Originally Posted by 46x17
You can pull up and push down more efficiently because your clipless shoe sole is very stiff and because you are very connected to the pedal.
ideally.
i've definitely seen a lot of bad shoes around, and people wearing badly-fitting shoes. the point of bike shoes is not the same as walking shoes, which provide comfort upon downward pressure. cycling shoes need to fit more like a glove, comfortable, snug, and stiff all the way around.
i ride clips and straps. shoes--good shoes--and clipless pedals... they're too expensive for me. i can't afford them. but i did fall much more in love with clips and straps when i took off the large clips and put medium ones on. hooray for that.