Originally Posted by
bigwoo
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Geez, when did new $300-$1000.00 gaudy flashy decals on a non-handcrafted machine become a "bargain" lower-end price ? That just makes me appreciate a vintage steel bike a whole lot more... 
:
Even in the "good old days" the bargain lower-end bikes were not handcrafted. In 1985 (for example), $300 "2009" dollars were roughly equivalent to $100-$150. So, for the buy-in price of $600 2009 dollars(todays entry level road bike), you would have been able to get a $300 level road bike in 1985. You may not like the way they look, but a current entry-level bike has some pretty significant technological improvements over their 1985 counterparts, for about the same equivalent cost.
Decals and aesthetics notwithstanding.....