Originally Posted by
Inpd
Tires I can perhaps understand. But both bikes have 180TPI tires and weigh under 250grams. What would be faster tires?
But tubes? How could tubes make you go faster, are you referring to just weight here?
Where the rubber meets the road: What makes cycling tires fast? - VeloNews.com
There is a theory in this article about tubes, but only regarding latex vs. rubber.
I'm going with 50% position, 5% tires/wheels, and 45% rider.
I have observed about 1-1.5 mph difference on the same bike when lowering the bars 2 inches. I doubt the position change between your two bikes is that drastic.
I have also personally observed about a 1 mph difference between cheap 23mm tires and Conti GP4000II in the 25mm flavor (same wheels).
Both of the gains I saw seemed pretty plausible given the data available online, but the variables involved still don't have me convinced these are real gains.
Since you have no credible way of gauging your effort other than "feel" and the mph difference was so big, I don't believe you were giving the same effort.