I use Sidi Dominator mountain bike shoes on all of my road bikes. I prefer the recessed cleats, and the Sidi Doms are not a compromise at all from a shoe standpoint. They have the same very stiff sole that the Sidi road shoes have. So if you decide that you prefer a recessed cleat, there are some reasonable shoes out there.

On the ratchet buckle front - the top connection on my shoes is this type, the lower connections are velcro. I really like the ratchet as the top connector since it is very easy to reach down as I'm riding to make minor adjustments.

--- Denise