So I've read on here several times that many track racers use clipless shoes and pedals with clips and straps (yes, I know the naming is paradoxical). I have two questions about this.

1. What kind of pedals/shoes are they using that allow you to also use clips and straps?
2. If I were to get those pedals with some clips and straps, would I be able to use them safely with street shoes if need be?

To me that kind of set up sounds like a win/win situation. If I want to go out and do some serious biking I could use clipless shoes. If I'm just riding a mile or two or plan on doing a lot of walking I could stay in street shoes. I have a feeling if it's that simple a lot more people would be doing it though

I'm very confused by this. Clips/straps+Clipless shoes seems like the shoes would just slip everywhere.

There are street looking shoes that have recessed cleats to use with clipless pedals (Typically SPD, not SPD-SL) but I haven't heard of the situation you're describing.

No clips, just straps. No, don't do this on the street. Clipless pedals solved the problem of clips+slotted cleats on the street (thus, clipless), there's no need to recreate that issue. You also don't produce the kind of wattage that the pedal's tension feature can't hold on to. There have been some good threads on this topic, try searching for them.

If you use SPD-SL you can ride around with regular shoes because they offer a decent platform for casual riding.

Thanks hairnet, I figured I was missing something there. For now I think I'll just stick to clips and stiff shoes

Oddly, I know a guy that rides with SPD-Rs with Holdfast straps. I;m not sure how he got it to work

so basically is it a redundancy against clipless pedals failing? or an increase in power transfer?

Probably has to do with being able to go on casual rides with regular shoes and still have some foot retention.

redundancy- for the racers

There is so much confusion in this thread. It's making me feel drunk.

I is, and yes. Basically, clipless and straps is the new clips and straps...for street riding.

It's like, yeah, I do have a clipless setup, but man, I'm just getting groceries so I'll pop on the sixsixones but I still need retention.

friend of mine runs platform/spd pedals with power grips on the platform side. Works awesome and he says he still feels comfortable brakeless with the power grips.

I'm kinda considering a setup like this. I already have platform/spd pedals but I can't figure out how I would attach straps to the ones I have. Plus I worry about when I'm on the clipless side, wouldn't the straps be dragging on the ground with every pedal stroke? Or can you tighten the straps enough that they wouldn't hang down?