Call me a convert. I rode SPD's since the 90's and saw no reason to change..until I tried good flat/platform pedals. I remember the day I went clipless, it was on my first mountain bike, my Specialized Rockhopper A1 FS back in 94 or so. It was a muddy day of riding the the Black Rocks secton of Broomall Pa. I came back browner than a loaf of Pumpernickle but I was hooked. From then until now I never had any issues with clipless or feel the need to change. I would set the pedals with a good amount of float and I could get in and out with easy and still had all the up/down pedal stroke I ever needed.
Tricia swiched over to the flats a few years back and while I never said anything but I always looked at them as a compromise, no was was I willing to give up being able to pull up on my peddles with those things. Also, how will I ever "bunny hop" over logs and boulders? Not that I ever did, but if I wanted to? Getting back into the game I have been out trying lots of bikes and what do all the demo bikes have? Right, flat pedals. Sure, any shop would swap pedals over for a test ride but after a ride or two with these new fangled pedals, I really wasn't missing my clipless at all. Even when I took the Moterra up Peavine (yes I was pedaling), I would sure have thought the nasty climb would make me long for my SPD's but no. I just went up and up and my feet never came off the pedal.
Tricia swiched over to the flats a few years back and while I never said anything but I always looked at them as a compromise, no was was I willing to give up being able to pull up on my peddles with those things. Also, how will I ever "bunny hop" over logs and boulders? Not that I ever did, but if I wanted to? Getting back into the game I have been out trying lots of bikes and what do all the demo bikes have? Right, flat pedals. Sure, any shop would swap pedals over for a test ride but after a ride or two with these new fangled pedals, I really wasn't missing my clipless at all. Even when I took the Moterra up Peavine (yes I was pedaling), I would sure have thought the nasty climb would make me long for my SPD's but no. I just went up and up and my feet never came off the pedal.