Only a joke to those who can't pedal. Sorry, dude. I can lift my whole spin bike off the floor in spin class too, just for jollies, not for exercise. Cycling is classified as a non-technical sport, but there is an element of technique to it. For example, the trick when hill sprinting is to keep both wheels on the ground. If one wheelies, one loses steering, lightening the other end loses traction, so weight and torque distribution have to be just so. It's my specialty. I don't have the VO2max to keep up with the real climbers. Imagine how fast you could sprint if you could nearly double the force you apply to the pedals. Go out and practice. I've taught many people to sprint. Relax your lower leg and foot on the backstroke and pull up on the heelcup with a powerful contraction of the hamstring. Good Mornings or straight legged deadlifts are good for the hams, though pedaling is better.

And yes, toe clips are just about as good, especially after your rat-trap pedal wears grooves in the bottom of your shoes so you don't pull out any more. The biggest difference is that clipless is safer and warmer. I only use double-sided SPDs for tandeming and touring so I never have to fuss with the pedal - just come down with the foot and it's in. Scary otherwise - Stoker would beat me up if I kept blowing her first power stroke.