Josh M

I've had my SPD's for a few months. (They came with the bike.) While I like using clipless pedals, I find the SPD's hard to clip in while starting up on technical or uphill terrain. I'm usually too busy getting the bike moving to get the cleat exactly where it needs to go on the pedal. I have the pedals adjusted loose, which helps a bit.

Will Crank Bros or Time ATAC be easier to clip in without "thinking" about it? Are the Time ATAC Z pedals as good as they look for pedaling a bit without being clipped in? Thanks.

LowCel 

I use egg beaters and even though they are extremely easy to clip in it is still a challenge when clipping in on climbs. They are easier than clipping in with spd's (to me anyway) but it still takes quite a bit of practice. I have found that I do better with egg beater candy's since they have a small platform to put my foot on, this way even if I don't clip in instantly I still have a platform for my foot to set on until I am able to clip in.

willtsmith_nwi

The Mallet is easier ;-) Just put your foot down in "about" the right place and wiggle your foot. You'll find it.

If the foot doesn't come down in "about" the right place, you can still pedal.

motomickey

I use the mallets for my mountain bike too-for exactly the same reason. Candys are not nearly as easy to ride clipped out of than mallets-I have Candys on my cyclocross bike

Juniper

I clip into my Time ATAC Z's without even thinking about it (which can be a problem if I don't want to be clipped in ; ) Basically, I put my foot down on the pedal and I'm clipped in with them. SPD's were sometimes a problem to get into, for me. I highly recommend the Z's for mtb clipless if ease in and out is the issue.

With regards to using the Z's as platforms, it's 'OK'. I haven't really found any clipless pedal (and I think I've tried them all; Times, Mallets, .....) that gave me much when unclipped. I've started riding platforms with pins (Wellgo B67's) for much of my riding and love 'em. It takes less than five minutes to change the pedals so I put on whichever ones I want to ride.

SpiderMike

Only time I issues clipping into my Time Atacs.....
1. one too many beers
2. get into the zone (of checking out those jogger chicks).

Just give it time. In time you will find the confidence to keep clipped in, or clip in earlier.

Juniper

Yes; I have noticed it is much more difficult to get clipped in around the women's beach volleyball courts!