No, it's not a marketing scheme. If you're an actual racer, spinning for hours at 100+, clipless pedals are better than flats. If you're a racer, sprinting or attacking a hill at speed, clipless pedals are better than flats. Many of the riders I see using clipless, however, are toddling along on flat terrain with a cadence of 75 or 80, or climbing a hill with gearing that will easily get them up it without pulling up on their pedals. You don't need clipless for those things. Those who believe they do are victims of marketing.


Which is EXACTLY why we, who are experienced, should give good advice to newbies when they come to a forum like this asking for it. I would say "get some economy clipless shoes" is rather bad advice for newbies, because that's just a generic toss off and they need actual specific advice (brand, sizing, which clips and pedal system, road or mtb, etc., etc.). Accordingly, the advice I give for flats is very specific, e.g. I use "pinned" flats and a non-lugged soft/sticky soled shoe. Can you use non-pinned flats and non bike specific shoes? Yes, but in my experience pinned flats (Shimano Saints in my case) and soft soled shoes (I use 5.10 Free Rider) work well. And, as I've said in earlier posts, I think both cliplesss and flats are fine. I ride both. I simply disagree that one "needs" clipless for touring.