[Yak] Large 451 wheel

[jularaz at netzero.net]

a few days back there was a lively discussion about the virtues of the small wheel versus the larger wheel. If a smallwheel is faster or "better" than a large wheel then why does Green Gear in assembling its Bike Fridays use the large 451 for its Air Friday and pocket Rocket Pro but the small ---faster and better 406 wheel on its NWT and Air Glide. Could it be that Green gear cannot get a lighter stronger rim in the 406 size?Spokes and hubs should be the same.There are more tire sizes avaiable for the 406 but I think that there is a faster tire in  the 451 size. Maybe it is the gearing. All things being equal a larger wheel ---451 will have alarger high gearinch than a small 406 which would have a smaller gearinch for climbing hills.Can someone explain?  Larry Shongut