It can pay off to work on pedaling technique but only when you are using the correct objectives. Contrary to what all experts believe, the perfect pedaling technique does exist. There never should have been a need for biopace, rotorcranks, L and Z shaped cranks and the never ending supply of non round chain rings because (believe it or not) the lower leg is capable of applying greater cumulative torque to the crank between 11 an 2 than the upper leg can apply between 2 and 5 o' c. Combine torque of the upper leg and lower leg and you get the ideal 180 deg. pedal stroke. The fact is, the most powerful cyclists never use their lower legs to assist in power production when pedalling.