I switched to clipless in 1986 when I put Looks on my Lotus Classique and won't go back to toe clips. When I used to clips I wore a pair of Detto Pietro's with a deep cleat that slipped into the back of the pedal. When I sinced those straps down there was no getting out, my trackstanding skills developed quickly on my commute to college.
Now many years later all my bikes have SPDs which, for me is a nice compromise between walking comfort and pedaling efficiency. Nothing against clips, I just like clipless better.

Clipless on the road bike and standard platform pedals on the hybrid. Every time I ride the hybrid, I keep trying to unclip when coming to a stop or slowing down. Sometimes my shoes just slide off the pedal when I do it. I'm thinking of putting an old set of M520 pedals on it. It just doesn't feel right riding a bike without clipless pedals.

If it's of any consolation?...that sounds like a good problem to have VS the other way around...yet still there is a preemptive risk factor being created there that could result in injury...which to me?...solidifies my choice of going with dual-interface pedals because as a result?...it seems I always have a mental memo/note (sort of a "mind sticky" LOL) of "which side I chose last" (pending present riding conditions)...which has this magical way of keeping me very aware of whether or not I'm clipped in because every time I put my feet on the pedals?...it involves a conscious decision of "Which Side To Use"...which for some strange reason stays put in the memory banks of my old overloaded, over-worked hard-drive of a mind...and as a result?...seems I'm always very much aware of whether or not I'm clipped in...if that makes any sense. LOL!

Too date?...the worst thing that's happened is I pedaled a few strokes with my Nikes on the clip-side...and I have these DI pedals on two bikes...my RB and my Hybrid....but I guess I shouldn't brag because I wouldn't want to tempt fate either because with my luck?...it seems there's a first time for everything but knock on wood and praise God?...nothing bad has happened yet...and I have exactly 2 months worth of experience with anything "clip-less". ;)

A year and a half ago my sweetie and I were pedaling our '82 tandem on a serious uphill on Acadia Natl Park's Park Loop Road when another cyclist came up beside us and complimented the tandem. Then he commented on our shoe selection. He saw my sweetie wearing sneaker-like shoes in toe clips and straps and questioned our efficiency. Then in mid-sentence he saw that I was wearing Shimano spd mtb shoes and said "oh, I see, you're doing all the work" or something like that. Ha! Tandem-smirk aside :), he never even noticed that my spd shoes were working with toe clips and straps just like my sweetie's.

We do just fine, thank you.

That was the dumbest question ever. It really is a matter of preference. I bust some pretty good times/speeds when cranking out a TT course (pretty much my style of riding) with my toe-strapped Cannondale Criterium.

I was having a very hard time getting used to clipless pedals when I first started using them, four years ago. My biggest problem was remembering that I was clipped in and attached to the pedals and would often realize it just in time to stop or when it was too late. One day, after my ride, I loaded the bike in my pickup and drove home and that's when it dawned on me - disengaging from my pedals is no different than disengaging my clutch when slowing down or coming to a stop. After getting into that mindset, I have never had a fall due to being clipped in and coming to a stop. Unfortunately, there have been other incidents that have caused me to crash, but those would have happened even if I were on regular platform pedals.

Concur on pedal/shoe choice being a matter of preference. I'm always amazed at how many people think you need to do it their way or you aren't doing it right/having fun etc.

Not so sure that was the dumbest question ever, though. During my 25 years in the military I heard some pretty dumb question, but that's a topic for another thread.

I haven't read all umpty-dozen replies, so forgive a repeat. I've bee using clipless pedals, but just bought a set of Power Grips and am interested in how they'll work. They're like the straps of toe clips, but diagonal, and without the toe clip. You put your foot in at an angle and when you straighten it out, the strap holds your foot - until you turn it heel out again. We'll see..

I like the idea of them for touring, so I can ride with my bike shoes or my running shoes.

Thanks for the info Marc.

(Phil coming out of hibernation)

Spotted a just crashed bicyclist on the side of the road . . . stopped to help.
He was moaning holding on the his hand and an obviously broken pinkie.
Left foot was at an angle and still clipped in; right shoe was stuck on the clip but his foot was out of the shoe. Had some minor bleeding due to radrash.
Helped him unclip his left foot. Commented this was the 2nd time he's broken a finger in a crash!
Suggested he'd switch to toeclips/straps like I was using and learn to do a paratrooper roll over the bars. His answer . . . 'but toeclips they are dangerous!'
Got him back on his bike and pedaling and saw to it he got to the hospital emergency room about a mile up the road.

Good for you for helping out. (One would hope we'd all do that.) As for toeclips, just read my sig.

Good job hanging with him. Toe clips are dangerous, huh? He should rethink that.

At the moment, I'm cliplessless on my new Sirrus. And thinking about Power Grips

I find the irrational and uniformed fear of clipless pedals to be the single most amusing feature of this, and most other, cycling sites. ;)

Yep. Me. Nice thing about being over 50: You don't have to give a u-know-what about what anyone thinks.

I know. I've got it so bad I can barely function.

I would be one of them and have been for thirty years

On tadpole trikes like mine, clipless pedals are needed for safety. The big plus tho is the fact once sit down and clipped in, you really dont need to unclip untill you want to get off. No scratching clanking and wobbling on each start at a stop light or what ever.

+1.

SPDs on three bikes (I still drop in to spin class), thermalites and fixie straps on two bikes, powergrips on two bikes. They all work.

I've been riding clipless since I was 47. Speedplay always, because it's been the only one my legs/knees can use painlessly. Twenty years later, I'm now only going clipless on my road bike, in large part because I don't like the look of pedals and clips on it. I don't feel -nor have experienced- that cliplesss is unsafe, as such; but I would agree that clipless is the most likely way to get stuck, and particularly for less experienced riders, and anyone with poorly maintained pedals and shoes. Enjoy the ride in whatever way you can do that the best.

Age 60, been using clips forever, no plans to go clipless...not fear just not interested. I don't race so why bother.

I love clips on my bikes, check my profile info. Luddite? Not really. Let's just say how good clips look on this old bike:

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h8...6D92A70DD4.jpg

I do, too, OldsCOOL! Maybe we can find a support group for that.

Or lobby at the Hill for recognition as a people group. Then we can move on our state reps for issuing hate laws for the relentless bullying we get. :lol:

I just have no need to be clipped in.

I never graduated from the toe clips I installed on my new bike... in 1992.

I never graduated from the toe clips I installed...in about 1973. :D

I'm using BMX-style flats (the one with the pins on 'em). I've got a pair of Crank Bros 50-50s (only problem is they are overpriced, so get them on sale if possible), a pair of Nashbar's house brand, and an old (1995) pair from a Mongoose IBOC. Versatile, no need to worry about what shoes you're wearing, and they work for me!! Not interested in clipless, and never really liked the toeclip & strap set-up. YMMY Cheers!

Clips and straps for me....

I have a recurring nightmare that not only can other people see my spandex under my cargo shorts, but I'm "clickety-clicking" around the coffee shop in clipless shoes. I then end the performance with a Tanya Harding slide, leap and coffee launch. "shudder"

I'd better stick with regular footwear.

Just to clear up any confusion, do you mean toe clips generically, or the very same set of toe clips used since 1973? ;) If the later, then you have me beat entirely!

Hmm, on that bike they might be the same toe clips!