Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,548
Likes: 797
From: Middle of da Mitten
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed
A smaller wheel will spin up easier, but OTOH it has to spin up more in order to achieve the same ground speed. Acceleration ends up being a wash. Often the small wheel will feel snappier, but that's only because the smaller wheel results in lower gears. In that case, better acceleration is due to gearing, and is at the expense of top end.