SPD = "Shimano pedaling dynamics" Everybody's got an opinion as well as something else. For me I rode for years with platform pedals and then later with toe straps. It was perfectly fine. However, I now am totally used to spd. In a sense my shoe has now become the pedal platform. Clipping and unclipping are automatic. For me (notice how I preface everything with "for me") clipless work better. I have gone back on occassion but the experience has been completely unsatisfactory. I do like spd shoes in particular as opposed to road pedals and shoes because of the walkability feature. I walk around in a pair all day and think nothing of it. I am just waiting for some shoe company to come out with a whole line of regular shoes with recessed spd cleats.