Originally Posted by
gubaguba
There are definitely advantages to being clipped into, onto your pedals. If there was not then there would be no need for anyone to use them. They have been in use for better part of a century so I will leave it at that. That said modern clipless are used today for the same reason people no longer tie skis to their feet with leather straps. So if you crashed years ago with a bike securely strapped to your feet it stayed that way and tore tendons broke ankles and all sorts of nasty things. Clip less pedals will disengage allowing you to separate from your bike and thus reducing injury. This can be a very positive thing. Yes I speak from the point of experience.
Right on. Many, many years ago I commuted to work in Seattle along 15th NW, a busy street with traffic right to the sidewalk. One day as I rode about 6" from the curb, a car brushed me and I touched the curb and went down at about 20 mph - headfirst into a telephone pole, bike still strapped to my feet, and helmetless as well. It took a while before I could see anything, so a bit scary, but I'll never forget that feeling of hitting the pole, hands on bars, feet in pedals, the whole contraption turned just right so my head hit the pole first. Bike was fine. I was fine - after a few minutes I could see and ride, so I went on into work. Not that much blood, really. I suppose I must have burned off some of that speed somehow before I hit the pole, or I'd not be here, though I had no road rash. No one wore helmets in those days. They were unknown.
My left pedal I'd strap to properly, strap tucked into buckle. The right one, I'd reach down and tighten it up, but not thread the strap, so I could easily reach down and slack it off for a stop. No way were my feet coming out! Riding in traffic was fun. I could out-accelerate cars for about the first 50', quite an advantage. It was fun being young, strong, and crazy. I learned to hill sprint in downtown Seattle traffic. Had a full-Campy Legnano. Wish I had it back.