I used Shimano mtb pedal like m510 for a few years, but found I could pop out unexpectedly sometimes. Before that I tried dual flat/clip but found them annoying to clip in.
I switched to Time ATAC many years ago and they retain very well and super easy to clip in.
For shoes I use Shimano touring RT82 and have sneakers at work
Recessed cleat and easy to walk in.

FWIW no more metal pins for me, I have enough scars. The flat pedals that came with my new MTB have some kind of plastic feature instead but I haven't examined them closely.

How do you deal with the shoestrings? I've been wearing a pair of Five Ten shoes for a few months. The shoes are comfortable and work well, except I always have to tuck in the long shoestring on my right shoe so it doesn't get stuck in the chain. It's usually okay but feels uncomfortable from time to time. Is there a good trick to getting this out of your way?

Thanks.

I just tuck, and have never felt uncomfortable. It would be interesting to research or invent a new shoestring knot that puts both bows (and both ends?) out to the same side. Or maybe being a different knot there wouldn't even be bows, but all loose bits out to the same side.

Huh, I never noticed and it just hasn't been a problem for me. I figured they made the shoestrings the right length so they can't get caught in the chain and didn't really think about it.

Thanks. It feels a bit uncomfortable when the plastic tip of the shoestring ends up between the shoes and the "bony" part of my foot, rubbing it the wrong way. I wish the Five Ten shoes came with the same type of elastic band to bind the shoestring under it that comes with some Shimano shoes.

Thanks. For some reason, my shoestrings are extremely long. Your reply has given me an idea, though. Maybe I should replace mine with shorter ones.

I keep shoes at work also.

If I worked a desk job, or other minimal standing/walking job, I'd probably just wear some casual clipless shoes all day long.

I work a desk job. I can't say what would work for everyone, but for me when I was using clipless I once forgot to bring my shoes and had to wear my clipless shoes around all day. By the time I got home my feet felt awful. I was just out of college at the time (younger) so I can only imagine how much worse it would be now that I'm older. I bought a 2nd pair of shoes just to leave at work because of that. At some point I tried the softer soled clipless as well but they still weren't great for walking around in and they gave me knee pain when riding (the hard soled clipless did not in the same way).

Just one persons experience, but it was pretty awful to wear clipless all day at work for me.

MKS 3000R is a quality rubber block pedal that can be taken apart, cleaned, adjusted and regreased..

I don't even use clipless and my 'bike' shoes are a dilapidated pair of running shoes, and I keep 'work' shoes at work full time in my locker. (They are also running shoes, but more presentable). I also keep jeans and towel at work, and bring them home for laundering occasionally. Daily I bring just a shirt, socks, and underwear. And in case I forget those, I even have emergency backup shirt and underwear at work.

I was genuinely considering getting clipless, but after this thread it seams a good pair of "studded" pedals is more than enough for a commuter

Definitely. Don't let the bike kit nazis boss you around.

https://www.rivbike.com/pages/the-shoes-ruse

That's a great read.

Reinforced what I was thinking since I am a noob to pedal machines

Clipless has its place, but that place is not as big as a lot of people think. Guess what: you also don't have to wear spandex.

I like the logic of a website that says I don't need clipless pedals to have a nice ride.
At the same time selling US$3,500 frames(yes just a frame).
https://www.rivbike.com/collections/framesets

This is true. I was listening just last night to an interview with GP and he was saying their demographic is basically 40-50-year-olds with kids out of the house, disposable income to buy nice stuff, but they've gotten 'beyond' the notion that cycling = racing.

OutspokenCyclist | Show
#401 ? May 19, 2018

And besides, $3500 is the price for a custom frame. Prebuilt are mostly in the mid $1000's, and they're beautiful.

​​​​​​It isn't about expense.

Is about practicality. Regardless of what your riding style is, a frame that fits you perfectly is very practical.

Forte Pedals work for me.

Personally I like having a variety of shoe options, so I use https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 partly old school (grew up with classic clips, so already had the muscle memory....).