Originally Posted by
chefisaac
SPD's are awesome as long as they are the mountain biking kind.... the kind that has the clip inside of the shoe (versus sticking out of that makes since). They will require the pedal that can be clipped in on either side, making stopping and starting clipping in and out a breeze.
Agreed. Once you get used to SPDs -- which only takes 1-2 rides for most cyclists -- you should find them ideal for commuting. I tried commuting with Look pedals, which are one sided, for a while and they are a royal pain when you have to clip in and out a lot for traffic lights. In contrast, SPDs are very easy to clip in and out of, particularly the double-sided ones.
Shoes also make a big difference. I've got some high-end shoes, Sidi Dominators, because I've used Sidi Genius road shoes for years and they are very comfortable, durable and easy to adjust. The Dominators (or other mtn bike style shoes) make it much easier to walk than road shoes because the cleats are recessed.