Originally Posted by
timtak
Now that I am pedalling "from the back seat", applying force not just in a sprint-like stomp but pushing and pulling, at times in a plane parallel to my shoe soles using the cleat, for far larger part of the pedal cycle, I do not need to use a super stiff sole. The Dupont nylon composite sole of my cheaper Giro shoes seems to be okay.
Actively pulling up on the cleat is almost universally considered a bad idea by anyone who has actually studied it. Although there is a stubborn myth around the concept that will refuse to die. But basically your hamstrings are not designed to be pulling up on anything and are relatively weak in doing so. I'm sure you can leg press multiple times the weight you can leg curl.
But if what you are doing is making you faster and not causing any problems then it's all good.