What did they claim... I went to the Rivendell site and was unable to really find anything... Nice looking bikes and glad to see good lugged steel frames available... with a 70-80s mindset (just like the 80s bikes I ride today that I keep wondering are outdated... )

RE clipless... went there myself back in the late 80's or so (maybe early '90s) and haven't looked back. The comfort has been fantastic since. Spinning and releasing are just so much better... with clips, the whole "reach down first thing was just an accident waiting to happen. Most commutes I did with loose straps, just tightening on long trips.

Clipless rules.