FatBottomedGirl

Alright guys you convinced me I will give this a try.

Actually just tonight I went to my local bike dealer to try a few of these shoes (I heard SHIMANO size very small...) to ensure I buy the right size online...

Still I will probably practice riding clipless on weekends beofre going to work with it!

Thanks again for the advice!

Notso_fastLane

I wouldn't ride without clipless these days. I've got 6 lights, and two stop signs on my commute, and it's 1) not terrible to have to unclip, once you get used to it, 2) usually not necessary to unclip except at the longer lights, since I usually can slow down and creep up to the light until it changes, and 3) totally worth it.

I usually take a longer way home, with few lights, and I would much prefer to be clipped in for that ride. I keep a pair of shoes in my desk at work, though, so I'm not walking around in my SPDs all day.

Also, I hope you consider buying something from your LBS, since you are using their services for sizing. Or, if the price isn't that different, just buy your shoes from them. Support your LBS!

scaryseth

A method I used when first getting used to the movement, read it somewhere.
Took the bike and a crate to the back yard. Then saw on seat with one foot on crate. Other foot clipped in and out of over and over, then switched feet. Helps you learn where on the foot the cleat is and the general motion ot get into and out of the pedal.

Good luck It is worth it. And you will fall, it is just a matter of time Still worth it though.

ChrisM2097

I have a 10 mile commute with lots of stoplights and stop signs, into Downtown San Jose. I have SPD clipless pedals on each of my bikes...my commuter has 1/2 clipless pedals (platform on one side), which can be a little annoying at times, if the pedal flips the wrong way, but the benefits outweigh the shortcomings, at least for me.

Now, if only I could attach cleats to the bottom of my hunting boots for riding in the cold & rain...

FatBottomedGirl

Thanks for the advice.

For the store... it really does not have a lot of choice: 5 different models (including one for women), in most sizes...
But there are a few nice stores in London and I go there for work every other week so I will give those a try (it is not local-local.... but better than pure online...)

Drew Eckhardt 

I spent a few years riding 10-12 miles one way between Menlo Park and Sunnyvale with 24 (only one right turn in each direction) traffic lights and 10 stop signs between the two and SPDs worked great.

Cycling shoe covers work great in the uninsulated or insulated form appropriate for local conditions. My current pair are from Louis Garneau and are comfortable when it's 40 degrees and raining.

I had some covers with more insulation that were nice at 0-20 degrees when I lived in Colorado.

Digital_Cowboy

If you can barrow a trainer to practice on, or go to a park with a nice soft grassy field to practice in. Because if this is your first time with clipless pedals you will fall over.

Digital_Cowboy

Agreed, she, and everyone should support their LBS.

fietsbob

I prefer a boat without hull penetrations below the Water Line..

Digital_Cowboy

Any chance that your LBS could special order them for you? A lot of shops will do that for their customers.

ChrisM2097

Not necessarily. Just be careful, practice unclipping, and you'll be fine. I've been riding clipless for a year, and haven't fallen over yet. I've had a few close calls - not seeing light rail tracks that my wheels got stuck in; and then that time my cleat screws came loose, and I couldn't unclip until the very last second and caught myself.

chefisaac

SPD's are awesome as long as they are the mountain biking kind.... the kind that has the clip inside of the shoe (versus sticking out of that makes since). They will require the pedal that can be clipped in on either side, making stopping and starting clipping in and out a breeze.

ChrisM2097

I'll look into the shoe covers.

I had never really thought about how many lights and stop signs I have to pass through on my commute. I just did a count, and there are 32 traffic lights and 6 stop signs on my typical commute. That's a lot of unclipping. Taking that into consideration, it's amazing that I'm able to get to work within 45 minutes.

Rootman

Another quick word, the instructions that came with my pedals how to adjust them and said they were already at their loosest settings, dummy me believed it and had more than one dicey situations where I almost got stuck and could not unclip fast enough. I looked closer at them and figured out how the mechanism worked, backed them off a few more turns till they looked like they would fall apart and then turned them back in a few "clicks" till it had SOME tension - and that was WAY better.

Just a little adjustment can be the difference between slipping out with a slight twist and having to twist a lot to get out.

sternzeit

I wear Specialized Tahoe MTB shoes with SPD pedals. I wear the shoes all day at work with no problems. I wouldn't walk on a hardwood floor with them because the cleat protrudes just enough that it could possibly leave marks in the wood. On hard surfaces they are fine.

asmac

+4
I recommend multirelease cleats for commuting.

tarwheel 

Agreed. Once you get used to SPDs -- which only takes 1-2 rides for most cyclists -- you should find them ideal for commuting. I tried commuting with Look pedals, which are one sided, for a while and they are a royal pain when you have to clip in and out a lot for traffic lights. In contrast, SPDs are very easy to clip in and out of, particularly the double-sided ones.

