Quote Originally Posted by DarcyInOregon View Post
I think Suzie has road shoes, not mountain bike shoes. I am trying to think of the difference between her and me, because I don't have any problems with clipping, unclipping, or pedaling unclipped, and it is the shoes and the pedals. I wear Pearl Izumi sport shoes, and the cleat is recessed, and there is lots of room on the shoe to pedal without clicking in. I wear this shoe so I can walk in it also, and this is because I am a rural cyclist, and if something happens to me I need to be able to walk however many miles. The pedals I have are Shimano SPD-M520.

Can anyone tell what type of shoe Suzie wears from the photo?
She has SPD pedals, which means her shoes are SPD compatiable and more than likely recessed -- making them mountain bike shoes. However, I have a pair of non-recessed road shoes that has SPD cleats on them that I use for spin classes, so I guess you can put them on either type. BUT, based on how she is standing (complete foot touching ground) it looks like her cleats are recessed, making them mountain bike shoes. Can she walk around in them well -- like normal shoes, not having to "clump" on the cleat?! If yes, moutain bike.

Maybe your tension on cleats is different from hers? If the tension on SPD's is tight, it will be very difficult to unclip, especially when you are not use to it. You can get in, but it is hard to get out. I really feel that loosing the clips and practicing with the loose clips will greatly help Suzie gain confidence in her pedal system!

As for Speedplays (asked by someone else on forum), I have always used the road version -- X series. I will carry cleat covers in my pockets if I plan on getting off bike and walking around. Many people do use the mountain bike pedals, Frogs, so that they can walk around without having to carry anything extra. I know people who do long tours on their road bikes and use Frog pedals -- love them because they are easy to clip in/out, even with a full load, and easy on the knees!