On my Trek 1200c road bike, I use the Shimano SPD clipless pedals with a pair of Shimano shoes.
The advantage to this setup, of course, is that you gain a significant energy increase because the upstroke with your legs adds power – whereas without a pedal system or clips, you’re losing this extra energy boost.
The disadvantage is when you’re at the end of your ride, and you’re tired, and your brain is drifting.. and you fall.. if you can’t disengage your clips from the pedals you’re in for a really nasty landing.
And thus the four tears on my left leg near my ankle from where my ankle met the ground and part of my sprocket and some other bike parts.. and the reason we wear nice helmets from Giro.
Ouch.
I didn’t notice the bleeding until I got back to the room. My socks are ruined.
Ouch.
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Cycling in Monterey a dozen years ago – new to the Look clipless peddle system. Stopped in traffic, dozens of cars, hundreds of spectators watched as I tried, and failed, to get my right foot free of the pedal. Slowly. Tilting. Over. UntilIcrashed. Right there in front of God and everybody?
Hurt? Not badly. Wounded? Oh, yes. Very.
Ha! nice one.
The funny thing is – I did the exact same thing the first day I did a long ride on my bike. I did it while waiting to make a left hand turn over on the East bank of the Mississippi River over on St. Anthony’s Main in front of many many young women outside at a bar.
Oh the wounded pride I had.