I think I wrote from too many decades ago and was misread in my earlier entry. In the old days with clipped pedals and cleated shoes you had to loosen the pedal straps before stopping or you could fall over still strapped into the pedals. I refer you to Sheldon Brown, the acknowledged purveyor of all truth in cycling history.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_cl.html-cleat I gave up road bikes and cleats for about 20 years for mountain bikes. I used clipped pedals and low-rise hiking/walking boots with Vibram soles or the like. They seemed work well enough giving fair attachment to the pedals and safety enough to get free in a jam. They would work just fine on a touring bike as well.
I missed a whole cycle of shoe/pedal evolution. When I got my current cycle-cross bicycle with SPD pedals the shop owner finally loosened the SPD pedals up to the limit and told me to practice on a level sidewalk until I got the hang of them. I still fell over once until the twisting release motion became second nature to me. I currently use a Cannondale Roam with SH-56 multi-directional cleats. They are a sturdy lower priced shoe with some room in the toe box. It would be a good shoe to use with clips and no cleats while touring. REI has them on sale as I write.
Western Flyer
