Do you guys realize that in this case your flywheel (chainring) is aluminum...and weights practically nothing. thequickfix said "almost imperceptible" I'd have to say that a difference in rotational weight of a chainring would be COMPLETELY imperceptible. I can buy that there could easily be less drivetrain friction and thus pedalling feels more smooth, but I'm pretty certain that it has to do with the efficiency in which the chain relates to the rings, NOT the 'increased leverage' of using larger rings. As stated above, a gear ratio is a gear ratio, and tells you what mechanical advantage you'll have in that particular gear. I can assure you that if this wasn't the case, you'd see pro riders 'upsizing' their drivetrains to give 'added power.' As far as I know, they do not do this. Maybe the 'cruise control' feeling is what we all feel on the occasional day when we have a steady tailwind on our one-way commutes.

-Jeremy