I will add that when I was cycling on a more-serious level, training for a Century ride, I did wear the ubiquitious, necessary for long hours in the saddle appropriate clothing and the correct shoes. I did this about the time when clipless pedals were making inroads.
Since I also mountain biked (did the Solvang Century on a mountain bike and fat slicks) I used toe clips w/ their leather straps. If you used the screw-on buttons at the very end of the strap you could easily reach down at the top of each pedal stroke and either tighten or loosen the strap. The button served as the loosen stop.
If you needed to put a foot down for balance either when stopped abruptly or about to biff, you could easily twist your foot free from the pedal and toe clips/strap cage. Never an issue for me.
Not having dinner at the moment but a very late breakfast of fresh eggs scrambled w/ applewood smoked salami slices cut into squares, topped w/ melted sharp cheddar, Ezekiel toast and butter and rich, black coffee. ymmm!
