Originally Posted by
blamester
Just not true.
Pushing down on the pedal with good timing is what it is about.
There is no effort involved in keeping your foot on the pedals. The foot pushes down on pedal not across it.
Tiredness reduces your form not the pedals.
For a regular cyclist there is no benefit.
When was the last time you cycled forty or fifty k in soft thin soled runners?
I have done both.
Toeclips are probably the best but everyone thinks that's somehow archaic when it does exactly the same thing.
Easy to use and cheap. Wear any shoes you like.
You have been conned
IMO you are pretty much wrong about all of this but I won't say you've been "conned." If you like flat pedals and soft shoes, that's fine, no need to be defensive. It is a fact that most folks who do significant distance prefer dedicated bike shoes and clipless pedals. That doesn't mean your choice is wrong for you. I think you might feel differently if you did longer mileage, but maybe not. Someone new to cycling would be well advised to try both ways and then make an informed choice.