Have you guys ever looked at the power measurements of a racer's pedaling stroke? Up and across the bottom and top are all real numbers, less than the downstroke, but quite real. If you race, you learn to pedal all the way around to save as much of the big muscles as you can because when things get hard, you'll need them.

If you trained with a coach in the old days, you would spend some time pedaling with no effort on the downstroke. Those miles suck. Your seat will get VERY uncomfortable. But it is part of learning to pedal a "round" stroke.

Those of us who ride fix gears know how important that upstroke is. And we know well that make a grade steep enough and if we pull a cleat out, we are walking. As I have gotten older, I have had to look at my toestraps more carefully because I have suffered foot injuries pulling too hard. And I have found only with quality straps can I pull hard enough to get up those hills. (The fabric straps are plenty strong, but they slip and I walk.)

Those who can win races without pulling up on their cleats are those who are so gifted that they can win using 75% or less of their gifts. Ken Griffey could humble me at a batting cage with one hand behind his back. So a good batter only needs one hand?

garysol1, you body can be trained to pull on the upstroke. Just like any other training. Not much fun, but once learned, it becomes an integral part of your ride.

stucki, "And it is my belief that consciously worrying about "the upstroke" results in lowered efficiency, because we essentially can't split our efforts-..." Keep working on that upstroke. It will become muscle memory and you won't have to think about it any more.

Ben