Hi All,
First of all thanks for all you replies. Heres an update.
I did a bit of searching & decided PD-M520's would be OK for what I need, cheap & cheerful, got a couple of pairs.
Ordered some Adidas Moro 3 trainers from the States, $56 (37euros) sent to a friend there who will forward them to me, now I'd really have loved to buy these from my LBS, give them the trade etc, BUT they want 90euros($138) , I'll have to pay some P&P but still WAY cheaper, crazy world.
While waiting for these a local discount supermarket that has limited time offers got in some cycling trainers that have provision for cleats, 20euros, yep crazy, but while I'm waiting for the Adidas's thought I'd try a pair. Actually well made & comfy!
Today was my first ride out with SPD's, short ride, about 10 miles mixed road & trail, didn't have any problems with setting up shoe or pedals, started off with minimum tension then soon wound them on a few "clicks", felt comfortable with getting in & out of them, no problems, BUT, if this had been a test before I'd bought them, well to be honest I don't think I'd have bothered, for starters, my shoes fit well, same as any other trainers I have, but my foot moves inside them, only a tiny amount but noticeable, do you guys get tight fitting shoes? I realized one advantage with clips is the fact they clamp round your foot, doesn't matter what your trainers/shoes /boots fit like, your held tight. The other side of that is I think I like the "float" SPDs allow, but need more time to get used to it.
I used to leave my apartment & near run down a flight of steps carrying my bike, then when I returned run back up, bike on shoulder, hoping to avoid any neighbors seeing me, silly clothes, red face, sweating etc, today I left the apartment, nearly broke my neck as I ice skated on the marble floor & disapeared down the steps (lesson learned), returned, red etc, walked slowly up said steps looking like I desperately needed a toilet! I've seen local roadies doing this walk! OK this is probably the shoes, cleats don't protrude but do contact the floor.
Anyway its early days & I will stick with it, will give it a few weeks & report back & hopefully all will be well, I suppose a good test would be to go back to straps after a while & see how bad they are! Don't get me wrong I want to like them, just seems like some very small advantages & some bigger disadvantages, am I missing something?
Take care.