Originally Posted by
VegasJen
I tried to determine when and who might benefit from clipping in and to be fair, I suppose if you do a lot of riding in the rain or snow or an oil storm(?) then I can see how keeping your feet clipped to the pedals could give you some reassurance.
Most people who ride regularly (especially road bikes and pretty much everyone in competition) see a benefit from clipping in. Before clipless pedals were invented the majority of those same riders used toe-clips for the same benefits. Of course you can ride effectively with flat pedals too and they are easier for beginners to get going and more convenient in certain situations (for example I prefer riding flat pedals off-road if I need to do a bit more walking/hiking). Clipping in is not so much about reassurance, it's more about optimal foot positioning and technique. It's simply the best known solution for optimal pedaling and hence why every single bike racer uses them, from road through to XC mtb.