Newbie just saying hello!

[scooby]

What mtb have u got..ive stil got my 1993 specialized stumpjumper m2 wiv rc pace forks, adura brakes awesome bike stil 2day..me roadie is a Tdf carrera wiv few upgrades..

[Allezcat]

I've got an 04 stumpjumper.i just rebuilt it last year.put a set of recon forks,SLX chainset and elixir brakes on it. Upgraded the stem,headset,bars and seatpost too. The front wheel and frame is the only original bits left.i love it and will have it till it breaks!

[scooby]

They never break unless u give it to a teenager to ride for just 15mins..garrantee u'l need to replace summat on..

[andramont726]

Started cycling back in August and went straight for the spd's. It really shouldnt worry you, the benefits will outweigh the negatives.

I definately agree with this idea

[mikekchar]

I put off riding with cleats for a long time because I saw people saying things like "You will definitely fall off at first". Yes, you have to practice getting in and out, but it's not actually difficult. I never fell. Got my 70 year old dad going with road shoes and he likewise never fell.

The thing is that the cleats are much safer to ride in IMHO. Once you're clicked in, you never have to think about your feet until you are stopping. I couldn't believe how much attention it freed up when I was on uneven surfaces, or at busy intersections, etc. Having done a fair amount of riding on flat pedals, it's dangerous, especially when wet. You are constantly moving your feet around and at risk of slipping off. Not something you want to be thinking about when you have to negotiate traffic.

I originally went for SPDs because I wanted to get the pedals which are flat on the back, but I left my SPD shoes in Japan. As others have mentioned, they are a little bit uncomfortable on long rides. Also, I found it difficult to get the tension set up exactly the way I wanted -- either too hard or too easy to get out. But, if I had a choice between SPDs and flat pedals, I wouldn't even hesitate. I wouldn't wait if I were you.