Shoes also make a big difference. I've got some high-end shoes, Sidi Dominators, because I've used Sidi Genius road shoes for years and they are very comfortable, durable and easy to adjust. The Dominators (or other mtn bike style shoes) make it much easier to walk than road shoes because the cleats are recessed.

reshp1

If you're not pot committed (i.e. you have another bike with SPD pedals), I would recommend checking out Crank Bro's type pedals. I use the Candys on my commuter and the egg-beaters on my mountain bike. They're a fair bit easier to get in and out of than SPD style. You just kinda roll you foot over them to clip in and there's no resistance to overcome when clipping out.

Rick@OCRR

I commute with mountain bike style SPD's all the time and have never fallen, or even come close.

My shoes are 6-6-1 sandals which work great for Spring/Summer/Fall and I have some Answer BMX shoes I wear on cold winter days (well, as cold as it gets out here).

You will be fine with them once you get used to clipping in and out (which doesn't take long).

Rick / OCRR

nkfrench 

I love my mountain bike SPD double-sided pedals (Shimano M540) with my Keen bike sandals.
I have the tension set very loose and it's second nature to unclip. Have never had a clipless fall.
The pedals don't have to be flipped into position. The cleat practically clips in by itself.

The sandals have great traction while walking or putting a foot down. If necessary I can just put the arch of my foot on the pedal for a few pedal strokes.
The sandals will accommodate thin socks or thick socks with toe covers to be usable in many weather conditions; and they dry quickly even if soaked. I wear them year-round temps 35F-105F.
The ability to adjust width cured many problems I was having with hotfoot and cold cramped toes.
The rubber toe bumper keeps my toes warm in cool weather without making them overheat on hot days.
I also like that I can just slide my feet into the sandals without having to tie knots, adjust straps or buckles.
They have a solid plate on the forefoot but a little flex farther back for a more natural walking gait.
I am careful but do walk inside my house on new hardwood floors and porcelain tile and carpet. No scratches yet.

kiltedcelt

In my opinion, the best thing about clipless pedals is the ability to pull upward with your foot at the top of a pedal stroke. I don't typically do that except when going up some hills and in that case it's a godsend since it helps me keep my cadence so that I don't have to continually down shift. As for going clipless from not having clipless before, the best thing to do is ride around in a large flat grassy field with your new shoes and pedals and just practice clipping in and out. I've only had a couple brands of pedals in my years of cycling - an old pair of double-sided Look mtb pedals and the current Crank Brothers Candy 1 pedals that I've been using for the last 6000 miles. The Candy pedals are excellent. They're effortless to click into and your foot comes out very easily but not so much that you'll pull out accidentally if you torque hard on the pedals when pulling upwards. Also, I'd have to say the Pearl Izumi All-road shoes are the MOST comfortable bike shoes I've ever had, and I've own a LOT of clipless shoes over the years. They do make a women's All-road. The color is slightly different, but it's not pink or anything. Also I believe it is probably in mostly smaller sizes than the men's version. Most cycling shoes seem to run kinda narrow, so unless you have weird wide feet you should be able to try on almost any brand of shoe regardless of whether it's for men or women. If you can find a men's shoe in a small enough size (assuming you have small feet), there's nothing saying you can't wear mens shoes. Most of the time, the differences are the women's sizes don't go as large as mens, and the colors are whatever the manufacturer determines must be "more feminine."

Leebo

I ride flats on the road and on the dirt in winter. I ride spd's in warmer months on the mountainbike. Works for me, YRMV. Like warm winter boots for the commute when it is cold.

The Chemist

I use SPDs even in Shanghai's chaotic traffic. I simply unclip one side if I see trouble up ahead that may need me to slow down significantly or stop to avoid the possibility of getting stuck clipped in when I ought to be unclipped.

My main commuter has platform/SPD double sided pedals so that I can ride in sandals (summer, warm rain) or winter boots as well as my bike shoes.

antimonysarah

Another vote for the platform/spd pedals here, especially since the OP is new to clipless. If there's hairy traffic, just don't clip in. Yeah, you have to flip them over a bunch, but that becomes second nature as well.

Mark Stone

SPDs are great for commuting. They're easy to learn. Currently I use platforms (and have for a year or so now) but SPDs are an excellent option, and I think it comes down to a matter of taste in your decision.