Is the Upstroke in Cycling Overrated?

Felix came across an interesting article that attempts to debunk the idea that pedaling in smooth circles is optimum for cycling. Given that I am a self admitted "masher", my positive bias toward the author's conclusion is probably a bit suspect.

Bike Fitting: The Myth of the Upstroke

While there are 100's of articles that emphasize the importance of smooth circles, here is another article that minimizes the value of the upstroke.


The Pedaling Technique of Elite Endurance Cyclists: Changes With increasing Workload at Constant Cadence