Pacific Northwest - Pedal/Shoe/Cleat reccomendations

Hi,

I am just starting out with the whole cycling thing. Done a couple rides locally, the McClinchey Mile and the Tulip Pedal, working towards the STP.

But I don't know where to start with pedals/shoes and cleats. I bought a bike (used) and it came with Shimano PD-M505 pedals which I have learned are MTN bike pedals, but what reccomendations does someone have for shoes and/or cleats for me? My dad sent me his strap in pedals until I figure this out. But looking online at stuff makes my mind go into overload especially since I don't really know what I am looking at anyways....

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks!!

I suppose this is a personal issue, but I have been very happy
with the Speedplay frogs-they are very ergonomic for me.
the downside is that for me commuting is sort of hard on the
cleats(gravel dirt etc) I like the set up well enough for now to stick with them.
For me the cleat wears out to quick. I am on my second set of pedals because
I did not do the maintenance on the first set. And I am on about the 5-th set
of cleats for this set of pedals.

I really like how my foot floats on the pedal, as if I was stepping on an
ice cube- I have a bit of movement in my legs and knees when I pedal.

Hope this helps

TTFN

check out pricepoint.com...they have pretty decent prices. good luck

I should have mentioned I have the sette mtb shoes...just under 40.00 and are comfy.

It's not unheard of to get on a road bike using Mtn shoes and pedals, especially if you like to walk around and visit at rest stops etc. Mtn shoes are easier to walk in. If you're set on road shoes and pedals, shoes come first, make sure they are comfy. An article in Bicycling went as far as to say Skimp on pedals and splurge on shoes. You can buy lots of decent pedals cheap these days. I would make sure your shoes are compatible with both Look and SPD systems. I'm with cohophysh, I have a pair of Sette road shoes with SPD style wellgo mg-80 pedals. Shoes arent bad and the pedals work just fine for a fairly new guy like me. Price around 60 bucks if I remember right.

+1. The first order is to find good shoes that are comfy. You can spend $50 on up for shoes. If you're going to want to walk around ALOT then get some mountain bike shoes. There pretty similar to road shoes, they just have treads on the soles. I've got my mountain bike shoes matched to eggbeater candy pedals, easy in and out. They are slightly different from regular eggbeaters in that they have a platform built into the pedal. I use them when I'm going to be off my bike as much as on it.

However, when I'm primarily road riding, I prefer a road shoe. They don't have treads, but you can still walk on them for short distances. The cleats have a couple of points of contact for walking and there's a heel pad. I use the SPD-SL cleats because they have a wider platform than the eggbeaters, and IMO are more comfortable when riding longer distances. They have lot's of float (float allows your feet to move from side to side a little - pivoting around the forward point of the cleat which is easier on the knees.)

Either way you go, it takes a little practice getting into and out of the pedals. But not too awfully hard to get the hang of it.

Good luck.