For the serious cyclist, there are many potential plus sides for switching away from flat pedals and wearing clip-in cycling shoes. Of course, that requires the desire to experiment. If you're up for it, though, consider what you could gain from using these shoes. The first question you probably have is: are they more comfortable? For most cyclists, the answer is yes. Why? When you clip your shoes into the pedals, you gain a lot of stability. That equates with comfort. Consider what it would be like to ride in very rainy conditions. With regular athletic shoes, it's not uncommon for your foot to slip and slide off the wet pedal. It's hard to find a good grip to use to push the pedals through each revolution. Not only does this waste a lot of energy, but it's not helping you work out, either. With cycling shoes, you'll feel directly connected to the bike. Even in the slickest conditions, you won't need to worry about losing your ability to pedal effectively. Speaking of better pedalling, you'll find that cycling shoes can assist you in that area as well. Once you get used to wearing them, you'll discover you can pedal with more power than with regular shoes. There are two reasons for this. First, cycling shoes require your feet to be in the best possible position on the pedal. Otherwise, they won't lock in, and you won't be able to move them. With these shoes, you're able to use a "lifting" action with your leg muscles to pull the pedal up and then back into the downstroke. Overall this equals a noticeable boost in efficiency. Naturally, this also means you'll waste much less energy on inefficient movements. Instead, you'll be able to convert much more of your muscle power into cycling power. Believe it or not, safety is a positive benefit too. You might not think so because you are locking your feet into the pedals. It's true that it can be difficult if you need to quickly dismount your bike, though you can quicken the process with practice. Even so, clipping in to your pedals with special cycling shoes allows you much greater control over the bike. Not only is it easier to avoid hazards by shifting the whole bicycle, but you can also better sense where you're going. When you need to swerve to avoid something suddenly, your feet will stay where they should be, right on the pedals. If you have the dedication to find more power and push yourself harder on the bike, cycling shoes can yield many of these benefits with practice. However, there are some other points about this footwear worth considering.