Originally Posted by
bfloyd6969
it isn't the upstroke where I gain power, it is at the bottom of the stroke where I can pull my foot back. This has been referred to the "scraping mud off of your shoe" simulation.
Yes, that's good technique. However you aren't getting any power to the drivetrain in that part of the stroke. The power is almost all applied between 12:00 and 5:00.
Originally Posted by bfloyd6969
You just cannot pull your foot back as efficiently and as directly without being clipped to you pedal. You can to an extent with a tightly fit pair of toe clips and straps, but with regular platforms it is difficult.
Not really. At that part of the stroke, you should be pointing your foot down around 20º anyway. That should give you plenty of leverage if you're using platforms.
And again, in most touring contexts, that tiny percentage of power isn't as important as comfort and personal preference.