I have a 26" Cannondale RZ and a 29" Giant Anthem. Why is it that I can crank up this one particular long hill I climb several times per week in my middle ring (32) and large ring in back (34) on my C-dale, but on the Anthem, I have to shift down to small ring in front (24) and next to largest ring in the back (34, still). I have been reading a bunch of threads on mtbr.com about this, but it's still not quite clear to me, other than I am getting the vague impression that it just takes more power to spin those wagon wheels. But somehow, even though I have to expend more power (?), I feel less tired on the 29er and feel like I can go faster, and this is somewhat backed up by my speeds on my gps tracks. I guess because on the 29er, each pedal stroke propels me just a bit further than the same pedal stroke would on a 26"? Even if I'm in a much lower gear combo? But maybe it's not that much lower due to the different wheel sizes? Both bikes have 170mm cranks and I'm running Stan's Arches stock wheelsets and Nobby Nics on both bikes, so there's no difference in wheels/rolling resistance or any of that stuff aside from 26" vs. 29". I'm really confused about how all this works.