Originally Posted by
RubeRad
? Seems trivially easy to just kick the pedal back to where you need it. And I agree, the loss of efficiency is only in some conditions, and I don't think I'm ever in those conditions. I don't race. Actually, two years in a row I participated in the Devil Dog Duathlon at camp pendleton, but my 1:08:37 time on the 30K ride would I'm sure be no different if I wore platforms & running shoes -- and my transition times would have been faster from no changing.
I find that to get much efficiency advantage from clipless under normal conditions, I have to be thinking about how I pedal, though it seems natural to use that attachment while climbing, accelerating, or sprinting. Mostly I just like the feeling I get from being more firmly connected to the bike, - sort of like ski-bindings. Feels like I have more precise control and that the bike is more of an extension of me.
However, if on any particular day clipless shoes would be a problem or a hassle, I wear regular shoes and choose my winter bike or the fixed gear and it's not a big deal. Life would go on for me just fine without clipless. It's just a minor preference.