I am a current MTB'r for over 15 years and I am starting to give road riding a try and want to do it right the first time. I have ridden MTB's for many years and even rode clipless for a long time. I just bought a nice new tarmac road bike and need to get pedals.

My choices are get a Crank Bro type pedal with a light mtb shoe with minmal treads or go with a look type pedal

I like the keo classics or shimano 540 since the price is right and they get good reviews.

Should I go with a lower model road pedal like the shimano or look with a road shoe..I do wnat to have some float since road biking is new and I wont be hammering down right away

or

Go with a better mtb/road SPD pedal like the crank brothers and use a light mtb shoe.

I want to spend around $200 total for shoe and pedal and plan to ride ride only with minimal stopping except for those gas station stops and maybe when Im cruising down by the beach

I like the mtb setup. You can walk comfortably, you don't have to risk spraining your ankle with a twist every time you step onto a floor of a store etc...

With a high quality mtb shoe, the sole is just as stiff, with added urethane treads. Very minimal weight gains and unless racing, I very seriously doubt that you gain anything going to a road shoe...JMHO

I've used MB shoes on the road since clipless were invented--I wear size 15 (euro 50 or 51) shoes, and they used to be almost impossible to find. I bought two pairs when I was primarily a mountain biker, and then when I switched to riding the road 75 percent of the time, I just couldn't justify buying a whole new setup. For awhile I even swapped pedals between the two bikes. At least for me (non-racer, recreational rider and tourer), there aren't any disadvantages.

My Lemond came with a single sided entry type of road pedal so I bought my first pair of shoes. I didn't know much about the whole thing just bought what the LBS guy showed me as a good middle of the road value. It was all OK e3ven if I did fall a couple of times while getting used to the whole thing.

Then I bought a Giant OCR Composite 2 from a different LBS. It came with two sided Shimano pedals that I guess are really more of a MTB pedal. They were kind of a realation for me. I like them a whole lot better. They may not be cool but I sure get clipped in on the first try way more often. I'm a 61 year old cardiac retread and I just try to do miles at what I consider a good clip. I an't goin' nowhere and I know it! LOL!

When I got my wife set up with a Specialized Sequoia Comp that had the same double sided shimano pedal as my OCR C 2 from yet a third LBS the guy recommended she start out with her first clipless set up by getting MTB type shoes. She did. Caught on quick and never looked back. I doubt you could talk her into a pure road shoe.

I don't think it pays to make things more difficult for youself unless the small gains are signifcantly important to yourself.

More hassle when you aren't pedaling, but I've always found them to be more comfortable and efficient while pedaling. Heck, you only live once.

I've had a lot of success with Specialized Trail 120 MB (http://bikespring.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=525) shoe combined with Shimano's A520 (http://www.fullcycles.com/product_info.php/products_id/485) pedals. The Trail 120s have a carbon sole, are surprisingly light and I actually prefer the hightop feel (and look). They're easy to walk in, and Specialized's Body Geometry insoles and inserts can help compensate for pronation etc.

The Shimano pedals, are the closest thing I've seen to a road platform with MTB-SPD cleats. They also are a clean look.

I run them on my Trek 7.9fx hybrid and plan to stick with them on a new Cervelo Carbon Soloist... so obviously I'm pretty happy with them.