Rudeness, finally personified!

I'm 63, and if you are anything like me, you will want to be able to go both ways, and be able to walk when off the bike.. That means SPD, Shimano M324s, and mountain bike shoes. Watching sales at places like Nashbar and Performance, you should be able to make the switch for less than $100.

Name brand pedals, like Shimano, are light years ahead of the cheaper alternatives (house brands) and much easier to clip/unclip, with smoother float, and complete rebuildability.