Originally Posted by
davidad
You do understand that you don't get any pulling force on the cranks. What you are doing on the up stroke is unloading that pedal.
That was proven years ago when "Bicycling" was a decent magazine and tested the idea with strain guages in the pedals.
Yeah, I do realize that. That's why I've developed telekinesis by occasionally toying around and lifting with my legs, but intentionally supplying no down force, climbing up hills entirely with my mind while not-really-pulling on my pedals. (what? I was bored.)