I have had 40+ mile (round-trip) commutes in the last year and double centuries in the dim and misty past and still do not have clip-less pedals. I am not "Retro", just low income. I still commute at 12 to 14 MPH average after all these years. Higher speeds are a strain my knees do not like. Speed is personal, if it hurts I hope you can afford the medical bills.

Snug shorts are more critical for me than gloves. When the spandex ages and stops giving enough support I use tight briefs under them to keep the ***** from getting squashed between my thighs and the saddle horn. As far as image goes bikers do not mind and the others are not bikers so I do not care much. Unless it is my current boss. Then I would pull trousers on over the shorts before entering the workplace early and hit the handicapped stall to remove the shorts.