Originally Posted by flatlander_48
That's the point behind toe clips and clipless pedals: you can apply power on the upstroke...
According to the article that Cooker references, the reason for toe clips and clipless pedals is to keep your foot constantly attached to the pedal for safety so it will not slip off during a hard effort and the most efficient power transfer from foot to pedal. This makes more sense to me than pulling up. See previous post for that explanation.