Pedals flats or clipless

Right I am in the market for some different pedals and I am thinking of trying some clipless pedals instead of my current flats.

I currently have some Specialized shoes that are like trainers but removing a patch of sole allows you to install some SPD cleats.

Reason I am thinking of changing is recently I have noticed that my feet are not always in the same position on the pedals and also heard this can lead to more knee pain (which I suffer from). So thinking of trying some SPD to see if it will help and if I can get along with it.

So what I am asking what type would be ok, Shimano 570? or something like BBB clipless (found for £22.50) or Egg beaters (heard mixed things about these long term), of course I wish to still use my current shoes, but if need be I would go to the Look style. Would it be ok to use a more MTB pedal on a road bike etc?

Thanks

mtb pedals are fine on a road bike, lots of people use them because mtb shoes are easier to walk in.
Time ATAC's are highly recommended by many on here, me included. I can't say for sure about knee pain as there can be many different causes of it.

Thanks for the reply Sumo, I have heard that many rate the ATAC pedals, are they still a SPD type cleat fitment?

If need be I would just stick another pair of shoes in my bag etc, but just wondered the different advantages from a road style pedal to a MTB one.

They use the same 2 bolt fitting as SPD's, but are different cleats/pedals.
Road pedals are better in that they can hold your foot more securely, they have a larger platform which gives better stability and evens out the pressure on the foot, they apparently give better power transfer too. Road shoes are normally lighter and stiffer than mtb shoes. If you're just commuting or cycling around town then mtb pedals and shoes are more than adequate, in fact road pedals/shoes may be more of a burden. Road cleats wear out a lot quicker than mtb ones too.
I forgot to say before, for riding fixed especially, clipless shoes are much better than flats.
Mtb shoes are much easier (read - possible) to walk in, but if you're going to work or whatever I would still take a pair of proper shoes with you too.

Make sure you get one with a decent amount of float, that way you can play around with cleat position the first few times riding them and find where your feet naturally go, that way you can avoid further knee pain.

Road pedals usually have a bigger surface area, imagine pushing a drawing pin into a wall, it would be much easier than pushing a needle into the wall because of the larger surface area. The shoes have a very stiff sole, again, more surface area, but it also makes it comfier when travelling further.

MTB pedals usually have more than one clip in point to make it easier, so much more practical when commuting around, also the sole would be as stiff, and they usually have tread and a recessed cleat, making walking much easier.

Thanks for the replies, the one reason why I am wondering is that in May I am planning to do the Suffolk Sunrise 100 (Miles) on my bike and so would want to makesure that I am as comfortable as possible with minimal waste in pedalling.

I currently have a pair of shoes at work that stay there, maybe I shall try these pedals - http://www.shinybikes.com/bbb-mountaingo-clipless-pedals-white-2961131107.html to try that way I wouldn't be losing too much money.

^ they're £37 though

These are cheaper
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/Atac-Alium-Pedals/TIMEPEDM280000000000?utm_campaign=Googlebase&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=Googlebase

I swear by my Look Moabs but id ont think they make them anymore. Mtb pedal with no float so feels like a road setup.
otherwise spds are fine and pretty much indestructable. Not used atacs but heard good things about them.
egg beaters are (I hear) not good in that they have a very small surface area so dont spreadx load as well and need more regular service. I've got about 6 pairs of spds and never serviced any of them.

In my experience dont bother with spds if they aren't shimanos own brand

...maybe I shall try these pedals - http://www.shinybikes.com/bbb-mountaingo-clipless-pedals-white-2961131107.html to try that way I wouldn't be losing too much money.

That same store sell Shimano's own M520 for almost half the price of the above.

^ they're £37 though

These are cheaper
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/Atac-Alium-Pedals/TIMEPEDM280000000000?utm_campaign=Googlebase&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=Googlebase

The BBB on ebay are £22.50 including postage...

otherwise spds are fine and pretty much indestructable. Not used atacs but heard good things about them.

In my experience dont bother with spds if they aren't shimanos own brand

so are spd's fine and pretty much indestructible, or should i not bother with them unless they are shimano?

That same store sell Shimano's own M520 for almost half the price of the above.

Yes but its the weight that put me off, weight weenie alert, but my current pedals are 340g for the pair. So I don't really want to add weight, yes i know stupid isn't it..

Cheap eggbeaters are rubbish. Shimano M540 MTB FTW. 350 grams, tough, require zero looking after in the grand scheme of things and can be had online for less that 30 quid.

so are spd's fine and pretty much indestructible, or should i not bother with them unless they are shimano?

Contradicting myself there aren't I?
in my experience shimano spds are brilliant and indestructable. Non shimano spds are indestrucable but not as good.

Has anyone used Shimano A530 singled sided SPD's? I want to start riding with SPDs for longer rides but it's more practical for me to stay in normal shoes for commuting and I'm wondering if these are worth getting?

I use 5700's for road riding, old bmx pedals with clips and straps for communting. Takes 2 mins to swap and I don't have to carry extra shoes - win :D

I had m520's when I raced bmx, virtually indestructible, looooooove them, but 5700s look better on road bikes :P

I use 5700's for road riding, old bmx pedals with clips and straps for communting. Takes 2 mins to swap and I don't have to carry extra shoes - win :D

I had m520's when I raced bmx, virtually indestructible, looooooove them, but 5700s look better on road bikes :P

I am leaning towards something like this... But I would like a just one time fit and forget, aslong as I can get along with clipless pedals

Put them on, you'll love it, I was worried about it but feels so natural.

You don't get that omg I can't get my feet out thing youd imagine, I've never fell off due to the clips, always got my feet out as I fell. And the power, which was noticeable because of the sprinting nature of bmx makes a huge difference, I gained a bike length over 30ish meters compared to who I trained with.........