Originally Posted by
merlinextraligh
The advantage to clipless pedals isn't efficiency. I don't think there's much doubt that pedaling along at a submaximal steady effort, platform pedals work as well as clipless.
But riding a bike, certainly racing a bike, involves more than submaximal steady state efforts.
If you never sprint, never accelerate to close a gap, or catch another rider, never climb a hill as fast as you can, there probably is not a big advantage to using clipless pedals.
There is likely a reason that all racing cyclists, and the vast majority of fast recreational riders use a pedal system that firmly attaches their foot to the pedal.
one could argue that the sponsors give them to pros. the roadies see the pros use it, so they use it and buy it from the sponsors. It's the wonderful game of marketing that cycling is so good at. But I guess compared to the two bolt spd, the three bolt system allows your shoe to be a little lighter, and the improved support area gives you a little more power transfer. In any case, I don't think even that difference is enough to matter for anyone less than elite, and most people are probably better off getting mtb shoes for practicality. But that's not the case, because we're all vain as hell