How much more power over platform do you really get?

28 watts.

Beats me. I like clipless pedals for the comfort and secure connection. If there's any additional power transfer, that's a bonus.

it's a lot, and there are other benefits. just do it.

A little, but as above there are reasons above "power" per se to use them. You are never truly "at one" with the bike until you are clipped in.

Trust me on this one.

Power, comfort, safety ...

you can try to understand it intellectually, but until you actually try them out, you won't really get it completely. like datlas said, you just feel so much more connected to the bike. your pedal stroke is smoother, you don't have to think about keeping your feet in the right place, you can stand to climb or sprint without feeling like you're going to slip off...it's a huge difference.

I can ride better and easier for farther if I'm clipped in.

Clipless pedals have no power advantage over traditional pedals with toeclips, straps, and slotted cleats. The main advantage they hold is that they can be easier to enter and exit than a pedal with toeclips, straps, and slotted cleats.

World of difference. You can push through the entire crank rotation, not just stomp at "9" and "3." Night and day.

After a helmet and bike shorts, it should be every roadies third major purchase.

Just do it...unless you're afraid of falling.

no, don't do it...you might fall!!!

I wonder what percentage of cyclists don't fall at least once when switching to clipless pedals...

1.8 jiggawattz!

0%

I have honestly never fallen because of the pedals. Other reasons yes but nothing that could have been avoided because of platforms

Lots. It's hard to keep my feet on the pedals past 100 rpm.

The One Who Shall Not Be Named used to say that. Until he fell.

I don't think there's any objective data that shows that there's any difference. That doesn't mean that it isn't there, just that nobody has ever proven it (to my knowledge).

It depends how you take advantage of the connection to the cranks. It really helps while climbing to be able to change your seated position and push/pull with different muscles, as well as standing and pulling up.

10 years ago I started riding again after MANY years away. On a test ride, I put max power into the pedals and my foot slipped off. As we all know, the crank comes around and the pedal wacks you in the back of the leg. It took better than 6 months for the bruise to go away. That's what made me investigate clipless.

So, my guess is that there is no max power advantage, but I suspect there may be an improvement in consistency.

My progression has been:

1) Ritchey ATB pedals
2) Crank Bros. Quattros
3) BeBep pedals (current fave!)

There is absolutely no performance (read increased power or speed) advantage and anybody who tells you there is is misinformed. They actually have some studies and there is zero difference. Now there may be comfort reasons or an advantage because they do keep your feet on the pedal and you wont slip. The rest is in peoples heads. If you buy them, buy them for comfort but don't buy them dreaming they'll turn you into Lance. In my experience they not worth it and they were hard on my knees. I actually like being able to move my foot to different spots on the pedal.

When your foot slips off the pedals, it doesn't affect performance at all...

I fell a few times when I first started riding-- I was on SPD-SL pedals and couldn't get out them easily. After three weeks on them, I sold them on Ebay and bought Speedplay. I never fell again.

Speedplay pedals are easy on knees because of the free float and ease of exit.