I think you might be better served by using a slightly higher gear and adjusting your seat upward so that your leg is at full extension when the relevant pedal is at the bottom of its rotation. I expect that’s the main reason you’re seeing an advantage, you’re using more of your leg in the pedaling motion, which is more efficient. And would be even more efficient if you weren’t having to balance your weight on your pedals. Look at how professional cyclists have their bikes set up. Obviously you won’t exactly replicate that without toe clips that you won’t want to use, but that’s where I’d look for improvements as opposed to reinventing the wheel.
I think you might be better served by using a slightly higher gear and adjusting your seat upward so that your leg is at full extension when the relevant pedal is at the bottom of its rotation. I expect that’s the main reason you’re seeing an advantage, you’re using more of your leg in the pedaling motion, which is more efficient. And would be even more efficient if you weren’t having to balance your weight on your pedals. Look at how professional cyclists have their bikes set up. Obviously you won’t exactly replicate that without toe clips that you won’t want to use, but that’s where I’d look for improvements as opposed to reinventing the wheel.