I never did update this, although I think I announced this elsewhere...

I had a pro-fit done 6 weeks ago. For other reasons I've been off the bike for two months, so this wkd was my first ride after the pro-fit (BG - Specialized).

At any rate, he talked me into spds. WOW. SO easy. As in, astoundingly easy. You don't even realize you just clipped in when you put your foot on them, and getting out is super easy - barely a flick in either direction.

The anxiety factor has gone down significantly now. As I use them more and more and realize the odds of going down at weird times has decreased I'll feel better.

I've no doubt challenges will remain, such as if I go up a hill and get way too slow or have to stop quickly, or even re-starting on a hill perhaps.. but this is so much better.

It also makes "starting off" easier because I don't actually have to have one foot clipped in to do so. By this I mean the speedplays were so foreign to me (and tiny) that unclipping both feet meant a big hassle getting going after a stop. The shoes were so slippery and the pedal so small that trying to pedal without the foot being clipped was actually kind of dangerous. You couldn't rely on it to cross a street safely after a stop.

My old flow with cages was first right foot down, and the left one down next so that each stop sign meant two feet planted. To start I'd kick the right pedal to get me moving and then mount. I can now do the same thing because clipping is so easy. Plus, the other side of the pedal has no clips which means I could choose from time to time, too.