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I suspect OP is referring to the idea that you can get significant power returns on the upstroke with clipless pedals. This is definitely questionable. Howeve

I suspect OP is referring to the idea that you can get significant power returns on the upstroke with clipless pedals. This is definitely questionable. However clipless pedals are still a good idea because your feet don't slide off the pedals. Especially in wet weather they are dramatically safer than flat pedals.

tonyedgecombe 7y ago
Safer until you forget to unclip at a stop.
- rubbingalcohol 7y ago
  After the second time you forget, you'll never forget again.
  - tonyedgecombe 7y ago
    It's like picking the soldering iron up by the wrong end, I watched both of my kids do that. Once.
alpaca128 7y ago
What about the flat pedals with metal nubs standing out? I've tried those and sliding on these pedals was pretty much impossible, at least with the shoes I used.
- mikekchar 7y ago
  I think I know what you are talking about. Basically it depends on the situation. With clipless pedals, your feet are pretty much locked in place without having to think about it. With flat pedals, they are only really in contact with the pedal when you are pushing down. If you are riding a bike leisurely at say 12 kph down the street, clipless pedals aren't going to be useful and might even get in your way. If you are riding in traffic at 30-40 kph, then they can literally be a life saver. Over 90 RPM it's hard to keep your feet on the pedals. So if you need a sudden burst of speed when in a low gear, then this will make sure your feet on on the pedals. Also if it's raining and you hit a pot hole, for instance, your feet will be on the pedals. This really helps in keeping control. If you've never tried them before, I highly recommend it. I never once fell off my bike due to clipless pedals, although some people do. Even though some people fall off when they first start, I've never met anyone who preferred flat pedals after trying clipless for a while. The one place I would not use clipless pedals is if I was doing a lot of off-road stuff. I know some people use them anyway, but if you need to put your foot down regularly, it's pretty difficult IMHO.
  - markandrewj 7y ago
    It depends what kind of off-road you mean, but for downhill MTB clipless use has overtook flat pedals. There has been a bit of a resurgence in the use of flat pedals though with Sam Hill's recent wins on flats. I am still a fan of flats for downhill, but I learned riding on flats.
jeffk_teh_haxor 7y ago
I like clipless because they enforce better form and don't stray into the chain.
rhinoceraptor 7y ago
I'm not sure how it's questionable, you can definitely put much more torque on the pedals when you can push down with one foot and pull on the other, for sprinting in a big gear or climbing. The questionable part is, do people apply pressure on anything but the down pedal stroke when they're seated, and riding normally. At least for me, the answer is no. But they're still nice to have, especially on a single speed or fixed gear. And for fixed gear, flat pedals are unsafe. They give you a lot more control.

tonyedgecombe 7y ago

Safer until you forget to unclip at a stop.

rubbingalcohol 7y ago
After the second time you forget, you'll never forget again.
- tonyedgecombe 7y ago
  It's like picking the soldering iron up by the wrong end, I watched both of my kids do that. Once.

alpaca128 7y ago

What about the flat pedals with metal nubs standing out? I've tried those and sliding on these pedals was pretty much impossible, at least with the shoes I used.

mikekchar 7y ago
I think I know what you are talking about. Basically it depends on the situation. With clipless pedals, your feet are pretty much locked in place without having to think about it. With flat pedals, they are only really in contact with the pedal when you are pushing down. If you are riding a bike leisurely at say 12 kph down the street, clipless pedals aren't going to be useful and might even get in your way. If you are riding in traffic at 30-40 kph, then they can literally be a life saver. Over 90 RPM it's hard to keep your feet on the pedals. So if you need a sudden burst of speed when in a low gear, then this will make sure your feet on on the pedals. Also if it's raining and you hit a pot hole, for instance, your feet will be on the pedals. This really helps in keeping control. If you've never tried them before, I highly recommend it. I never once fell off my bike due to clipless pedals, although some people do. Even though some people fall off when they first start, I've never met anyone who preferred flat pedals after trying clipless for a while. The one place I would not use clipless pedals is if I was doing a lot of off-road stuff. I know some people use them anyway, but if you need to put your foot down regularly, it's pretty difficult IMHO.
- markandrewj 7y ago
  It depends what kind of off-road you mean, but for downhill MTB clipless use has overtook flat pedals. There has been a bit of a resurgence in the use of flat pedals though with Sam Hill's recent wins on flats. I am still a fan of flats for downhill, but I learned riding on flats.

jeffk_teh_haxor 7y ago

I like clipless because they enforce better form and don't stray into the chain.

rhinoceraptor 7y ago

I'm not sure how it's questionable, you can definitely put much more torque on the pedals when you can push down with one foot and pull on the other, for sprinting in a big gear or climbing. The questionable part is, do people apply pressure on anything but the down pedal stroke when they're seated, and riding normally. At least for me, the answer is no. But they're still nice to have, especially on a single speed or fixed gear. And for fixed gear, flat pedals are unsafe. They give you a lot more control.