@i_cannot_today Then just go with the pedals alone, assuming you are not doing crazy distances, you should be ok.
My view may be skewed, because I’m not touching a bicycle without those clip in shoes and I do have plank-stiff soles. The advantage of stiff soles is your feet muscles don’t have to do that much work.
I’m definitely on the other side of the spectrum, though. I dress for the ride, because the ride is my destination, so to speak..🙈