Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Pedal help

I'm off to the LBS in the AM to test ride (and probably buy) a CAAD9 and I'm wanting some advice on pedals. I bought shoes already (shimano so I can go SPD-SL or LOOK) and am thinking about going clipless. This is my first real road bike bought for me (my current ride is a hand me down from Dad) and I've never ridden clipless...should I hold off and get used to the bike first or dive in head first? If I go clipless should I get SPD or Look? I would want something easier to get in and out of. Thanks for any help.

edit: easy entry and release (when you want to), large cleat, float so knee friendly, bombproof, easily rebuildable, multiple options

Time, every time!
www.timesport.fr/us/home.htm (http://www.timesport.fr/us/home.htm)
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/manufacturers/3421/

http://www.cambriabike.com/Images/product/time_atac_alium_pedal_04.jpg

http://www.deanwoods.com.au/store/images/time_07_tatacxs.jpg
http://messengerofdoom.files.wordpress.com/2006/11/time-z-pedal-05.jpg

edit: easy entry and release (when you want to), large cleat, float so knee friendly, bombproof, easily rebuildable, multiple options

+1 on TIME and another suggestion

I had really good luck with Time in the past and I've recently had really good luck with crankbrothers eggbeaters (also re-buildable). I have heard some complain of durability issues but I haven't had any problems in the last couple of years. I did manage to crack the carbon body on a pair of time ATAC carbons but that was about 8 years ago and probably had as much to do with going through 4 or 5 years of eastern woods mountain biking as anything else (lots of technical rock fields and pedal strikes).

So... although nothing lasts forever chances are you can't go wrong either way.

Thanks for the responses guys, but in the OP I stated my shoes are SPD-SL or Look compatible only so I'm looking for advice on these two types of pedals only.

Either pedal should work fine. You can run your old pedals until you feel comfortable on the bike. Or run new pedals on old bike until you're comfortable coming out of them. You will fall once or twice. Just don't do it in a main intersection, it looks funny, like Curly on the ground going WOOOWOOOWWOOO

I made the change to clipless last fall and never had a fall outside. Had two falls while inside on my rollers when the tire hit the band that runs between the front and back rollers and shoots you off of the rollers. I have Shimano Dura-Ace pedals as that is what the LBS had in stock and gave me a great deal on. I think it is all personal opinion, and I like what I have. I was thinking of getting the egg beaters, but I got a great deal so I went with what was available.

Go clipless ASAP, is my best suggestion.

Thanks for the responses guys, but in the OP I stated my shoes are SPD-SL or Look compatible only so I'm looking for advice on these two types of pedals only.

D'oh! My bad. I haven't used SPD-SL but I've had good luck with LOOK pedals. I also really like the free float of Speedplay X pedals (this was a while ago and I'm not sure how the newer Zero and Light Action pedals stack up). The feel on the X's takes some getting used to as the float is very low friction and non-centering. The Speedplays will work on SPD-SL/LOOK shoes.

I had the Shimano pedals, but they were killing my feet with unbelievable foot pain. I found the Look pedals had a little higher rear section and gave me a little better support. Check with the LBS and see if they have any you can ride and see if you are comfortable on them or least if they will allow you to change them out with the other. I got the Look Keo Classics.

Oh and great pick on the CAAD9, absolutely love mine.

Thanks for the responses guys, but in the OP I stated my shoes are SPD-SL or Look compatible only so I'm looking for advice on these two types of pedals only.

LOOK/SPD compatibility generally means that there is both a two-bolt and three-bolt pattern on your shoes. Many other pedal manufacturers piggy back off those patterns so you're not limited to just LOOK and SPD, although Shimano would certainly like you to think that.

E.g. I ride Speedplays that I like a lot and they use the LOOK pattern.

Go head first with clipless. You'll get used to it in like an hour or two.

If you insist on choosing between SPD and LOOK, I'd definitely go with the LOOK. No question.

I've got two sets of LOOK PP396 pedals on both my bikes. They use the Look delta cleats. I really like those pedals as they have floating cleats and are easy twist of the foot to get out. I picked up my 2nd set just a few weeks ago from a UK retailer for 60$, my first set I paid over 200$ when I bought them about 8 years ago. :eek:

Thanks for the responses guys, but in the OP I stated my shoes are SPD-SL or Look compatible only so I'm looking for advice on these two types of pedals only.

still Time, every time!
http://www.timesport.fr/us/home.htm
http://www.roadbikereview.com/mfr/time/pedals/MPL_6466_2503crx.aspx

http://www.deanwoods.com.au/store/images/time_07_trsxcleat.jpg

http://www.cyclepath.ca/products/usrimage/time-rxs-cafe-cleats.jpg

http://www.bikyle.com/images/TimeRxsCarbon.jpg

while I may be a Time pedals fanboy

there's also (look bolt pattern)

speedplay
http://www.speedplay.com/
http://www.roadbikereview.com/mfr/speedplay/pedals/MPL_6463_2503crx.aspx

Thanks for the help guys. I ordered Look Keo Easy pedals, I'll swap in my old ones for a bit until they arrive (they'll look hillarious on the new ride).

Thanks for the responses guys, but in the OP I stated my shoes are SPD-SL or Look compatible only so I'm looking for advice on these two types of pedals only.

Wrong. Crank Brothers makes an adapter to allow the 2-bolt pattern to be used.

LOOK/SPD compatibility generally means that there is both a two-bolt and three-bolt pattern on your shoes. Many other pedal manufacturers piggy back off those patterns so you're not limited to just LOOK and SPD, although Shimano would certainly like you to think that.

E.g. I ride Speedplays that I like a lot and they use the LOOK pattern.

Go head first with clipless. You'll get used to it in like an hour or two.

If you insist on choosing between SPD and LOOK, I'd definitely go with the LOOK. No question.

SPD-SL though... which AFAIK is the same as the LOOK 3 bolt pattern. I'm sure there are adapters out there (as mentioned in another post) that will allow you to use 2 bolt cleats with 3 bolt shoes. It would be nice if we could just call them 2 and 3 bolt respectively. This pseudo standardization stuff is super confusing.