Shifting to a smaller gear on a mountain bike will have an effect on the speed of travel. The smaller sized gear will make pedaling easier but it will also

Shifting to a smaller gear will result in a slower speed of travel. Option "2" is the correct answer. The smaller gear will turn a complete revolution more often than will a larger gear. Therefore, a small gear requires many more revolutions to cover a specific distance than does a large gear. A larger rear controlling gear, though harder to "push," would cause the bicycle to pick up speed.