how much faster with toe clips than with regular pedaling?

If you ever hit an obstacle riding a bike without your feet secured on the pedals bad things can happen in the groin region, I can recall all to well that happening as a kid!!! 

I personally feel so much more connected to the bike when I'm clipped in. I would never go back to not using a "clipless" setup on any bike.  I took me about 5 minutes of practicing unclipping the pedals to get the hang of it, then I practiced a lot doing it until it was natural for BOTH feet.

Going real old school (and showing my age):  Back in the 60's cycling shoes had "cleats" that fit down into the pedals before you tightened the straps of the toe clips.  You couldn't just pull your foot straight back out, you had to first reach down and  loosen the strap so you could lift the cleats up and out of the pedal and then back out of the toe clip.   I remember going down a few times on my old Schwinn Paramount  and being tangled up on the ground with my shoes still firmly strapped to the bike.  That could be really scary and I was always glad not to get seriously hurt.

Fortunately I've only had one bad crash in the past ten years, but in that situation both shoes popped right out of the clipless pedals when I hit the deck while going about 20 mph.  

Mark

Yeah, it's no biggie to avoid the clipless system thing until you've gotten more comfortable on your bike. I was super scared when i got my first road bike - i really just needed to get comfortable on the skinny tires, the forward position and going faster, etc. But after one season of riding i got the shoes and pedals and first used them on the trainer so i could get used to the motion of clipping out.

My only falls so far have been when i wasn't planning to stop and ended up at very slow speed, and occasionally embarrassing as one was in front of a busy starbucks with people sitting outside.

Anyway, not sure if they really make me faster but I definitely feel more powerful on the hills and climbing 

This hasn't been a problem for me.  I use toe clips and to get my feet out I can either twist my foot to the side which will loosen the straps or just pull my feet straight back and they slide right out.  

I had a sharp turn sneak up on me once and wasn't paying attention until it was too late and ended up off the road in high grass and soft sand.  I didn't have to think about how I was going to get my feet out.  My natural reaction got them out just fine.  I never have had me feet stuck in a toe clips.  If you push forward your feet stay in.  If you pull straight back your feet slide out, if you twist to either side the strap loosens.  

If you don't tie your shoe laces yes, everyone says you will trip and fall, but how many times have your really trips over untied shoe laces and fallen? You have to be slightly accident prone and slightly uncoordinated for that to happen.  I feel it is the same way with toe clips.  Everyone says your feet will get stuck but unless you are slightly uncoordinated and accident prone, then that rarely happens and rally not a concern for you.  

I am happy with mine toe clips.  They keep my feet in the right place on the pedal, keep my foot from sliding off, and keep my foot in constant contact with the pedal. 

I had the opportunity to borrow a rode bike some 7-8 years ago for an event.  I could have used the bike shoes and clipless pedals but i was told these is a bit of a learning curve to them and I would be better off to just use toe clips.  So I changed out the pedals and used the toes clips as I was advised. 

In addition to keeping one's foot on the pedal when standing, etc, I also like being able to pull the pedal up into a desireable position when I am stopped, so I can pedal away quickly.  I have one bike where I wear regular shoes and it's a total bummer to get going from stopped.

For those new to/skittish of being "clipped in", you CAN loosen the tension on the pedal to making clipping out easier. I use very little tension and still see the benefits of being attached to my pedal.  I am speaking specifically of "clipless" systems.   

I've used a setup like described for a number of years as was fine with it. Went to clipless and haven't looked back. Not all shoes get in and out as easily. Some of mine with less tread slipped out more, some with more tread could be rather difficult to get out. While I didn't fall because of this, I did back off on how much I pushed it, keeping out of trickier situations where I might need to get out faster. And that's where your example falls apart some. If you know your shoes are untied then you're likely to walk a bit differently to avoid stepping on the laces. It's when they don't operate as expected that more issues are likely to come up, meaning they become untied when you thought they were tied. Adults generally have a good idea how to do this so you don't see it happen very often.

I've noticed that too on the rare occasion without cleats. Some pedals can adjust the tension, but not all. Shimano will. I don't know about Look (never had any of theirs). Speedplay does not. You buy the tension up front. Difference between a Zero and a Light Action.

You can adjust the tension on Speedplays.  Just don't lube the cleat and tension goes way up!  

Ha! Although I honestly couldn't tell before & after.

They make you faster, at least the clipless do.....because your shoes are already on the bike in transition.

I'd like to see a test done using everyday Joe Cyclist instead of a pro cyclist.  I don't think I'm buying that there is no gain for clipped in shoes for Joe....in fact, I'd say that's ridiculous.