I'm not sure where to start. Any recommendations? What's a good beginner setup? What do I need to look for? Stay away from? Brands? Any good online shops? Everything my LBS carries is in the $200+ (for shoes) range and I'd love to find something a little less expensive. Shoes + cleats + pedals = ? I'm really pretty clueless...

You should be able to find road shoes for under $100. Do you have a Performance Bike or an REI nearby? Both have road shoes at lower prices.

Generally you will see two types of shoes -- ones that allow for a recessed cleat like the two-bolt SPD cleat, or dedicated road bike shoes that leave the cleat exposed. The benefit of the first is that you can walk a lot more easily off the bike in your shoes. You can also find sandals or more casual shoes that use this type of cleat. The benefit of the dedicated road bike shoe is that it provides a bigger interface between shoe and pedal and is purportedly better for power transfer.

A road shoe will generally take multiple types of cleats. There is the Look system, the Speedplay system (a lot of people on the forum seem to like these a lot -- the pedals are two-sided and some find them easier to clip into) and the Shimano SL system (among others). Your bike shop might let you try clipping in and out with different The pedals typically come with a pair of cleats to attach to your shoes, and can range from $40 for SPD pedals to upwards of $200 for the higher end of dedicated road bike pedals.

Hope this helps ...

I used to have the Look cleats. I found walking with them difficult because the cleat was mounted on the bottom of the shoe. I am now using the SPD cleats. The shoe bracket is inside the sandles. So I can walk normally. I love them. But they are obviously not aerodynamic lol

Buy from UK ...if you're 100% sure what size shoe you need. I got Shimano R171 shoes and 105 carbon pedals for less than $200 shipped from Probikekit.com

But you don't need that much shoe/pedal to start with. I like Shimano SPD-L pedals. I started with PD-R540 pedals and R087 shoes which cost me about $100 total

If you're looking for a fine combo of cleats+shoes, this is my suggestion:

- Shimano SPD-SL R540 those are nice for newcomers, their spring preload is lower to ease the clip-in & clip-out. I use routinely the same ones but on wide platform (the R550 ones).
- Specialized Sport Road shoes. Nice ones. Around 90-100US$. If is your first setup you may need to know that the stronger sole, less power wasted on pedal motion so the shoes are more expensive. Yes is nice to have a ultra-zoot carbon fiber sole, but sometimes less stronger soles are better to get a grasp.

Give us a number. Some people here will tell you to buy the more expensive stuff but you surely don't need it. I started with $90 shoes.

If you give a number you want to stick to for the pedals and shoes we can't point you to some great options. Also consider if you want to use MTB shoes which makes walking around easier. Here is a road setup at Performance bike and ebay that is $116 for shoes and Pedals

Shoes come in two colors and are on sale for $76.49

https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...rue&quantity=1

Pedals for $39.99

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2015-Shimano...item4d338fcaf0

Maybe use the local bike shop to try on the shoes to find the right size ,then buy them online. My first pair was welgo pedals and shoe bundle for like 65 on ebay and it worked just fine.but i got lucky on the size tho i wouldnt recomend buying and hopeing you got the right one.or you may have to ship back and waste lots of time you could be rideing them. Hope this helps and good luck

Thanks everyone. Would be great to get shoes cleats and pedals for $150? Definitely under $200.

And I think I want MTB shoes with the SPD cleats and pedals.

Thoughts? They happen to have only my size left:

Product: Louis Garneau Bromont MTB Shoes

If you are looking for MTB style pedals, check these out:

https://www.crankbrothers.com/product/eggbeater-1

Slightly more expensive than cheaper SPD but I found them easy to get in and out of and they are 4 sided so pedal is basically always in the right position to clip in as opposed to 2 or 1 sided pedals

my first clipless shoes were a pair of $100 giro shoes and shimano 105 road pedals, i still have and use both (though ive noticed now that the shoes are a size too big)

those pedals are a bit better than the 540 bottom of the line pedals and they should last you damn near forever. ive been happy with my giro shoes but tbh shoes are a personal fit thing like saddles and boxers vs briefs (boxer briefs, i know youre all wondering)

for my mtb i use issi pedals $70 or TIME ATAC (ebayed for basically nothing) and the mtb version of the same giro shoes

Those are nice, if they fit and YOU like them, go for it.

Thanks everyone. What about this setup. Is everything compatible?

Shimano PD R540 SPD SL Road Bike Clipless Bicycle Pedals No Cleats Black New | eBay

Amazon.com: Shimano SH-10 / SH-11 SPD-SL Road Cleats - SH11 (6 DEGREE FLOAT)

Product: Louis Garneau Bromont MTB Shoes

no, that will not work. those are road pedals. you need MTB pedals like these. They come with cleats no need to buy cleats

New Shimano PD A530 Aluminum SPD Road Dual Platform Pedal Set w Cleats Silver | eBay

Thank you. Any issues with MTB pedals on a road bike?

Jenson USA has pedals on sale. Great deals, and come with cleats.

Components > Drivetrain, Brakes and Pedals > Pedals > Clipless Pedals | Jenson USA - Mobile

As far as shoes go, the lower end shimano or specialized shoes are great. I rode some Nike shoes from the lance era for years that had three velcro straps. I got a pair of shimano shoes last year with the ratchet strap and I love being able to cinch them easily once on the bike.

none at all, personal preference. most people that use MTB pedals and shoes do it for the ease of walking around. Not impossible, but harder to walk in road shoes.

Nice find slowgo...

OP, this is a nice sale, these are $28 and you can clip into the pedal on either side.

Shimano PD M530 SLX Trail Clipless Pedal > Components > Drivetrain, Brakes and Pedals > Clipless Pedals | Jenson USA - Mobile

thanks!

Great. And these are compatible with these shoes?

Product: Louis Garneau Bromont MTB Shoes

Those are compatible, yes.

Agree -- I have a road bike I have set up with SPD pedals and use it for shorter trips and/or any ride where I know I am likely going to be walking around a bit.

Yes, they are. The shoes have two holes in the bottom and the cleat just screws right in. Very easy task. You will be on the road in no time, and look, got both for under $100.

Genuine thanks! Checked out with a grand total of $86.50.