Originally Posted by
Rowan
To be honest, I suggest you leave any thoughts of foot retention alone for the moment.
Many riders have a natural tendency to ride toe-in or toe-out, and trying to artificially correct that with clips-and-straps or clipless might lead to trouble you don't need at the moment. In fact, most riders with toe-in or toe-out ride that way even with clipless pedals.
Get used to riding the bike at a higher cadence first on platform pedals. One of the tendencies for people either new to the game, or coming back, is that they want a fast progression.
Take it easy, and change things one at a time after you have spent time with the current set-up.
You might consider using a pair of shoes with a harder, less flexible sole, however.
I find that the toe clips and straps don't do anything to restrain my toe-out posture. If you do happen to ride toe-out you just find your foot pointing outside the clips when you're riding unless they're cocked to fit your posture. I figure the clips are only there to hold the strap open while your foot isn't in it. Cleats of any kind are another matter. I haven't ridden clipless yet but I'm hearing a maximum of 15 deg. to accomodate toe-out.....My right foot would be over that limit I imagine.
So if the OP isn't riding with any kind of cleats now than that probably isn't the problem anyway.