Originally Posted by
RaleighComp
If you're not using studded tires in the Winter, safety and bike control are just not that important to you. For me, I've *never* had a Winter surprise where my foot didn't automatically unclip at just the right time and my suddenly released foot was the counterbalance I need to regain control in most cases. In my experience, the slipperiest surface is a very thin layer of slush with water on top; nothing for your studs to bite into and not enough depth for your tread blocks to do you any good. Deeper slush not a problem, glare ice is a joy and I never miss a patch if I can. In slippery conditions a foot down will often *make* you fall with studded tires. Reason: Your tires have more traction than your foot. On ice a foot down is an absolute recipe for a fall.
I have studded tires and it's typically not the ice (at least not ice alone) that causes a problem. Anyway, for me the worst is loose snow over uneven, rutted ice. Especially in the dark where it's tough to judge the contours. This winter I had to deal with long stretches of that from late December through the first part of February. In 5 seasons of winter riding being able to get a foot down quickly has saved my bacon more than once.
Having foot retention means there's going to be a delay in getting that foot down. Maybe it's so small that it doesn't matter but I haven't been willing to take that leap of faith so far.
There's other downsides too. Keeping feet warm is a major concern when it's below 0. With platform pedals I've got all kinds of options for foot gear. With clipless, not so much and what's available for cold weather use is pretty expensive. Then there's the potential problem of getting snow and ice packed in cleats and clipless mechanisms. Maybe in practice it's not a problem but it's a complete non-issue with platforms.
I keep meaning to try clipless in the winter to see if I feel like it gives me better control over the bike, - enough to outweigh my concerns above.