dat_steve: Part of the learning process, huh?

insearchof1988: Thanks! I'll look into that :)

andrizzle: Thanks, I'll make sure to read up on it!

**********: Thanks! Those are good tips! That's the same reason why I didn't include Speedplays in my list of options. I am by no means a racer or wanting to be one, but I like to have something that would grow with me as I improve skill over time.

Thanks for all your inputs, guys!

The main question is will you ever be walking in these shoes? If you are going to be using these pedals for getting out of your car, riding, then getting back in your car or for stepping out your door, riding, stepping back in your door the best option will be either Look or SPD-SLs. They provide more comfort, better power transfer, and more riding durability. But they are totally unwalkable. So if you are going to use them for commuting, or even just to stop off in a coffee shop the SPDs would be the better choice.

Thanks! If I ever go with SPD-SL's I understand that I wont be doing much walking at all. I think I'm OK with that, but I guess we'll have to wait and see how it is once I get the pedals. I rarely commute on my bike, although it would be great if I can. I do go on more relaxed rides with my buddies from time to time, and that involves walking to places, I think when that happens I should have a pair of shoes ready to change to.

For that I'd go with the regular SPD. Just because you can get some decent looking shoes to walk around in too. I hate having to bring a bag around, and I avoid it if I can.

Another option, if those friendly rides dont happen much, is a set of clip and strap pedals, a tub of grease, and a pedal wrench.

Indeed, I do plan to get myself a pedal wrench for swapping out clipless with clips and straps

Grease your threads every single time no matter what; if its not going right in stop and reset.

dude on other forums the admins strip the thread off for pete&repeat sH*t like this ... 99.9% of people don't use the search but the funny thing is everyone replies with their 2¢ regardless ... myself included ... it's been going on for years.

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Cyclin...hEnabled=false

I have these shoes with a set of shimano SPD, perfect combo for me. You can walk around without feel the clip under your feet.

Nah .. totally should've got these
http://www.sportsartv.com/wp-content...%20Sandals.jpg

I'm hearing rumors that there's going to be a company offering a shoe that would work with the 4 bolt design of the speedplays, sans that stupid adapter.

i think one of the reasons they're a little more lenient here is because of the terrible search utility this forum has. it rarely yields decent results. the only way i've found to actually dig in the forums is via the google function (ie. - "site:bikeforums.net clipless pedal").

The search function works well. You just have go through the advanced search instead of the search bar.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-How-to-Search

Going through Google works well too

The search feature is OK, though admitedly I dont go thru the advanced search (will do so next time). Searching via google always directs me to posts under Bike Forums.

I'm questioning how those would sell. The problem I see is a lot of die-hard speed-players (is that the correct term for them?) really like the shoes they already have and don't want to buy new ones. Unless said company can produce shoes on par with middle to upper range Sidi's and such I'm not sure if they would sell.

Small market unless the shoes are also drilled with the 3-bolt pattern

Yup, it would probably be in small market. Even if they had a 3-bolt pattern drilled in as well I'm not sure how well they would do.