Shimano PD-A515

Price Paid:  $35.00 at Fat Dog Cycles, Whan

Favorite Ride:
Out the back of Maungatapere

Bike Setup:
2002 Avanti Corsa Carbonio (Columbus Starship frame)
Campag Centaur 10-spd
Campag Proton wheelset

Summary:
A good cross-over pedal for someone like me who is just getting into a bit of racing and doesn't want to have to buy yet another pair of bike shoes. They are a bit tricky to get into, but it's not so bad with a bit of practice.

I wouldn't recommend these as a commuter pedal - you're better off getting a double-sided pair of standard MTB pedals that are easier to get into when taking off from the lights. I tried them on my trusty Trek 1000 workhorse for a while and have reverted back to the double-sided Wellgos for just this reason.

Neither would I recommend these to someone who is just going to race - better to get some proper road shoes and pedals.

Maybe these pedals are the "jack of all trades and master of none", but they suit my purposes quite nicely and at the price it was hard to argue!

Strengths:
SPD compatible, so I can use the same shoes and cleats as I have on my commuter bike (ie CONVENIENCE!)

Weaknesses:
A bit difficult to get into in a hurry, but that's not a big issue if you're out in the country and not having to clip in & out around town at every set of lights.
A bit heavy for a serious racer (not me).
The finish does scratch up a bit, but that's not really a biggie, is it?!

Similar Products Used:
Wellgo WPD-410 double-sided SPD

Price Paid:  $50.00 at Pricepoint

Summary:
I wanted to keep one system for both my bikes, so I picked a pair of these up. Overall they are decent, but with a slick bottomed show, these are nearly worthless, and dangerous, if you have to clip in and out for anything like traffic. I doubt I am going to have these another month.

Strengths:
If you can get your cleat in them, they work well for the price.

Weaknesses:
Shoddy finish is tore up after a few rides. This pedal isn't balanced correctly, and you have to flip them completely over to clip in. Dangerous in traffic.

Similar Products Used:
Various Shimano SPD mountain pedals

Price Paid:  $59.00 at Borsari's Melbourne

Favorite Ride:
Wasting roadies in my jeans

Bike Setup:
Reynold 653 frame new 105 groupset.

Summary:
Great pedals so I can keep the one cleat system for the whole fleet. I use a lightweight shoe for time trials on the road bike, and something a bit more grippy for off road or riding somewhere I need to be able to walk at the other end. No more slipping on my bum or walking like a duck.

Strengths:
Nice action with float. SPD's on all my bikes now. Includes pair of cleats in price (A$35 by themselves in Melbourne)

Weaknesses:
Entry rotates to bottom side and needs a flip with your toe to get in - this in no worse than older toe-clip style pedals (remember them?) I rarely put my feet down so not an issue.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at came with bike

Favorite Ride:
Swartz Bay to Victoria

Bike Setup:
Marinoni Leggero, now with full Campagnolo groupset.

Summary:
Inexspensive, entry-level road pedal that works with other SPD pedals on your mountain bike, commuter. Single-sided entry.

Strengths:
Small, all metal cleat, which is durable and makes for easier walking, when off the bike. Works with SPD mountain bike pedal and shoe.

Weaknesses:
Small cleat does create a "hot spot" on the foot. A small amount of fore/aft float that is noticeable when pulling hard ,mainly on hills. Not enough pedal surface area in contact with cleat which allows the shoe to rock side-to-side which doesn't make for a solid feeling pedal. Pedal always rotates pedal down and has to be rotated to clip-in. That's not always the desirable at stoplights that just turn green, seeing that Shimano states these pedal as a 'Urban/multi-purpose'pedal. Once the pedal bearings ease up over time the pedal spins to freely, combined with short pedal length, makeing the pedal harder to rotate to the right side up without them flipping over again and again. Can be a bit noisy. I'd rather go with a double-side entry for urban use.

Similar Products Used:
Wellgo, Campagnolo Pro-fit.

Price Paid:  $40.00 at mont bell

Bike Setup:
It is a road bike. Tires, etc

Summary:
VER DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. Do not use these if you ride in traffic. They remain in a upside down position and you must take your eyes off the road and look down at them to clip in, unsless you are ver lucky. Hard to flip to the correct position. I remved them and garbage canned them after 200 miles.

Strengths:
SPD

Weaknesses:
VERY dangerous in traffic. Unacceptably so. One-sided SPDs. One side will wear 2x as fast as a double, that is if you survive long enought with these to wear them out. Cannot rate lower than a 1.

Similar Products Used:
Shimano, Look