Quote Originally Posted by MommyBird View Post
My advice would be to try clip-less again. You have been getting comfortable on your bike for four years, things have changed.

I had a road bike in the pre-clip-less days with cages and I refused to tighten them. I would keep them just loose enough to slip in and out of. It would give me the creeps watching my husband reach down to tighten and loosen his.

I was road bikeless for almost 20 years. Got a road bike again last Fall. Took it out a few times on flat pedals while I was waiting for my shoes and figured I would be a mess when the clip-less were installed. Surprise! I took to them without a problem.

I am pretty sure it is easier to snap out of my Speed-Plays than it would be to slip out of a grippy rubber band thing.

Take a deep breath, think positive and go for the clip-less.

This is exactly my opinion as well.

IMO, any sort of cage/strap (that is adjusted tight enough to function properly) is inherently more dangerous than clipless (that disengage with natural foot movement), even if that is a bit counter-intuitive.

Try the clipless again. Trying them now, after a few years of riding, will be a totally different experience than trying to learn to use them while trying to get used to a bike. I'd suggest going with the Shimano's, if you still have them, and making sure the tension adjust is as loose as it will go.