Jay, actually all of last year I rode with normal pedals (with straps) and found it harder to go in and out of straps than clipless. I love my clipless... they feel much freeer. It is not so much that they are hard to clip out of -- during this fall my left foot was actually out and about ready to "touch down." I just went over right. I think if I had been on normal pedals, sure, I might have touched down with the right foot, but I would have gotten it in the crotch.

Funny - my daughter, on the same day was WALKING her bike on the sidewalk. She turned to look behind her to see if she could cross. The bike handlebars turned left (following her head) causing the bike to lose its balance and fall right, with her on top of it.

Must be in the genes...