Originally Posted by
sw20
Thanks for info.
I tried on some shoes at the weekend, and saw a couple of pairs that I liked, these
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/500-road...d_8487283.html and these
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/900-carb...d_8390039.html the first pair were the ones that are compatible with SPD and SPD SL, hence the reasoning for edging towards them as I could get the M520 to get use to clipping in and then getting the R540 if I liked it!
I can get first pair of shoes and a set of M520 and R540 for the price of the second pair of shoes and a set of R540 pedals.
If you want smooth-soled 'road' shoes, then go straight to the SPD-SL R540's. IMHO, the small 2-bolt cleat, exposed on the sole of a road shoe is miserable and darn near hazardous to walk in, even just taking the bike out of the garage. Frankly, the 2-bolt SPD is harder to get lined up and clicked in without being in the 'pocket' of the sole of an MTB / Touring shoe as well.
The learning curve isn't really much different for the two styles, other than the 2-sided aspect of some SPD pedals. If you like the road shoes, go straight to the SPD-SL / LOOK pedals.