Quote Originally Posted by MomOnBike
Nobody's ever explained the why's and wherefore's to my satisfaction, either.

I suspect (though I may be ceremonially stripped of my cleats for letting the secret out), that such senseless language is nothing more (or less) than a rite of initiation. Once you can comfortably talk about "clipping in" to "clipless" pedals, you are an initiate to the cult, and there is no turning back. Kind of like a secret handshake.

This is my current theory and I'm sticking with it until proven wrong.
Don't forget to drink the Kool-Aid!

Seriously, though, Denise has it right according to my husband. The Clip referred to is the toe clip that wraps around the shoe. Clipless simply means that there is no toe clip to cover the toe of the shoes. Why they didn't name the new peddles to be Click-in or snap-in or something that actually makes sense is beyond me.