Originally Posted by
ryansexton
Is the difference really that noticeable? I assumed clips and clipless were virtually the same; better than platforms.
Yes, it is, especially on a fixed gear. To properly use clips, they must be slightly loose to be able to get your foot in. You must then reach down and reef hard on the straps, without cutting off circulation. You need to lock the rear of the pedal into the groove that is in the sole of a proper pair of cycling shoes that are intended for clips. Without doing so, you create a lot of slop in the system. My Sidi/Quattro combination is rock solid, and as others have attested to, allows climbing seated on hills I would probably have to stand for with clips and softer-soled shoes. Also, when used on a fixed gear bike, you don't need to do anything other than step and go - no reaching to tighten straps on a pedal that is moving. A MTB shoe easily allows unclipping at slow speeds and just using the pedal like a regular platform as you prepare to dismount.