Apparently I downstroke with my toes pointing down quite a bit. Someone exclaimed that it ‘looked painful’, but I’ve always done it that way.
Is that really a problem?
I don’t seem to have issues with foot pain, etc, and can’t say I’ve ever watched others to see how they pedal. Just asking the question. It seemed an odd thing to point out, and not sure what to make of it, seeking enlightenment I guess. TIA…
Imo, if you have no problems, don’t try to fix/overthink it.
Jacques Anquetil won 5 x TdeF pedalling with his toes pointing down
Eddy Merckx won 5 x TdeF pedalling with his heels down
Bernard Hinault won 5 x TdeF pedalling with his feet pretty much flat
If you are overall happy with your position on the bike, I wouldn’t spend a lot of time worrying about it.
I get that. I do have some lower back/flexor issues and was wondering if this ‘posture’ might contribute to it. And they were so shocked too. shrug Just curious… It’s not like I spend a lot of time watching others pedaling. Usually in group rides I’m watching rear wheels.
Thanks…
Seriously though, excessive toe pointing is one possible indicator of excessive saddle height. That can lead to the type of lower back issues you mention since the lower chain is “over the limit” on angles and extension, with the ankle often the last thing to change and exceed desired range of motion.
Impossible to know without a proper fit review, but that is one reason people may consider excessive toe pointing incorrect. That said, there are far too many armchair fitters that fixate on one flag like that and miss or ignore other related issues (like the possibility that you are actually perfect as you are).
I have to echo that. Everyone’s (like me) got a strong opinion on what’s right and wrong on almost everything in cycling, and most of it is eh…BS, for the lack of a better word.
I did have a fitting, and the person doing the fitting didn’t mention it, but I really doubt that it was an ‘effective’, or a ‘learned’ fit and fitter. Everything I had already done to the bike was what the ‘fit’ pointed to needing. They replaced the stem with a Rube Goldberg looking thing, and I rode it under their eye, thinking that it was effective. I never got ‘numbers’, and there was no followup either. The system they used was based on the Specialized system (Body Geometry?).
As I’ve gotten back into riding, post-op, I’m getting the same back and hip issues. I did ask about lower back issues at the best local shop, and they pointed out the seat,saddle could be too low. I should try raising it a couple mm’s at a time. It doesn’t ‘feel’ too high. Sure I’m probably over thinking this, and sure I’m probably being overly critical, but getting back to the grumbling back issues is such a joy and delight.
Yes, I probably do need a better fitting, but ‘once bitten, twice shy’. I ‘blew’ $250 on a fitting already. 
Thanks for the comments. I know ‘bike fitting’ is a nebulous issue that people have strong opinions on, and many are truly BS.
If, as you now say, there are indications that your overall position on the bike is not optimum (grumbling back), then the toes down pedalling could be a result of a poor position on the bike, rather than just how you pedal.
Only you can decide if spending more money on a bike fit is worth it. But there is nothing to stop you trialling some adjustments yourself based on the basics that you can pick up from websites / apps etc.
Take a careful note of the measurements before you start changing things so that you can always go back to them if need be.
I agree with everything @mcneese.chad said above.
From a distance, toes excessively pointed down and lower back pain tells me that your saddle could be too high and you’re rocking slightly back and forth to reach the bottom of the stroke which overstresses your lower back muscles.
Of course, this is all theoretical and might not apply to you whatsoever.
My logic (similar to @fasterthanever’s) tells me that if you’re not having issues, don’t poke at it, but if you are (lower back pain) don’t be afraid to change it up a little bit. It’s really rare for cycling enthusiasts (not talking about those you see riding their Magnas on the sidewalk) to have their saddle too low. It’s often too high. 
my understanding (could be wrong), but that toes down activates your calf muscles more. Sprinters tend to point down because the calf adds some power to the stroke, but it also will fatigue faster than the bigger muscles. So, if you fatigue on long rides, you might try a more neutral foot, but if not, then different strokes for different folks.
My understanding is that this is often more related to cleat positioning. Placing your cleats further forward allows for more snappiness in the sprint. You could run your cleats further forward and be more snappy without running your saddle to the point of pedaling toes down.
I agree that this is usually less stable over the long haul though and probably more fatiguing on the calfs. 
Maybe this might give you some more info
I agree with this. And maybe if they have tight/weak hip flexors then that’s affecting full hip extension and they have to point the toes to compensate.
But also like you said, some people just pedal ‘weird’ and if it’s not causing other issues then maybe it’s fine. Or maybe the fit/pedaling technique is a symptom of another issue but not the thing that needs to be changed/addressed first.
I do have the bend in the knee like is required, and it doesn’t seem to be too much of a bend, but I did raise the seat/saddle, and it didn’t seem to help, or hurt. (It was about 2 mm).
As far as the calf, I don’t have any pain or other issues with them until recently. I’ve been wondering if the Neo Smart Bike seat post might be slipping a little. (The angle does) If it’s losing height, it’s not like the Kickr Bike, where it lost sometimes 4 or 5 mm. I did rough up the seat angle a bit, but it still slips. 
Thanks for all the replies…
OH: I’ve watched some people pedaling, and it’s like they are stomping on the pedals, and that is what I think of when I hear about people ‘stomping’ when riding. I did benefit from my style on the fat bike because I could pull up on the pedals, and it almost felt like running on the bike.
Wow, interesting post. So many cyclists have been either ‘toe dippers’, or ‘heel droppers’, and have done really well, so the focus shouldn’t be ‘toe up/toe down’, but strength and flexibility.
I have to work on both, and it’s likely that my core took a hit post-op, and I really need to work on it a lot more now to help it avoid the pain and other issues. Yeah, I can see that. I’ve got some work to do. Thanks all!!
Now an effective hip flexor stretch. I’ve gotten more advice on that, and some doesn’t work at all. Seems it should be easy to stretch them. I’ll work on it with Apple Fitness and Peloton.