Bike shoes?

You may not need a bike but you will want to decide on pedals as some shoes don't work with certain pedals.  I would certainly try them on before buying as well.  They feel VERY different from brand to brand.  I have Sidi shoes and they are VERY comfy.

I use MTB shoes as I find them easier to walk in BUT they aren't compatiable with road pedals...which is fine with me.

Good Luck!!!

Actually, you can use an SPD pedal (usually used in mtn bikes) designed for road bikes.  Performance has one for around $40. I think you can also use a Crank Brothers egg beater style that is made for road bikes and uses the same cleat as the mountain bike version.

You don't need to have the bike first or the the chose/cleat first.  Of course, you will need both to ride effectively.  Most mid to upper range bikes come with no pedal, so you can add whatever you want.  Removing a basic pedal is very easy with a pedal wrench, or just ask the BS to replace the old pedal with the new.

Since the components are all made by the same couple of manufacturers, it doesn't matter where you bought the bike for compatability.

When I got out of racing for a few years, I replaced my Look pedals on the bike with SPDs for the road bike, and used my bike as a commuter/touring bike. I used the same shoe for my road bike as my mountain bike.  It was nice being able to get off the bike and walk around easily when touring.

x2 yes...AND I mistyped my answer....Sometimes they are not compatible with CERTAIN road bike pedals...NOT all road bike pedals.

The hole pattern is the key

heh, heh, heh - you said "hole".

Right - usually mountain bike shoes are not compatible with Look/Shimano or Time pedals.  I'm not sure about speedplays.

Great site - Performance  --- Thanks!

As a newbie should I aim for a mountain shoe because it is more versatile then?  Rather than spending so much on a road shoe that I may not be ready for?  

I understand the road shoe is not as useful for city commuting...? 

Once I have the special pedals.. can wear regular shoes or do I have to have shoes that click in? (might be a stupid question again.. but... I don't know the answer).

I think you're asking a lot of questions that will be answered by personal preference.  For example, on my road bike I use mountain bike shoes (Shimano) with Shimano SPD pedals (two holes in the shoe and cleat).  The shoes are stiff, but they also allow me to walk around a bit more easily off the bike than a road shoe with a bigger cleat (you know, for when i stop for coffee and such ).  But, that's my personal preference.  Road shoes are going to be lighter than a typical mountain bike shoe, but that's not a huge deal to me.  I'm comfortable with getting the SPD cleat in and out of the pedal, so I see no reason to change any time soon.

And yes, once you buy a set of pedals and get shoes and cleats to match, that's pretty much what you have to use.  Clipless pedals are pretty small, so it's not very easy or comfortable to just throw on some sneakers and ride them around the block.  You can buy a Shimano pedal (don't know the model number) that has two sides--one for cleats and the other flat.  Not something you typically see on the road, but versatile if you want to ride in sneakers some times.

Performance and Nashbar sell this type of pedal as "campus pedals".  I use them on my mtn bike, since I get nervous about some of the technical single track.  They work well, and you can use either "regular" shoes, or bike shoes with SPD clips.

That looks great!  I think I will aim this way... sometimes I may want to bike in a skirt and small heals....   seems like a great idea.   I won't be locking in to sporty mode... great!

I have also seen SPD based platforms that click in just like your shoes would.

I have never used them... but I think they were at performance bike???