SPD type pedal/cleats are hard to clip into because the cleat is so small. For someone new to clipless I would recomend SPD-SL or Look as they have a large cleat that is remarkably easy to enter and exit. I would also recomend stiff soled road shoes as there is a great benifit to those over soft soled MBT shoes (if there was no difference racers would wear MBT shoes, they don't).