After much hemming & hawing and gnashing of teeth...SHOES!!!!
 

I'd been waffling about clipless for a while now, I know I just have to do it, but I want to walk comfortably off the bike, and I want to pedal without clipping in sometimes, and..etc, etc, etc.. yada, yada, yada...:crash:

So...I had narrowed down pedals to going with either Time ATACS or Crank Brothers Mallets...:thumb:

I was gonna go with the ATACS but!!! I decided to go with the Mallet 2's simply because I know I'm a clod, will be doing a lot of city riding, and I want a platform for what I know is going to be a familiarization process. I do not want to be trying to gimp in and out of clipless when I have other things going on therefore a platform-clipless seems to be a good way to get myself into the swing of it.

I plan to go to a grass field, and probably just fall over a few times...to get the hang of it...the falling part. :injured:

The next choice to agonize over was shoes...:bang:

Initially Northwave was in the running, I ordered a pair of Sparta SBS on sale at competitive, they came, too snug in the toe box...I like the latching strap. :rolleyes:

That's when the furious research commenced :twitchy: and I had narrowed down to the Giro Privateers, and Mavic Rush...

Being the cheap SOB that I am I just wasn't finding them at the price point, and color, I'm looking for...

Now, I've looked at Lake shoes before, but they always seemed pretty up their on price, and although I could be wrong I understand that their BOA closure shoes are quite cozy...

Lo and behold, I went to NASHBAR today and I was able to order a pair of MX226 shoes for $88.00 including shipping and discount. :love:

I hope they do the trick.

I've had a few clipless moments. They always occur at the end of a long ride when I'm wiped out. I'll clip out on my usual side, put my foot down, and the bike will decide to go the other way. Although one time I was following my wife on the MUP and she thought she heard something fall and hit the trail (nothing did) so she just stopped right in front of me. I was able to stop to avoid hitting her, but not unclip so down I went.

I had the spd clip(less) one way release on my shoes, and learned how to fall...I recently installed the 3 way release Shimanos and they let me pop out super easy, yet stay in when I am peddling. They are a huge improvement over the "one way" release, tipping the wrong way is no longer a wide eyed panic moment, I can pop out in a nano second and not hit the deck...YMMV:bike2:

Do tell, I'm not aware of these? I'm mostly afraid of scratching the bike up in a stupid unglorious fashion...ha!

http://www.rei.com/product/738015/sh...ase-spd-cleats
just one of the places that you can get them (I got mine at my LBS). If you look at them, you cannot (I cannot) tell the difference, however, they just unclip without effort. I also turned the adjustment screw on the pedal to its lightest (-) position, which also helps. The "old" spd's are on the shoes I use for spin classes. I highly recommend trying them out.:thumb:

These are Shimano specific correct? You can't use them with other makers SPD pedals?

As far as I know, spd clips are generic and should work with any spd pedals.

Excellent, these sound about as idiot proof as these things can get...and I need the help.

Yeah, SPD is the best option if you're just starting using clipless. Lots of cheap, good double-sided options out there.

Minor update...due to reading that the Shimano SH-56 cleats are most likely not exactly compatible with CB Mallet pedals I canceled that order and went with some Shimano XTR-PD985 Trail pedals... I figure total compatibility makes sense...

in answer to your pm (i am not at 50 posts...so no pm for me...:cry:)
I have ridden with them the last few weeks quite a lot, up hill, down hill, standing and sitting and have not had any issues at all. I imagine that it is possible, but my pedals are set at the lightest tension, always stay in when I am supposed to. I think that if you are using them while doing cyclo-cross or mountain or spin class, then you might have more of an issue, or if you are doing the Danny MacAskill style of riding...:twitchy:

[h=2]How to Make Your Own Cycling Shoes[/h]

http://gearinches.com/blog/how-to/diy-cycling-shoes

very cool