Stonee’s got a point, the better control you exercise over your machine the better your ride. One of the ways to improve that control is to have a precise feeling of what’s happening with your bike. Being able to feel every pebble in the road, knowing exactly how much traction you have going around every corner only adds to the complete mastery of have of your bike. I guess that’s why I see some guys riding around with flip flops on their feet.