Originally Posted by
Sixty Fiver
I use clips and straps with no cleats and must have foot retention because of nerve damage in my back that affects my left leg and foot... without this my foot will often slip out of position or lift off the pedal as the motor nerves are affected. I like to be able to get off my bike and walk and cleats or straight up clipless road shoes hamper my walking ability.
I use single layer leather straps (usually Christophe) with touring shoes having a plain rubber sole. These work fine for what I do (cruise around all day at 17 MPH) but are a far cry from anything I would term actual retention, and would be next to useless for "performance" riding. In my racing days I depended upon wood-soled shoes with deep slotted nail-on cleats, along with Campy Super record pedals, Campy clips, and Binda Extra straps (doubled for track racing).
I suppose it is all relative, but compared to the former, the latter was vastly superior in every way -- except, as you point out, for walking. I think your note about "clipless pedals...are better when I am dead legging it..." is illustrative: proper retention is proper retention. Tennis shoes aren't, though they may be "good enough" for individual circumstances.