Ditto everyone else. I agree that while powergrips might be a good solution for you, you don't have to rule out clipless just due to your newness. When I bought my first road bike (first bike since I was a kid), I immediately started with clipless. No platforms for me! I have fallen once in the past 5 years and that was a standing still, slow-motion topple on an incline...that probably would have happend clipped in or not!

That said, I do have a brand new pair of powergrips that I bought and never used....so if you decide you do want to go that route, let me know and I can send them to you, if you'd like.