Originally Posted by Nycycle
... I am going to use them on this road bike only because the dang roads around here are so rough my feet get bounced off the pedals, especially in an intersection, not a good place to "Pop outa gear" so to speak. I think they are safer than not on road bike.
Although I much prefer to use clipless on road, I can ride without them. But I would not think of riding off road without clipless pedals. SPD or Eggbeaters both work very well. My feet would bounce off my pedals all the time without them.