Originally Posted by
Steely Dan
In most commuting situations, I would imagine that the speed advantages of clipless would be fairly minimal.
I commute with clipless anyway because:
- I love the security/stability of having my feet locked onto the pedals.
- they make trackstanding easier.
- they guard against foot slip when I'm up out of the saddle charging full steam chasing a waning green light.
as for shoes, I simply keep a pair of work shoes at the office, there's no need to lug those back and forth everday.
as for harried, trafficky situations, all of my bikes have combo SPD/flat pedals so that I can ride a regular old flat pedal whenever I want to (best of both worlds as far as I'm concerned, but others strongly disagree). Still, I ride locked in on the clipless side of the pedals more than 95% of the time.
I agree with everything you have stated with the exception of the combo pedals. Even if you are only marginally proficient at track stands, there is no need for being unclipped in any situation. I've never run across a situation where I felt the need to unclip and, in many situations, being unclipped so that you can "put a foot out to catch yourself" is only going to result in injury to that leg. You aren't going to "catch" anything.