I heard this rumor now that clipless pedals with a narrow platform like Eggbeaters or maybe Frogs are a theft deterrent because most thieves don't wear cleated shoes, and wouldn't be able to pedal a bike with these away.

I don't think this is true, because its not hard just to pick up the bike, chuck it in a truck, or car rather than ride it away in the sunset.

Any truth to this?

I've never heard this rumor before but I have no problems riding my bike around without cleats. If a thief wants the bike bad enough they won't let clipless pedals deter them.

I can definitely pedal my bike with the eggbeaters with regular sneakers. I wouldn't want to go for miles, but it's not difficult.

I think a fixed gear would be more of a deterrent. Well maybe not a deterrent but it would be pretty funny to see them try to ride off and bust a nut....

MKS makes QR pedals (no wrench needed) in platform or clipless. Park your bike, lock it and take the pedals with you. Good luck bike thieves.

A bike isn't necessarily ridden away when stolen. It can, for example, be thrown into the back of a truck.

I suspect clipless pedals may be a greater theft attractant since they're generally worth more than platforms.

I wish it were true. But someone who wants it that bad will even use his feet like he's riding a skateboard if he wants to steal it.

It's no great problem to ride clipless with regular shoes. On the other hand, at my university, I don't think I have ever taken a bike theft report involving a bike so equipped.

This may be due to the fact that most of our bike thieves go for bikes "secured" with cheezy cables, and most folks who ride clipless have better-quality bikes that they lock up better.

Never taken a report on a hybrid either; and very few roadsters. It's MTBs all the way with the trade-a-bike -for-crack crowd.