Originally Posted by
dorkypants
Laces may look cool and retro, but they are a potential hazard. I started with laced shoes, which were the only option, back in the days of toeclips and straps and cleats that you hammered into your leather soles. The stupid laces, if they ever came loose, had a tendency to get caught between the chain and big ring, more often than not bring the moving parts to a halt with your foot tangled up in the mess.
When velcro strap shoes came out I switched and never went back (later followed by ratchet-buckles à la early Sidi, then Boa).
FWIW, the elastic keeper that holds your lace ends on the tongue, at least on Giro's shoes, have never yet let the laces get loose. That said, if I still used caged toeclips, I might be worried that they could worry the laces loose.