Riders who split their time between clipped-in efficiency and running errands in street shoes usually end up either owning two bikes or swapping pedals every few days. Shimano's PD-M324 solves that problem with a dual-sided design that puts an SPD clipless mechanism on one face of the pedal and a flat platform cage on the other, so the same bike works for a Saturday gravel loop in cycling shoes and a Tuesday grocery run in sneakers.

The clipless side runs the same SPD mechanism used across Shimano's mountain and trekking lineup, which means it accepts SH51 single-release or SH56 multi-release cleats and offers adjustable entry and release tension. Dial the spring tension down while you're learning the clip-in motion, then crank it up once your feet know where to go. The flat side uses an aluminum cage sized to catch a normal shoe sole without the pins or aggressive grip pattern of a platform pedal, which is exactly what you want when you're pedaling in loafers or work boots.

Construction pairs an aluminum body and cage with a chromoly spindle, threaded 9/16" to fit any standard crankarm. The bearing setup combines a sealed mechanism with serviceable cup-and-cone bearings, so you get weather protection during the ride and the option to repack the bearings when they eventually loosen up rather than tossing the pedals. That's the reason these have hung around Shimano's catalog for as long as they have—there's not much to break, and what does wear is fixable.... Read More