Originally Posted by
son_of_clyde
This sounds questionable because given the same gear ratio on the same bike, the angles between the chain/sprocket tangent points are the same, resulting in the sum of the angles subtended by the links to be the same regardless of sprocket size (ratio held constant) - basically big sprockets mean more links at less angle and small sprockets mean less links at more angle.
I think all the work is done by the 2 or 3 links about to come off the sprocket regardless of size, making the bigger sprocket more efficient.
I also think it isn’t enough for most people to consider without the power changing directions like in a car rear end.