I know nothing about the technicalities of wheel size and frame efficiency. But I do know that I regularly and effortlessly dust other cyclists on my modest Speed P8 and will do so red light after red light in city riding.

It is almost comic-I am older than most of them and overweight and only a casual commute cyclist. I am not a speedy guy. The serious riders seem to get annoyed and get in front of me after I've stopped at the next intersection, but then I putt-putt right by them again while they are trying to catch up.

Conversely, they lose me on green lights--I reach top gear on the Speed P8 fairly quickly and they are able to go much faster after a distance of about a block. If I could gear up one though I think I could keep up fine. But it doesn't feel like an acceleration issue.

I was attributing the fast initial acceleration to my small wheels and the gearing but maybe I am wrong.