No worries. At least we're not doing what my bf says to me - It's all in your head.

But I've definitely had "slow" wheels and "slow" tires. Repacking the hubs with grease helped the slow wheels a bit. Banishing slow tires also helped. If the aurora's not as stiff, that's possibly why I thought it was a very smooth ride (but I rode around a parking lot for 5 mins maybe)

I climb better on my titanium road bike with a compact double than I do on my carbon bike with a triple. I don't have much of a clue why.