I started out with Shimano SPD and have stuck with them ever since. I use Giro Grynd shoes for most of my leisure rides since the shoes are pretty much tennis shoes, and I can walk around with them without noticing the cleats. The soles aren't stiff either so you're not walking around funny. In fact, I bought a second pair just because they're so damn comfortable (way more than my mountain bike shoes)! Great for beginners who do not want to jump directly to road shoes.