getting started with clips
 

I just purchased my first road bike, a 2010 specialized roubaix elite which isn't great cosmetically but mechanically in great shape. Have never ridden with clips and the number of pedals, shoes, etc. is somewhat overwhelming.

I would like the clips for longer rides and to develop some technique but would also like to be able to ride in regular shoes if I'm just going down to the store or wherever.

Any recommendations for a newbie?

I ride in sandals on my Shimano SPD-SL frequently. No issues.

You could consider something like Shimano's PD-M324. The pedals are platforms on one side and SPD clipless on the other. Note that these are 2-bolt "MTB" cleats, and you'd probably want to get MTB shoes with them, so that the cleat is inset in the shoe's sole. Makes them extremely walkable.

If you really want to go with road shoes and road pedals/cleats, maybe SPD-SL. They're not all that awful to just ride as if they were platforms.

Bite the bullet. Get the Shimano SPD-L cleat/pedal combination and just learn to use them. It might be a bit clumsy at first, but shortly it will be second nature.

Right now I think the best value for pedals is the Shimano R550. It's composite, wide platform, only $56 shipped free on Amazon. This is what I use, it's been great. The wide platform is great for power, but also when you're just wearing flats.

The other to consider are Speedplay if you want to spend tons of money. The clip-in part is on the cleats (goes on your shoes). The Speedplay platform can be ridden with flats no problems, no moving parts on it.

Shimano A-520, A-530 or A-600. Reliable and like the PD-M324, platform on one side, SPD on the other. SPD are easier to walk in as well. Pick whatever shoes are in your price range (and most important) that fit your feet, most shoes from the big companies are decent. FWIW, I have a 6 year old pair of Louis Garneau MTB racing shoes that are still going strong but my next pair will probably be Sidi and from what I've seen they'll probably be my last too...
Whatever gear you choose, practice clipping in and out first in a safe area like a parking lot rather than falling over on the road when you stop for a light. They'll become second nature pretty quickly.

I agree with the folks recommending the spd-sl pedals. I switched to them last year after riding platform pedals for years. Took some getting used to, and I still am not awesome with them, but they do help. Although, I don't know that I have mastered any 'techniques'.. now I'm just attached to my bike when I ride, lol. I do want to work on that, just don't know where to start.

+1

I have a pair of Shimano PD-M324 pedals on one of my old bikes and I like them a lot. The platform side really serves to stabilize your foot when you ride in regular shoes and they happen to compliment (aesthetically) older bikes as well.

No matter which style you go with it is probably a good idea to reduce the tension on the pedals initially so that they are easy to get in and out of until you get used to them.

Dual sided SPD pedals with "walkable" MTB or touring shoes with multi-release cleats.

SPD pedals have adjustable retention. Read the instructions or ask someone with experience to show you how to set them (just takes a small allen wrench). Back the retention way off as the factory setting is usually higher than needed. You should be able to clip in and out nearly effortlessly in any direction except straight forward or straight back. If you have accidental clip-outs, increase the retention a half turn or so at a time until you only clip out when you want to. I've got mine set so that I don't even have to think about clipping out, yet I never have problems staying clipped in even with aggressive riding on rough surfaces.

I like to ride to destinations where I can get off the bike for a while and walk around without looking like a deer on ice or making strange sounds walking on hard surfaces. I tend to wear jerseys that look like athletic t-shirts and MTB shorts. It's nice to be able to take off the helmet and blend with the locals.

Thanks for all the feedback. I will check my LBS and assuming they carry them, will work with them and decide on one of the SPD pedals and look at shoes as well.

Shoes are one thing I never buy online as fit varies so much from one brand to another and even from one style to another.

Being in a small town, I have one small bike shop with limited stock, but I do want to support them as much as possible.

Screw that shop, f' them. All small shops only have limited stock on very limited brands and limited models. Not even worth going to them looking for shoes IMO.

When it comes to shoes, you shop where you have to until you find the shoes that fit.

While most athletic shoes are now being designed for how our feet are shaped and function, most of cycling shoes are still being designed like fashion items. It's bizarre, sad, and stupid. every person on the planet, the widest point of the feet are at their toes, but cycling shoes, like dress shoes are most narrow there, makes no sense at all.

I personally would avoid Fizik, Giro, SIDI, Northwave and Louis Garneau. The narrowest are SIDI and Fizik, my feet aren't that wide, but man, painful.
- Grain of salt, there are lots of ravenous fans of these brands.

But luckily, the newer models from Bont, Specialized and Shimano are more shaped like running and athletic shoes, with roomy toe box areas. They have better support for the underside of your feet, pressure points etc. Some have custom molding like Shimano and Bont. My Shimano RP5 are improvement regarding fit, but still could use some work. Specialized newest is better, but $200 beyond my budget. Hopefully that fit will trickle down to their lower models soon.