Why should my feet be attached to the pedals?

[Eden]

I also have my clip-in tension set pretty loose, so that anything stronger than a hiccup releases the cleat almost automatically. So, if I panic and can't turn my heel out in time, I basically pop out straight up! The set-up has been working almost perfectly for me for over a year now.

Be very careful with that - if you do ever have occasion to stand up or try to sprint away (say you get chased by a dog or are trying to get out of the way of a car) you can take a nasty spill if both of your feet pop out of your cleats at the same time.

[KathiCville]

Good point, Eden! So far I haven't come unclipped when I haven't wanted to be, but it's good to keep that possibility in mind. (And my description of a hiccup being enough to unclip me is a little exaggerated, LOL! It takes a quick hard yank upward driven by panic.).....Overall, I guess I'd rather unclip a little too easily than find myself unable to get off my bike in a flash if I need to.

[indigoiis]

I went from flat, to cages (and once you master cages with straps, you can for sure master clipless) to clipless with encouragement from redrhodie and my husband. I love it. It feels right in the same way a safety belt feels right in a car.

I'm still getting used to my mountain bike clipless, though. I have a tougher time with that. Left foot is mostly clipped out.

[Ana]

For more tipping power

Just kidding I just couldn't resist

[Jolt]

Does anyone use Powergrips? I am thinking about trying them to ride more efficiently while still being able to wear whatever shoes but would like to hear from people who have experience using them. Are they easy to get your foot out of at stoplights etc.?

[TsPoet]

Does anyone use Powergrips? I am thinking about trying them to ride more efficiently while still being able to wear whatever shoes but would like to hear from people who have experience using them. Are they easy to get your foot out of at stoplights etc.?

I love the powergrips on my trike. I know lots of folks who like them on 2-wheeled bents. Maybe I would master them on a two-wheeler if I needed to, but I find them harder to get out of then my clipless pedals. It's a similar motion though, twist out.
They work pretty well to improve power transfer and keep your feet on the pedals. Not quite as good as clipless, but you can get a fairly tight connection and twist out with them. I do really like using street shoes on my trike.
You could also get pedals with two sides - clips on one and platform on the other.

[Crankin]

Lisa uses them and loves them.
I recommended them to a friend who was a new cyclist and she loved them so much, she eventually got clipless pedals, even though she said she never would...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I love the powergrips on my trike. I know lots of folks who like them on 2-wheeled bents. Maybe I would master them on a two-wheeler if I needed to, but I find them harder to get out of then my clipless pedals. It's a similar motion though, twist out.
They work pretty well to improve power transfer and keep your feet on the pedals. Not quite as good as clipless, but you can get a fairly tight connection and twist out with them. I do really like using street shoes on my trike.

Yep I love love love love my PowerGrips on both my bikes.
Especially when it's 30F degrees out and I can wear my insulated hiking boots with thick warm wool socks!
I love biking with any of my favorite comfortable shoes.
The straps also prevent my feet from slipping off the pedals when it's wet- a horrible feeling, espec. when going up a hill!

[GLC1968]

I went from flat, to cages (and once you master cages with straps, you can for sure master clipless) to clipless with encouragement from redrhodie and my husband. I love it. It feels right in the same way a safety belt feels right in a car.

Ditto this. Though - I started with flat pedals and then cages on my MTB and when I bought the road bike, went directly to clipless. The guy in the shop was convinced that I'd kill myself or cause an accident - but it felt very natural to me from the start.

I have since moved my MTB to clipless as well, but it's not quite as natural (mostly because I'm a klutz on a mountain bike!).

When I was riding my around town bike (that had platform pedals) and had to stand to power up a small hill, I really hurt myself when my feet didn't stay on the pedals! Apparently, for me, it's quite natural to use both the upward and downward stroke and I can't do that on a flat pedal.