Spud love

With the exceptions of testing and road racing aspirations in my late teens, Shimano's mighty spud and its homages have been my clip-ins of choice. I still have a set of the original spuds bought by a family friend in 1991. They've been ported about, from Lotti, my long-gone Kona Lava Dome, to Ursula and for a time, the Teenage Dream- my bespoke road bike from 1991. The latter being slightly ironic, given the bike's primarily Euro-centric specification. That said, I've also run Look/Keo patterns on Ursula from time to time, purely since I'd shod the old girl with 1.75 section slicks and was doing a lot of tarmac biased testing. Then of course, I can be a little contrary...

That out of the way, I've always loved the ability to walk graciously (as distinct from hobble) sans bike and recessed cleats also mean I'm not tearing chunks from expensive flooring. They also shed mud and other gloop very convincingly. Not to the same degree as Time ATAC, or Crank Brothers Egg Beater (which I'm also fond of) perhaps, and there have been some definite improvements since Shimano's first hit the market both in terms of mud shedding and weight.

Nonetheless, they're arguably the default pattern- cleats and other replacement parts are readily available across the globe, so arguably a great choice for touring, gravel and general rough stuff.  They're also very straightforward to strip down and adjust using readily available tools Simple Pedal Overhaul | cycling-not-racing. Welcome should you bend an axle or bearings get the grumbles.  Aside from the first generation, which I have a fiercely sentimental attachment to, I would argue the M520 and M540 represent the best bang for buck. However, it's also been noted that I've a "thing" (some have gone so far as to call it a fetish) for homages, particularly (but not exclusively) budget models. This stems from two streams- curiosity and a legacy of my years as an undergraduate and pitifully paid jobs. Situations where cheerful ruled the roost. 

The case for homages  

In some instances-the higher end of the market, we're talking sealed cartridge bearings and sometimes a weight saving. However, budget models serve very well for daily drivers and others where function is more important than form. Daily drivers, winter/trainers and commuters being the most obvious examples. I lived in the capital for many years and found that dressing bikes down slightly plain, decal-free framesets and simple tricks such as a lower end rear mech, pedals and brakes (coupled with a properly deployed F**k off lock) meant bikes could hide in plain-sight, while still being a joy to ride.

During those times, casual thieves seemed to judge a bike's value by the rear mech.  Oddly enough, given my "plain Jane" philosophy, my London working bike sported some bright red Ritchey homages, which were ultimately borrowed and not returned. Cleat compatibility goes both ways i.e. pattern cleats play nicely with Shimano pedals, Shimano cleats with their impersonators, although Shimano's entry and exit have always been that bit snappier. 

Dual-sided mtb spds have long been my default on a fixed, their smaller profiles providing better ground clearance-especially when cornering. Less of a consideration with a build such as Muffin (link) which has a loftier bottom bracket and 165mm cranks,, but where I'd steer riders with a road conversion. Dual sided design meaning I can just step in and scoot off. Less problematic doing steady miles along open roads, but a must in stop-go traffic and other situations dictating quick entry and exit or when I'm just weary.  

Worth noting that spares, such as bearings, axles, dust caps, seals etc can be hit n' miss when talking homages. I've tended to service more frequently- every few thousand miles, or six monthly, whichever comes first. When it comes to bearings, any decent grease will do, although if in doubt, I'll default to something synthetic. Stodgier lithium-based formulas work very well and, when pumped into the body can give a "weighted" effect, meaning the pedal sits level for speedier step-ins. At the other extreme, I've found Peaty's Speed Grease (link)  the way forward, since it penetrates very deeply, rewarding with minimal friction. Great for pepping up those that haven't been serviced in a long while, if ever... 

Personal Favourites & Quirks 

Of the patterns, I'm particularly fond of Wellgo MO94 B WELLGO MO94B SPD PEDALS | cycling-not-racing which feature aluminium alloy bodies, sturdy Cro-moly axles and DU/sealed bearings. Their MO94 counterparts feature ball bearings and could represent even better value for some. Both shed mud and gloop surprisingly efficiently.  The Taiwanese brands' MPD 823, which are cheaper still, run ball bearings and slightly lower rent Boron axles but would make a good choice for workhorses, or riders new to clipless systems.

There are versions, such as Wellgo WPD-801 with magnesium bodies and the options of ti axles, which have curiosity value and may save a few grams. I'd be tempted at the right price, but arguably their less exotic siblings represent best value.

 Now for the quirky stuff, which undoubtedly says more about me.... Powder coated bodies are very durable and great for keeping the salt monster at bay- especially magnesium. However, its reality thick, compared with ED and wet spray finishes (such as these ISSI) so localised chipping with engagement and release is to be expected, dare I say, inevitable.

For the most part, I'll leave and admire the personalised patina. However, in those cases where a painted finish is flaking, or peeling, I have been known to strip and polish the bodies when performing a thorough internal overhaul. Periodic waxing, while treating the bike(s) will protect the exposed surfaces. Over-spray when giving the cleat mechanisms a shot of maintenance spray also helps. 

A less common dual-sided concept are these nickel-plated Exustar, which I've had for over twenty years and are primarily intended for indoor use. North of 500g, they're hefty, but the sturdy electroplating and decent weather sealing ensures practicality. One side features a Look Keo pattern, the other Shimano SPD. This configuration meant I could never find myself donning the wrong shoes, which was particularly useful when rushing to leave the house, or embarking on rides with small children en tow. The wider platforms displace weight very effectively and I've found them very supportive on longer rides.     

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