Originally Posted by
ColaJacket
I think where clipless really helps is in spinning. When I try to spin without clipless, my feet will slip, or I won't be as smooth as I want to be.
They're definitely the most thorough system we have for keeping your feet attached to the pedals, while still being able to get out in a crash or sudden unexpected need to stop.
Originally Posted by
ColaJacket
Also, if clipless didn't give some type of advantage, then why don't more professionals just use platforms?
Just the attachment to the bike is enough for road racers, and these are people who drop $10k on a new wheel set to shave off 100 grams. I keep reading that some mountain bike pro racers do not use clipless, if it made a huge advantage in efficiency you'd never see that.
I'm not trying to get into "one is bad and the other is good" debate, I'm just saying that if you went over budget to get the bike you really wanted (the OP's situation), that getting clipless is not at all some sort of "absolutely have to have right now" thing that some people get the impression it is.