Originally Posted by
erig007
Clipless pedals brings 2 extra difficulties over platforms. No mechanism is exempt of failure. So there is already a risk of mechanism failing for a start. Clipless pedals bring another risk of failure to the risk of failure of mechanism which is human error. Unclipping bring extra constraints that reduce the number of degrees of freedom of your feet. You therefore have a complex action to do with your feet as rotating your ankle is a complex action. Plus this complex action isn't just for one foot but for both that you may have to deal with at the same time.
ever heard of sh56 multi-directional cleats?
Another difficulty over this is that wheel slipping on ice may happened without any warning as opposed to hitting a vehicle for instance where you may have milliseconds or even seconds to prepare for the crash. When there is no time to anticipate i prefer having to do simpler actions than more complex one.
i've hit pavement/ice at speed over a dozen times and not once did being clipped in have any effect on the outcome.