I have noticed that my pedal stroke is the same with clipless pedals as it is with platform pedals. I do not feel that I am pulling on the upstroke.

Today, I was riding with a friend who was maybe 100 yards in front of me. I started making big circles with the pedals and could feel that I was pulling the pedals on the upstroke. Without my cadence changing, I was on his back wheel in a minute or two.

I can't keep this pedal stroke up for very long because I feel a pulling in my quads at the very top of my thigh. Maybe with enough work, I will no longer feel this pulling.

My question, should I always be doing these big circles and pulling on the upstroke with every pedal stroke?