OK so I've kinda gotten my bicycling stable almost sorted out, and I've already pre-started on my New Year's resolution of getting much more saddle time in on the road. I need some new pedals and shoes for my road bike and I'm debating my options.

Here's my profile: Done a fair amount of cycling over the years, mainly commuting / errand running and the odd charity ride over the last decade. Last year I finally got a true road bike (a used Rodriguez custom with a Campy gruppo) and set up my 'cross bike to actually race 'cross instead of the commuting / general road riding I was using it for. 'Cross racing was a blast and I intend to keep that up, I finish middle of the pack in Masters 35+ Cat 4/5. On the road, I've started riding group rides as well as solo fitness rides for myself. I have been doing about one long ride (30-50 miles) and some shorter commute / fitness rides of 8-16 miles per week. I hope to keep that up for 2014 and my cycling goals for the year are to complete my first century, continue to improve in cyclocross next fall, and possibly ride a few entry level races in the local criterium series.

So for pedals I've been riding Speedplay frogs for years, but I've had some breakages and failures in that time and I don't like the new G3 cleats, they don't seem to be as secure as the older mushroom head style. On a recent 60 mile ride one pedal kept unclipping when I hit a jarring bump or even a rough shift. I did one 'cross race on the frogs and that was it, they sucked in that application and since then I've run Shimano SPDs (M520s) without issue. I tried the M520s on the road bike and they were fine. I have a pair of Specialized mountain shoes that I got with Rodriguez. They are fine, a middle to low-end model I think.

Anyways I'll keep using the M520s with the Specialized shoes on the 'cross bike, but I want a new pedal / shoe set-up for the Rodriguez. I'd like it to be relatively stiff and performance oriented, but I'm not sure I want a shoe I can barely walk in. I have an old utility bike with platforms I use for my short commute or short distance errands. But I will use the road bike for commuting or riding to further out appointments where I can take care of business, but also sneak in a fast say 12 to 18 mile ride. I don't want to have to waddle around like a ******** duck when I get there and I suppose for city riding where you need to put your feet down at a lot of stops exposed cleats are not ideal? One solution that I friend of mine, who is a dedicated cyclist who bikes literally everywhere in his life on Look Keos, uses is to have shoes at his office and he also carries around a lightweight pair of street shoes in his pack.

So I'm considering getting mid to higher quality mountain shoes or preferably "touring" shoes that are decently stiff and light and either the A520 or A600 SPD pedals. I guess I'd give up some ultimate performance, but lets face it I'm not Lance Armstrong. Do users of those pedals find that the platform actually contacts and engages with the shoe sole when you are clipped in? Any shoe recommendations in this realm?

Or are there road shoes and cleats that are ok for walking in that I should be considering? On those city rides I suppose I could carry some kind of lightweight street shoe as in those instances I usually have a small backpack to carry other necessities including a lock. Then you can have a plenty stiff and light cycling shoe without worrying about it working for walking at all. Are there road shoes that work well with constant toe dabs at street lights etc? Seems a bit complicated though and then you're carrying extra weight in shoes. On the long group rides I could omit carrying the extra shoes though.

I know it's been discussed before but thanks for any opinions you my have.