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Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

Specialized MTB Shoes vs. Shimano PD-M324 SPD Pedals

Long ago, I put Shimano PD-M324 pedals on Mary’s Tour Easy, because she prefers a pedal with a platform on one side and SPD cleats on the other.

Shimano PD-M324 pedal - SPD side
Shimano PD-M324 pedal – SPD side

Those are newish-old-stock from the Big Box o’ Bike Parts, as she’s worn out the previous pedals.

She recently got a pair of Specialized MTB shoes:

Specialized MTB Shoes - PD-M324 clearance
Specialized MTB Shoes – PD-M324 clearance

The shoes work fine with the more-or-less standard Shimano PD-M520 double-entry SPD pedals on my bike:

Shimano PD-M520 pedal
Shimano PD-M520 pedal

But the soles jammed against the frame on the PD-M324 pedals.

So I carved away enough rubber around the cleat sockets for clearance to float properly with the cleats latched. A bit of trial-and-error, probably with a bit more to come after on-the-road experience, but definitely a step in the right direction.

Protip: always always always arrange the workpiece so the blade trajectory cannot intersect any part of your body, no matter what slips occur.