Bike Forums - Going clipless

Quote:

Originally Posted by europa (Post 15363079)

Umm, no they're not. Stupid shoes to suit clipless pedals are. SPD-L are only good when you're on the bike. SPD are only good until the soles of the shoes wear a little bit. Neither are good if you're spending any length of time off the bike.
In the real world, clips and straps offer a minor loss of efficiency .... though few riders have the skills to exploit the difference. The big issue with straps and clips is the lack of decent shoes ... because the bike industry wants us to believe you need a clipless system which sells pedals as well as shoes and clips while stopping them from having too produce shoes that don't use clips. Those stiff soles on modern shoes are there to support the foot on clips and are not required to support the foot on a decent pedal.

... wut? Minor loss of efficiency? The only way you have a minor loss of efficiency is if you use clips and straps like they do on the velodrome or in the days before clipless: eg - cinched down REALLY tight. So tight, in fact, that they would not come undone if you were to fall. This completely negates your "real world" argument, though.

What clipless does is provide a much more efficient way to engage and disengage a solid cleat/pedal system. It also accomplishes this with float - something a clip and strap system does not have. Also, should you fall, you will most likely disengage from your pedals, which can be safer for both you and your bike. Ever fall over and have both or one of your feet still clipped in? It's awful.

In an emergency situation, I find clipless to disengage MUCH faster/safer than an even moderately tight clip/strap system. The very act of attempting to put a foot out and down will unclip you. Whereas a clip+strap requires you to pull your foot backwards. Unless your straps are really loose (very inefficient) this can be pretty difficult if your foot is anywhere but the 11-3 o'clock position in the stroke.

I will never go back to clips and straps if I can help it. Especially on a fg. It's a bit easier on a SS or geared bike, but only marginally so.