adding in my 2 cents worth
I put Frogs on my road bike and am very happy with the decision
My road shoes clip into the frogs plus I have the option to wear my mtn bike shoes.
I don't wear the road shoes for aerodynamic reasons - I am pretty much a hill slug (although a faster one now:) ) I need them for riding long distances, the soles are stiffer and give better support on rides over 40 miles long. (This is repeated in claims from all my riding partners who do rides of 40 miles plus)
When I am bumming around town, or doing shorter rides with some touring involved I wear my mtn bike shoes so I can walk in stores, visitor centers etc.
So my vote goes for the versatile frogs (you can clip in and out on both sides)
The spd reversible could be a good solution too
It all depends on your riding style, where, when, how far and what you do when you get there :)
Go clipless, you won't regret it....
I totally recommend clipless pedals, although they do take some practice. I purchased two bikes this year. The first was a Trek FX hybrid. It came with Wellgo SPD clipless pedals, but the LBS switched them out for Shimano one-sided SPDs. I bought some Nike touring shoes with recessed cleats to use with them that are pretty comfortable.
Before hitting the road, I practiced getting in and out of the cleats by propping myself up in a doorway. After working on it for a bit, I started to develop a sense of where the cleat was in relation to my foot and the pedal. They were pretty easy to use after that. Admittedly, I did take the obligatory fall on one of my firsts rides, but quickly learned my lesson. Within a couple of weeks, I was only using the clipless side of the pedals.
A couple of months later, I bought my first road bike--a Bianchi Eros Donna. It, too, came with Wellgo SPDs, but I immediately swapped them out for Keo Sprints. These have taken a little more of an adjustment. I practiced using them at the LBS while the bike was on a trainer. My first couple of rides, however, were still kind of tough. I ended up loosening the tension on the pedals quite a bit and then practicing in a parking lot. Keo's sort of float backwards when you're not clipped in. So to clip in, you have to first push the pedal down with your toe. It's taken some time for that action to become fluid and automatic. I still sometimes have to get all the way through an intersection before getting clipped in.
Anyway, here are a few observations:
Everybody seems to have a preference when it comes to brand/type. I talked to the guys at my LBS a lot before settling on the Keos Sprints. Weight wasn't that big of an issue, but in the Look/Keo line, some pedals have more adjustable tension than others. Your LBS should be able to explain that factor to you. Also, if you have knee problems, talk to your LBS about using a pedal/cleat system that has some "float."
Everybody has a preference when it comes to road shoes too, although SIDIs seem to be the most popular. Try on as many as you can. I ordered my first pair off of Nashbar. They weren't women-specific and while they fit okay, they weren't great. I then bought a pair of SIDA Zetas for women that fit much better. Whether you go with a mountain/touring or road shoe, make sure that they're well-ventilated, big enough to allow for some foot swelling, and are compatible with the type of pedal that you've purchased. Insoles can help make them more comfortable too.
Always unclip the same foot when you come to a stop. In my opinion, this helps use of the pedals become more automatic, and you're less likely to fall. If there's any chance that I'm going to have to stop, I unclip my left foot but then I keep the foot on the pedal so that if I don't end up stopping, I can easily just push down and clip back in. I only unclip my right foot when I stop along the side of the road to eat something or actually dismount the bike.
Be patient with yourself. There is a learning curve but considering how many riders swear by clipless pedals, it's easily surmounted. Just stick with it.
In my opinion, it's worth it to pay a fitter to make sure your cleats are positioned correctly on the shoe. When my LBS installed my cleat, they essentially approximated where the cleats should be. A month later, I had a professional bike fitting that included cleat positioning. The fitter measured my foot and precisely reset the cleat to maximize my power and comfort.
Hope that helps. Good luck.
Kate
Thanks So Much!!! And more questions....
Wow, what great responses!!!!!!! :) Thank you so much to all of you.
OK, so as I'm continuing to assimilate all this information, here are a couple questions for clarification --
1. Do all road clipless systems come with non-recessed cleats, or do some of them have recessed cleats? In other words, to get the recessed cleats (which would seem to be good since I have a habit of riding my bike to Starbucks) do I have to get a mountain bike system?
2. Is it totally impossible or highly damaging to walk on the non-recessed cleats, or just a huge nuisance?
3. Everyone is saying to allow room in the shoes for foot swell, and I've noticed on the other boards that a lot of folks with clipless systems seem to have sore big toes :p. But how much room is the right amount? Should they feel totally loose all around, or just a bit too long, or too long and too wide?
