I concur that components have improved more than frames over the years, and it is now tough (and expensive) to find a brand-new comfortable steel frame with a slightly relaxed geometry. I am very much sold on modern brakes and tires and freehubs over screw-on freewheels, but I am definitely sticking with 32- or 36-spoke wheel design. Since I dislike indexed front shifters, I still lean towards linear-action shifters, such as barcons or downtube levers.
I have 12 gears on each of my four road bikes, and consider this barely adequate -- I would not mind having a few more ratios.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069