Shimano PD-M324 Dual Platform Pedals
Pedals come in various shapes sizes and types. A common type is a standard platform pedal that allows you to ride in any type of shoe. Some platform pedals will allow the fitting of toe clips and straps.
If you wish to keep your feet firmly anchored to the pedals, toe clips and straps can be quite dangerous, so cleats were invented. There are two common types of pedals that accept cleats. One type accepts SPD cleats and the other accepts SPD-SL cleats.
While there are many other types of cleats available, these are common in Western Australia. The SPD-SL type cleat is mainly for road bikes, and the cleat sticks out on the shoe and makes it hard to walk in.
The SPD cleat is a recessed cleat, which means that it is recessed into the sole of the shoe and allows you to walk normally apart from the odd clicking noise on the coffee shop's floor.
Standard side of Shimano PD-M324 SPD Pedal.
Most mountain bike riders and cycle tourists prefer the SPD type cleat. However I prefer the flexibility to be able to use cleats or standard shoes. A lot of people also prefer this flexibility. Hence the availability of dual platform pedals and the Shimano PD-M324 SPD pedal. The photograph shows the standard side of a dual platform pedal.
The standard side will allow you to wear normal shoes when cycling. They will also allow you to fit toe clips and straps, but I found that with the longer cranks on my bike, the toe clips dragged on the ground.
By flipping the pedal over, I have an SPD cleat available. Due to the SPD cleats being recessed, I can ride in cycling shoes that have cleats, and when I need to release and ride normally without the cleats because of safety reasons, I just flip the pedal over.
The standard platform side of the pedal has a small recess so the cleats in my shoes don't rub on the pedal. The standard platform side also has teeth around the edge of the age so normal shoes won't slip off.
Cleat side of the Shimano PD-M324 SPD Pedal.
The photograph shows the other side of the pedal that contains the SPD cleat. I was able to fit a reflector to one edge of the pedal, but not the other due to it interfering with the cleat's tension adjuster screw.
The Shimano PD-M324 SPD pedals combine the efficiency of the SPD cleat system with the convenience of a platform pedal. They come with a serviceable cup and cone bearings assembly and weigh 530 grams.
One thing to remember when changing pedals is that each side has a different direction thread. The pedals are marked L for left and R for right.
I highly recommend these pedals as they allow flexibility in the types of shoes that can be used when riding. I give them a 10 out of 10.
