Clipless bike pedals allow the rider's feet to be attached to the pedals through the use of special shoes. These allow the most efficient transfer of power from the cyclist's legs to the pedals, as there is no loss of energy. The feet remain attached during all 360 degrees of the pedal rotation. This means power is applied both during the upstroke, pulling the pedals up, as well as on the downstroke, pushing the pedals down.
Advantages
- Maximum transfer of power to the pedals
- A complete feeling of attachment to the bike
Disdvantages
- Specialized shoes needed to utilize clipless pedals
- Learning how to click in and out of the pedals can be challenging. And it may take a while to remember to click out of the pedals as you approach a stop. Most people who use clipless pedals have fallen over at intersections at least once when they first started riding because they forgot to remove their feet before it was too late. I know I did.
- Having to frequently click in and out of the pedals can suck the joy out of a ride through town, particularly if the pedals you have are a challenge to use. Certain cycling shoes and pedal combinations can be more difficult to use than others.
