I have just started biking and I am curious to know how much clipless pedals will help in going uphill. I have gone on a couple rides and have a very difficult time with hills. I am concerned that I either bought a poor bike for this ( Fuji Roubaix Pro ) or I need to do something different with the set up. I am pretty sure that I need to get in better biking shape but I have been trailrunning every day for years so I feel like I should be able to handle hills. My wife blows by me going uphill and she has clipless. So my question for anyone who can help is should I scrap the toeclips and run out for real pedals immediately? Will they help me on hills? Thanks

There have been some good threads fairly recently, try a quick search for them. Clipless can only help with your climbs though.

Running will build vo2 max and so on, but cycling uses different muscles than running. Still in the quads group but not exactly the same muscles within that larger group.
Pedal untill your legs are on fire both in and out of the saddle, then repeat. in the short term you would have better luck with a triathlon bike frame because they are meant for the bike/run transition but that is a quick fix.

Clippless or clips will allow you to get a little extra power by pulling up and allow the downstroke a slight rest for a few strokes and they keep you from slipping off the pedals. Clips allow the use of normal shoes and they are cheap and give a large boost over platforms. Clipless have a fair performance and ease of clipping-in advantage over the clips but lose the 'any shoe fits' part of clips.

I made the switch to clipless about a month ago. I can say they greatly improved my hill climbing/acceleration/endurace and my feel of oneness with the bike. They take a little getting used to but once you get the hang of it you'll wonder how you ever got by before.