heart rate and/or power is a good tool for tests like that.

When it's go fast time, I use my Venge Expert with carbon wheels, an Evade and Bontrager carbon aero road bars.

But I prefer to ride my TCR Advanced with an alloy wheelset (Hed Belgium/DT Swiss/Ptap), different drop bars and lightweight road helmet - much more comfortable.

All I know is that setup #1 is definitely faster during a hot lap around Fiesta Island (4.1 mi.) at a given power.