a massive margin.

They're a multi use pedal so for pure MTB I wouldn't recommend them. For touring and pub/shopping/family rides I would suggest they are unbeatable.

Shimano's pedal reputation is fantastic, I don't trust Crank Bros, I remember their awful past with bearing failures and poor design.

I've got some single sided ones (crankbrothers doubleshots), they're ok but I wouldn't go down that route again as I've found they're the worst of both worlds rather than the best of both for my riding.

In flats they're not so bad but having to keep looking and flipping the pedal to get clipped in is a bit of a ball ache. However, this isn't so bad on longer rides where you don't have to unclip much, but for pottering, commuting etc they're a faff when clipped in.

Getting some with decent grip on the flat side is difficult. I ended up drilling and tapping some holes to put some pins on mine.

Shimano XT T8000 pedals.

Spd and a proper pinned flat on the other side, the bearing are set so that the platform falls to the same angle everytime. So depending on how you flip the pedal with your foot (front or back) gives you the side of the pedal everytime.

I used Specalized body comp geometry shoes. Stiff enough for a decent power transfer in XC and perfectly fine for the pub too (bit of a clippity noise at times).

After trying a few variations i found Specialized 2f0 shoes are comfey and robust, you can walk in them and they are not so Special you cant wear then in public. Your feet are probably a different shape to mine so this may not apply to you.

i like crank brothers pedals for teh float they offer. feels more like a flat to me which i like, coming from years on flats. until the cleat wears and you inevitably get that unexpected unclip moment. which can be shady. keep on top of changing the cleats before they get too far gone and they are great pedals.

you will fall off slowly sideways a few times. make sure its in a busy public place please.

the faff of flat/clip shoe use is one of teh reasons i stopped using SPDs. otherwise i quite like riding clipped in.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

My thoughts are not bothering with half flat/half clipless. I get its a faff as that's what I'm trying just now and it's already bugging me. It only takes seconds to swap back to flats anyway.

I think I'll go down the shimano m530 route as I like the idea of a little support from the cages.

As for boots I'll take the advice of going to try some pairs on. I'll be going a size up from normal as I need movement for my feet or they freeze. Struggled last winter as my addidas terrex are a perfect summer fit, but put on sealskins and my feet were pinned in with o blood circulation!