Big vs. Small Chainrings??

They are quite different wheelsets (but similar crank weights) on each. One runs aerospoke/b43 combo (the slow one) the other runs deep v’s at each end …
I have removed these elements from the equation though, by doing a swap of the wheelset/chainring/cog between the 2 bikes & yet the 39 x 14 combo still just felt faster regardless of wheelset used.