SPD newbie advice

MTB noob

I have finally made the decision to try out a SPD setup because I am getting really into the sport now and want to do a couple of sportives/races in the summer. However I have no experience at all of being attached to my bike by a sprung mechanism.
I don't really know what is good and what budget I should be aiming for (for me it's pretty damn low whatever it is) so would it be a good idea to go ask my LBS for what i should get, or would the extra cost for it compared to buying online make it impossible for me to get anything decent for my money?

Thanks

Tigger con carne

You can pick up a pair of M520s at various places on the internet for less than £20. Pro Bike Kit were selling them cheap a week or two back or look at Merlin. Obviously you need to get shoes. A bit of hunting around online should get you a pair for £40 or £50 but it can be a bit of Russian roulette depending on how they size up (though I got a pair of Madison Alpine from Cycle Surgery last year which fit me fine). You can get some branded with Muddy Fox at (spit) Sports Direct which are around £25 but I don't know if they're any good (though I can hazard a guess...)

BigAl

Easy, as above, Shimano M520

Here for less than £20:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-m520-clipless-spd-mtb-pedals/rp-prod3759?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom&gclid=CL283sSE9b0CFTMetAodATUAOw&gclsrc=aw.ds

MTB noob

The pedals look decent so I probably would get them from wherever. It's the shoes that I'm really not sure about because If I buy the wrong ones and it turns out they don't fit or they don't suit me, then I can't return them. Would it be a good idea for me to go in store for the shoes and grab the pedals online?

rockmonkeysc

Go to a shop for shoes and get pedals online.

Northern_Monkey13

I got put some m520 pedals for the first time last week. Set them on lowest setting and went for a ride to try them and them jumped straight into it.
Cracking pedals that release really easy amazing the difference to my riding esp up the cliff paths and down steps. plus takes worry out of slipping and smashing shins on flats

ej2320

If you fancied a slightly larger platform the m530 is also only £20, maybe less, I only looked on crc

Levi_501

Personally I like Specialized shoes. Their Body Geometry (BG) range is very comfortable.

Be careful of Shimano sizing, they tend come up quite small.

MTB noob

I've noticed the Shimano M064 shoes are going cheap with good reviews but none of the local bike stores have them in for me to try out though. The reviews as well say that they come up small which doesn't help me. I'm a size UK9.5/EU44 for casual shoes so do I look for that size or anything slightly bigger or smaller?

Chunkers1980

If you are gonna risk it go bigger. Two pairs of socks is good in the winter. ;-)